If it is not already on your radar, keep your eyes on a case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The case of Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Becerra is yet another dispute over provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit challenge the ACA Section 2713 mandate that group health plans and health insurers cover a long list of preventive health services like cancer screenings, immunizations and contraceptives without out-of-pocket, co-insurance and deductible costs to patients. The judge this week ruled ruled that requiring employers to provide the HIV prevention drug PrEP violates their religious freedom. The ruling has also called into question mandatory coverage of all preventive health care services, many of which are provided by diagnostic imaging suppliers.
The ACA's list of preventive services include breast and lung cancer screenings that have received a rating of 'A' or 'B' from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Zero dollar out-of-pocket cost preventive services are also pegged to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.
See my blog post on this week's decision. Much is at stake for radiology groups and imaging suppliers.
https://viewpoints.reedsmith.com/post/102hwmn/legal-attack-on-acas-preventive-services-coverage-scores-win-in-texas-federal-co ------------------------------
Thomas W Greeson
Reed Smith LLP
(703) 517-0495
tgreeson@reedsmith.com------------------------------