WASHINGTON—The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) welcomes today’s Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, which upholds the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that insurance companies cover preventive health services—such as colonoscopies, cancer screenings, and HIV prevention drugs—at no cost to patients.

This landmark ruling protects access to lifesaving care for millions, including over 26 million Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) individuals, many of whom already face significant health disparities and structural barriers to care.

“Today’s ruling is a vital win for public health, tackling persistent health disparities and health equity,” said Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of APIAHF. “The ACA’s preventive care mandate has saved countless lives by removing cost as a barrier to essential services. It is reassuring that the Supreme Court upheld this critical protection that so many families and communities rely on.”

Since 2010, the ACA has allowed over 150 million people to access preventive services without out-of-pocket costs. APIAHF enrolled over 1 million AANHPIs to receive coverage under the ACA. These preventative services include HIV prevention (PrEP), vaccines, cancer screenings, and chronic disease assessments. For AANHPI communities, the stakes are particularly high:

• Colorectal and liver cancer are leading causes of death among AANHPIs, yet screening rates continue to lag.

• Asian Americans make up more than 50% of hepatitis B infections in the U.S.—early screening is crucial for prevention and treatment.

• New HIV diagnoses have risen in the AANHPI population, making continued access to PrEP and related services essential.

While the Court’s decision preserves these vital benefits, APIAHF remains concerned by its affirmation of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s authority to control the membership and recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)—the independent expert body that determines which services insurers must cover under the ACA.

“Preserving coverage is a win, but politicizing the process of deciding what gets covered is a dangerous precedent,” said Choi. “Communities of color—including AANHPIs—depend on the integrity and scientific independence of the USPSTF. We urge Congress and the Administration to safeguard this process from undue political influence.”

APIAHF calls on policymakers to ensure that decisions about preventive care continue to be grounded in medical research, public health science, and community needs, not shifting political priorities.

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Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice.