ATLANTA — Georgians for a Healthy Future released a statement in response to Friday’s U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Braidwood v. Becerra. The court’s decision largely preserved the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for health insurers in Georgia and nationwide to provide coverage of certain preventive services like colorectal and breast cancer screenings, vaccinations, and mental health screenings at no cost. For now, this decision affirms that over 150 million Americans, including 4.6 million Georgians, will continue to have access to essential preventive care without out-of-pocket costs.
“We are pleased with the Court’s decision to uphold the ACA’s protections of no-cost, life saving preventive services. This ruling is a relief for Georgians who rely on these benefits to understand their risks for serious and chronic conditions, and to prevent or identify health issues early when they’re treatable and manageable,” said Georgians for a Healthy Future Executive Director Laura Colbert. “While these services appear to be safe for now, the court’s decision has left a door open for future challenges. In light of this uncertainty, GHF will continue to monitor this issue and remains committed to advocating for policies that ensure all Georgians have access to the preventive care they need to lead healthy lives.”
While this decision preserves critical preventive care access for now, it paves the way for future legal challenges that could threaten these protections.