Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Texas Court Ruling Harming Access to Healthcare for Americans

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement in response to a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Xavier Becerra. The ruling strikes down an Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that requires private insurers to cover certain preventive services, such as cardiovascular disease intervention, lung, breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening, as well as dental and vision screening for infants and children at no cost to consumers.
 
“Preventive healthcare is crucial to saving lives and keeping people healthy and safe,” said Attorney General Bonta. “From cancer screenings to pregnancy-related care, to HIV medication, preventive care is a critical aspect of healthcare. I am deeply disappointed in today’s dangerous and short-sighted court ruling in Texas. It puts ordinary Americans’ lives at risk and deprives them of access to the medical care and services they need. We will not let this stand. My office will continue fighting to defend, protect, and strengthen equitable access to preventative care — and all other kinds of healthcare — for everyone.”
 
In January 2022, the California Department of Justice joined a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in this case, then called Kelley v. Becerra, urging the Texas court to uphold the ACA’s preventive services mandate, which is vital to the country’s well-being.