More than 30 major national medical and patient advocacy organizations issued a joint statement in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that preserves patient access to no-cost, evidence-based preventive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ruling ensures that coverage requirements recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) remain enforceable, protecting access to lifesaving screenings and early detection tools for millions of Americans.
The decision reverses a lower court’s earlier ruling that had threatened to invalidate a critical provision of the ACA. At stake was the requirement for private health insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, a wide array of preventive services with a grade A or B rating from the USPSTF.
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Why the Supreme Court Ruling Matters
In their joint statement, the organizations—including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and more—emphasized the vital role that preventive services play in protecting public health. The groups called the decision a “tremendous victory” for patients and praised the court for recognizing the importance of access to early detection and preventive care.
Preventive services protected under the ACA and reinforced by this ruling include:
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Mammograms for breast cancer
- Screenings for lung cancer in high-risk populations
- Cholesterol testing and cardiovascular risk assessments
- Screenings for diabetes and prediabetes
- HIV and STI screenings
- Mental health screenings for depression and substance use
- Vaccinations for diseases like hepatitis and HPV
These services, when recommended by the USPSTF and provided without patient cost-sharing, help detect diseases early when they are most treatable and, in many cases, prevent illness entirely.
Broad Medical Community Support
The list of organizations endorsing the statement spans multiple specialties and sectors. Alongside ACS CAN were major voices in medicine and patient advocacy, such as:
- American Lung Association
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- American Public Health Association
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- Cancer Support Community
- March of Dimes
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Hemophilia Foundation
- WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
These groups collectively serve tens of millions of patients and represent a broad consensus within the medical and public health communities that access to preventive services must remain a protected right.
Cost Barriers and Health Equity
Prior to the ACA, preventive care often came with high out-of-pocket costs, deterring patients from receiving timely screenings. The elimination of cost-sharing under the ACA has been a key driver in increasing access to early detection services—especially for underserved populations.
The coalition of organizations stressed that overturning these protections would have disproportionately harmed communities already facing barriers to care, including communities of color, rural populations, and those living with chronic diseases. By maintaining access to no-cost preventive care, the Supreme Court ruling supports health equity and reduces the burden of late-stage disease treatment on the healthcare system.
A Call for Continued Vigilance
While celebrating the legal victory, the statement emphasized that ongoing advocacy is essential. The coalition warned that future legal and legislative challenges could still threaten the ACA’s preventive care provisions. They pledged to continue defending access to evidence-based health services and called on policymakers to strengthen, not weaken, the nation’s public health infrastructure.
The organizations concluded by urging healthcare leaders, insurers, and government officials to work together to maintain and expand access to preventive care—ensuring that all Americans can benefit from timely, affordable, and effective health interventions.
Full List of Supporting Organizations (as of June 2025):
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
- American Heart Association
- American Lung Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Public Health Association
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- March of Dimes
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Hemophilia Foundation
- WomenHeart
- Cancer Support Community
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- And more than 20 additional national patient and provider organizations
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