TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 31, 2023

A federal judge in Texas has blocked requirements for insurers to provide some preventive-care services for free, the ABA Journal reports. Under the ruling, insurance companies no longer have to provide drugs for HIV prevention or screenings for depression, high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases and some kinds of cancer as required under the federal Affordable Care Act. The ruling came in a challenge from six individuals and two businesses. Plaintiffs wanted the option to purchase health coverage that did not include services they did not use, while others in the group objected to HIV-prevention coverage on the ground that it promoted behavior that was against their beliefs. Judge Reed C. O’Connor ruled last year that coverage mandates were not valid because the task force charged with adopting them had been constituted in violation of the appointments clause.