U.S. government must quickly act to stop Texas court decision on preventive services and PrEP

Preventing HIV & Hepatitis Are Public Health Imperatives

Washington DC… In reaction to the ruling today in Braidwood Management v. Becerra by Judge Reed O’Connor from the U.S. Northern District of Texas that 1) invalidates nationwide zero cost-sharing coverage requirements of preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services under the Affordable Care Act and 2) finds that required coverage of PrEP for HIV violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute issued the following statement:

“While not surprised by Judge O’Connor’s decision, which will immediately impact coverage of HIV testing, hepatitis B and C testing, along with PrEP, it is imperative that these critical preventive services must continue for the health of our nation. We expect that the U.S. government will quickly act to stay this decision so that preventive services can continue nationwide, and appeal it. Preventive services are all critical and well-established medical services. The decision to single out PrEP is based on a deep discrimination against people who can benefit from it and would greatly impede our efforts to reduce HIV cases. On behalf of the HIV and hepatitis communities, we look forward to participating in the appeals process of the judge’s decision so that his destructive decision does not stand. While the appeals process moves forward, we call on health insurers to act on their own and continue to cover these preventive services without cost-sharing for the benefit of their enrollees.”

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The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.