Cleveland Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and the four other Democrats in the Ohio House Delegation sent a letter to the State of Ohio urging them to protect access to preventative healthcare services following a court ruling striking down the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for no cost coverage of preventative health care services. 

 The letter, led by Congresswoman Brown, was co-signed by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13), and sent to Judith French, Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance on June 5th. 

 Ruling on Braidwood Management v. Becerra in May, the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas, struck down part of the ACA’s preventative services requirement. The ruling is currently under stay pending appeal. For more background on the ruling, click here.

The Brown delegation letter notes that “the decision puts affordable and accessible early detection screeners for chronic conditions like colon and breast cancer, heart disease, HIV, and depression out of reach for the most vulnerable.” The letter requests that the State “work with regulators and industry partners to ensure that families in Ohio have access to life-saving healthcare services.” 

The full text of the letter is copied below. For a pdf of the letter, click here.

“Preventative healthcare saves lives and it’s unthinkable that we would make things like cancer screenings more expensive and harder to access,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “I’m proud to join my Democratic Ohio delegation colleagues in urging our state to protect preventative care. The effect on my constituents and people across the state will be profound - we cannot let a radical ruling rip away this life-saving care for Ohioans.” 

"We should be working to make health care more accessible for all, not taking steps that add unnecessary barriers to care that would hurt hard working Ohioans across our Buckeye state," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "I am joining Congresswoman Brown and my other Ohio Democratic House colleagues in this letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance to say loud and clear that we will not stand idly by, while these attacks are made on preventative screening services coverage which are enshrined in federal law through the Affordable Care Act."

“Access to preventative healthcare services is an essential human right that should be afforded to all Ohioans,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03). “Leveling the playing field for justice and equality starts with equitable healthcare systems across the state, and we must continue advocating to save lives across the board. My colleagues and I stand proud and united to support our fellow Ohioans with cost saving services that bring positive outcomes to our communities and families.”

“I am proud to join my colleagues in the Ohio Congressional Democratic Delegation to encourage the Ohio Department of Insurance to continue coverage of preventative services and screenings. Ensuring healthcare covers preventative services saves lives and money, all while protecting our greatest personal asset - our health. Any attempts to limit access to life saving services is unacceptable, and I stand ready to work with my colleagues to prioritize the health and well-being of people in Ohio’s 13th Congressional district, the state of Ohio, and the nation,” said Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13). 

“The decision is not safe for millions of Americans. Too many already face hurdles accessing healthcare. To make it harder or impossible to get the healthcare our folks need is incredibly dangerous and cruel. We have to protect access to these services,” said Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01).  

The text of the letter was as follows:

Dear Director French, 

We write to you today as the Democratic members of the Ohio delegation, in wake of the Northern District of Texas’ decision in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra. This ruling struck down the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that most health insurance plans and issuers cover recommended preventative services without cost-sharing.This latest attack on the ACA’s preventive services coverage requirement will have significant impacts on the health of millions of Ohioans and further deepen existing inequalities in our healthcare system. The decision puts affordable and accessible early detection screenings for chronic conditions like colon and breast cancer, heart disease, HIV, and depression out of reach for the most vulnerable.Many Ohioans face significant barriers to healthcare, like many others around the country. High out-of-pocket costs associated preventative care further widen existing disparities. We know that preventative screenings lead to early diagnoses, treatments, and positive health outcomes. 

Although the Fifth Circuit put a stay on the ruling, we are deeply concerned that lifesaving services are in jeopardy.We respectfully request you to work with regulators and industry partners to ensure that families in Ohio have access to life-saving healthcare services.

Sincerely,

[Signatures]

Original source can be found here.