Supreme Court Upholds Preventive Care Task Force

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, upheld the constitutionality of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and affirmed its authority to recommend preventive health services covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Court ruled that USPSTF members, appointed and supervised by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, are 'inferior officers' who do not require presidential nomination or Senate confirmation, satisfying the Constitution's Appointments Clause. The decision preserves access to preventive care for about 150 million Americans, including cancer screenings and HIV-prevention medications, and averts destabilization of essential coverage. The legal challenge, brought by Christian-owned businesses and individuals, included religious objections to HIV-prevention drugs, but the Supreme Court addressed only the constitutional appointments issue. While the ruling maintains existing preventive care coverage, ongoing litigation in lower courts and potential future administrative actions could still affect which services are covered. Three conservative justices dissented from the decision.