EXPERT ADVISORY

University of Michigan physician and researcher Mark Fendrick is available to discuss Braidwood v. Kennedy, as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments today.

The case addresses a major provision of the Affordable Care Act: The ability of nearly all Americans to receive preventive health care services such as cancer screenings and vaccines recommended for them, at no cost to them, under almost all forms of health insurance.

Fendrick is a professor at the U-M Medical School and School of Public Health and member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. His research and insights on the impact of out-of-pocket costs on health-related decisions helped shape the ACA provision being considered in the case.

“As nearly half of Americans report that they have skipped or delayed medical care because of cost, there’s a lot at risk here,” Fendrick said. “The imposition of out-of-pocket costs for these preventive services will likely lead to a reduction in their use, including some that are potentially lifesaving.

“I am hopeful that the fact that the Trump administration’s decision to defend this policy that requires nearly every insured American access to many preventive services with no out of pocket costs will sway some of the conservative Supreme Court justices to maintain the status quo and keep these essential preventive services widely accessible.”

Fendrick and colleagues at the U-M Center for Value Based Insurance Design offer more information on the case.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case later this spring.