APIAHF

WASHINGTON – Today, Judge Reed O’Connor on the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra struck down the Affordable Care Act’s preventive health care services provision. Employers will no longer have to provide employees with health plans that pay in full for certain preventive health care services.

Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), gave the following statement:

“With this decision, an estimated 2.7 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders risk losing life-saving preventive health care services under the Affordable Care Act. Preventive cancer screenings are crucial for AA & NHPI communities, who are less likely to undergo mammograms, Pap smears, and colorectal cancer screening than other communities. In addition, cervical cancer incidence rates are exceptionally high for Laotian, Samoan, Vietnamese, and Cambodian Americans.

“The ACA has helped over 20 million Americans, who would otherwise be uninsured, gain access to affordable health care, including AA & NHPIs. As a result, the uninsured rate for AA & NHPIs decreased from 14.7 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent in 2019 – the most significant reduction improvement among any racial or ethnic group. Additionally, by enrolling more families and individuals into affordable health plans, the ACA provides groundbreaking civil rights protections for vulnerable communities.

“This decision underscores that courts matter. The ACA has survived multiple challenges, whether by Congress or the courts. Voters have the power to elect leaders – including the president and senators – who directly shape our courts. While this decision is under appeal, with our collective community voice we will, and we must, continue to hold our elected leaders accountable to ensure all Americans have access to affordable and equitable health care.”

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The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.