***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 8 at 10:30 AM MST // 1:30 EDT***
Republicans’ Latest Attack on the ACA Targets Lifesaving Preventive Care for More than 150 Million Americans
PHOENIX, AZ — On Thursday, June 8 at 10:30 AM MST // 1:30 EDT, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will join Protect Our Care Arizona 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 cancer screenings, and more. In 2020 alone, more than 150 million Americans benefited from these preventive services.
On June 6, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held a hearing to decide if the ACA’s protections should stay in place for everyone other than the plaintiffs while the case works its way through the courts. The plaintiffs have argued that a stay is unnecessary because insurance companies are very unlikely to not drop cost-free coverage. In reality, insurance companies have a proven record of moving quickly to cut costs at the expense of patients.
Patient and provider groups, public health experts, organized labor, 68 academic deans and scholars, and dozens more organizations overwhelmingly agree that this case is built on unfounded legal arguments and have submitted briefs affirming that, if Judge Reed O’Connor’s ruling stands, the consequences for patients would be disastrous. Speakers will highlight what this decision could mean for Arizonans’ access to lifesaving health care services, and discuss what is to come as the lawsuit moves through the court system.
WHO:
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes
Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association
Brian Hummell, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference
WHEN: Thursday, June 8 at 10:30 AM MST // 1:30 EDT
WHERE: Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required)