Protect Our Care Hosts Events with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), and more.
Protect Our Care held virtual events around the country to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. Judge O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra would end the ACA’s guaranteed free access to essential preventive services including lifesaving breast cancer screenings, colorectal and other cancer screenings, anxiety and depression screenings for children and adults, heart disease screenings, intimate partner violence screenings, and access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which can reduce the chance of contracting HIV.
NATIONAL
Thursday, March 30 – American Cancer Society Action Network, American Public Health Association, Legal Experts and Health Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Disastrous Impacts on ACA Protections in Braidwood Decision: Protect Our Care was joined by American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network President Lisa Lacasse, National Partnership for Women & Families’ Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, American Public Health Association Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin, and Andrew Pincus for a virtual press conference discussing U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires no-cost coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “Not only is Judge O’Connor’s decision wrong on the legal merits, it would be highly disruptive to our health care system and roll back health care gains made over the years,” said Andrew Pincus, experienced Supreme Court and appellate lawyer. “This ruling would eliminate guaranteed free access to life-saving preventive services for more than 150 million Americans.” You can watch the event here.
Coverage:
- Washington Post: Texas Judge Invalidates Aca Promise of Free Preventive Health Services
- Bloomberg Law: US Appeals Decision Striking Free Access to Key Health Services
- STAT: Texas Judge Strikes Down Major Obamacare Provision Protecting Preventive Care
- Gizmodo: Zero-Cost Cancer Screenings and Birth Control ‘On the Line’ as Judge Strikes Down ACA Provision
- Dogwood: 150 Million Americans Are at Risk of Losing Free Preventive Healthcare. What Does That Mean for You?
Protect Our Care Hosted Two Press Calls Last Year: Chairman Bobby Scott, Legal Experts, Health Care Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Devastating Impacts of Kelley v. Becerra Lawsuit. You can watch the event here. Experts, Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Disastrous Impacts of New Lawsuit Threatening ACA Protections. You can watch the event here.
ARIZONA
Monday, May 1 – Arizona Copper Courier Op-Ed by Ali Farrell on the Braidwood Decision and the Threat to Preventative Care: Protect Our Care Arizona placed an opinion piece in the Arizona Copper Courier by Ali Farrell, a small business owner who receives health coverage through the ACA. In the piece, Farrell highlights the importance of the no-cost coverage of preventative care under the ACA, and how the Braidwood decision adversely impacts Arizonans. She writes, “The decision made in Braidwood Management v. Becerra means more people won’t be able to access preventative care, and for people like me with an extensive family history of breast cancer, staying on top of those services can be lifesaving. Living with a family history of breast cancer is terrifying. As a woman in my early forties, there is a feeling of existential dread looming in the back of my mind every single day. I live in constant worry that it is not if, it is when I get sick. Fortunately for me and for so many others living with this fear, we are able to have some peace of mind because we are proactive about making the most of any preventative measures available to us.” You can read the full op-ed here.
CALIFORNIA
Thursday, April 6 – Braidwood Accountability Event with U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), California Attorney General Rob Bonta: California Attorney General Rob Bonta and US Rep. Jimmy Gomez joined Protect Our Care California to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. US Rep. Jimmy Gomez said, “Early detection for a lot of diseases is the difference between life and death . . . Since I’ve been in Congress, and my entire life, I’ve been fighting for affordable, accessible, and of course quality health care.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, “When patients have access to blood pressure checks, flu shots, cancer screenings, pregnancy care, dental and vision screenings for infants and children, HIV medication, and many other critical preventive services, the burden on state and local public health systems is lessened. Preventive care keeps more people healthy. This ruling is dangerous, it’s short sighted, and worst of all, it puts countless lives at risk. We won’t let this stand.” You can watch the event here.
Coverage:
- KSWB (San Diego Fox): Attorney General Bonta Speaks Up Against Braidwood Decision
MICHIGAN
Tuesday, April 25 – Braidwood Accountability Event with State Representative Julie Rogers with Michigan Health Care Leaders: State Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, Anita Fox, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) director, and Nicole Wells Stallworth, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan executive director, joined Protect Our Care Michigan to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “The disastrous Braidwood ruling in Texas only further increases health care disparities in underserved communities across Michigan and around the country,” said state Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, chair of the House Health Policy Committee. “That’s why my colleagues and I are introducing legislation that would enshrine important elements of the federal Affordable Care Act in Michigan law, including coverage for preventative services. We cannot afford to make preventative health care an afterthought in Michigan, or anywhere across the country for that matter.” You can watch the event here.
