- A federal judge ruled that an Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision requiring insurers and employers to offer plans that cover HIV-prevention drugs (PrEP) for free violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Judge Reed O’Connor said that the government failed to show “a compelling interest in forcing private, religious corporations to cover PrEP drugs with no cost-sharing and no religious exemptions.” He also ruled that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, upon which the ACA relies on recommendations from to determine what constitutes preventive services, is unconstitutional because of how members are appointed to the panel. The ruling does not take effect immediately and the Biden administration announced it was reviewing the decision. (Articles here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)
September 8, 2022
Access & Coverage