Supreme Court rejects challenge to free preventive care, bolsters RFK Jr.’s power
The SCOTUS decision preserves free preventive health care and sets the stage for a bigger role for RFK Jr. in determining what's covered.
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key Affordable Care Act provision requiring health insurers to cover certain recommended preventive services cost-free. The decision delivers a victory to health advocates, because services including cancer screenings, statins, and HIV prevention drugs called PrEP will continue to be available at no cost to many Americans.
But the decision also ratifies a strong role for the Health and Human Services secretary in overseeing a key expert panel that has long evaluated preventive services, including removing members and modifying its rulings. That means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could have more latitude to reshape what’s covered.