Coverage:
- Michigan Advance: Health care advocates say ACA ruling has ‘disastrous’ impact on Michiganders
- WTVB: Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision
- Gongwer: DIFS Director, Other Officials Stress Importance Of Preventative Care
- MIRS: Bill To Put Preventative Health Care In ACA Coming
- WKZO AM: Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision
- Lansing City Pulse: Health care advocates say ACA ruling has ‘disastrous’ impact on Michiganders
- WNWN-FM (Battle Creek, MI): Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision
Thursday, May 4 – Oakwood Press Op-Ed by Laura Bonnell on Protecting the ACA from Repeal: Protect Our Care Michigan placed an opinion piece in the Oakland Press by Laura Bonnell, CEO of the Bonnell Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance and emotional support to parents whose children have cystic fibrosis. In the piece, Bonnell makes the case that repealing the ACA would be disastrous for families like hers. Bonnell writes, “The impact of the ACA in the cystic fibrosis community cannot be overstated, including expanded Medicaid that has provided coverage for tens of thousands of families nationwide.” You can read the full op-ed here.
NEVADA
Monday, May 8 – Attorney General Ford, Health Care Advocates to Discuss Efforts to Protect Nevadans’ Access to Lifesaving Preventive Care and Necessary Reproductive Health Care: Protect Our Care Nevada is joined by Attorney General Aaron Ford, Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada, and For Our Future Nevada Health Care Advocate Jarrett Clark to discuss efforts to fight for the medical rights of Nevadans regarding recent attacks on American health care, including U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s ruling to invalidate the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.
Tuesday, April 18 – Reno Gazette-Journal Op-ed by Jarrett Clark on Protecting the ACA From Republican Attacks: Protect Our Care Nevada placed an opinion piece in the Reno Gazette-Journal by Jarrett Clark, a longtime Nevada resident and advocate for policies that benefit Nevada workers and their families. In the piece, Clark highlights how the Affordable Care Act saved his life after he was diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disorder. He also highlights the importance of protecting the ACA from Republican attacks, citing Braidwood Management v. Becerra. He writes, “Judge O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra would end the ACA’s guaranteed free access to essential preventive services including lifesaving breast cancer screenings, colorectal and other cancer screenings, anxiety and depression screenings for children and adults, heart disease screenings, intimate partner violence screenings, preventive HIV treatments and more.” You can read the full op-ed here.
NEW YORK
Thursday, April 6 – Braidwood Accountability Event with NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher and LGBTQ Health Care Advocates: New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher and New York-based LGBTQ and health care advocacy organizations including GMHC, Housing Works, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Stonewall Community Development Corporation, and Equality New York joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “It’s truly shameful that after all these years, after the programs provided by the Affordable Care Act have proven to be some of the most popular in decades for Americans, the Republicans are putting politics over people’s lives by continuing to attack it and attempt to dismantle it for political reasons. One of the worst parts about this ruling is that it targets preventative care. That is an area that the US lags in badly. There are far too many people in our country who go to the emergency room for their primary health care. There is nothing more expensive. So when Republicans claim this is about costs they are being totally disingenuous,” said New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher. You can watch the event here.
Coverage:
- NEWS12 The Bronx: Elected Officials and LGBTQ Advocacy Groups Rally In Response to Braidwood Ruling
- NEWS12 Brooklyn: Elected Officials and LGBTQ Advocacy Groups Discuss Impacts of Braidwood Ruling
- WNYC Radio: Local Elected Officials and Health Care Leaders Discuss Braidwood Ruling
- Gay City News: New York leaders warn ACA preventive care ruling threatens access to care
- Gothamist: NYC health providers warn ‘HIV cases will go up’ if Texas ruling curbs access to PrEP
Monday, April 24 – amNY Op-ed by Jason Cionciatto on How the Braidwood Ruling Threatens Access to PrEP: Protect Our Care New York placed an opinion piece in amNY by Jason Cionciatto, Vice President of Communications and Policy at GMHC, the world’s first and leading provider of HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy. In the piece, Cionciatto highlights how the Braidwood ruling threatens access to PrEP, a lifesaving HIV prevention drug. He writes, “The Braidwood decision, if it is allowed to stand, would be a disaster for HIV prevention, enabling individual insurers to deny access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medications that, according to the CDC, reduce the risk of contracting HIV from sex by 99%. PrEP is a cornerstone of federal and state plans to end the HIV epidemic, and it has been instrumental in reducing new HIV infections nationwide.” You can read the full op-ed here.