"The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) applauds the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to protect the most defining law in favor of public health and preventive care services in nearly 50 years" said CBCF president Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D.
"Not only does the Affordable Care Act expand health care coverage for low-income populations, it enables everyone to receive recommended preventive services at no cost and expands community-based primary and preventive care. The law prevents insurance companies from refusing to cover those with pre-existing health conditions, and it enables young adults to continue receiving health insurance coverage through their parents until age 26.
"Over time, the law will close the gap in prescription drug coverage under Medicare, which leads many low- and moderate-income elderly to forego needed medicine until catastrophic coverage goes into effect.
"It also seeks to address the unacceptable disparities in health that exist across racial/ethnic lines by requiring the collection and reporting of accurate data on health care services and health outcomes by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status
"Just as importantly, the law requires nearly all citizens to have health insurance and makes the purchase of coverage more affordable. Mandatory health insurance helps to spread the financial risk of health care across a wider pool of individuals with differing health status, and it promotes the use of primary and preventive care.
"Given the current rates of chronic diseases affecting many in our country, including African Americans, and the skyrocketing cost of health care, we cannot afford to shift health care costs to those who can least afford it and to move our health care system away from prevention. It's a question of increasing years of healthy life and improving quality of life for all Americans, as well as containing health care costs
To see the Supreme Court's ruling please visit here.
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