Oral arguments were heard yesterday in the Braidwood v. Becerra case that challenges the provisions under the Affordable Care Act that gave the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) authority to determine which preventive services must be covered by insurance without cost-sharing. If the ruling is allowed to stand, an estimated 150 million people with commercial insurance and 21 million people with Medicaid could be affected by the elimination of a wide range of preventive care, including immunizations, screenings, medications, and counseling services. 

But some states are not waiting for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision and are protecting the continued delivery of free preventive services through state law. Here in Washington, HB 1957, which passed the House and Senate unanimously, authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules related to any future preventive services recommendations or guidelines from the USPSTF, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the United States Health Resources and Services Administration. The bill now awaits signatures from the House and Senate before going to the Governor. NoHLA testified in support of the bill.