PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION

Physician and researcher at the University of Michigan, Mark Fendrick, is ready to engage in discussions regarding Braidwood v. Kennedy, as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates today.

This case revolves around a significant element of the Affordable Care Act: nearly all Americans’ ability to access preventive health care services such as cancer screenings and vaccinations recommended for them, at no personal expense, under almost every type of health insurance policy.

Fendrick serves as a professor at both the U-M Medical School and the School of Public Health, as well as a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. His studies and perspectives concerning the influence of out-of-pocket expenses on health-related choices have been instrumental in shaping the ACA provision under consideration in this case.

“With almost half of Americans indicating they have postponed or avoided medical attention due to financial concerns, a lot is at stake here,” Fendrick commented. “The introduction of out-of-pocket charges for these preventive services could likely diminish their utilization, including some that are potentially life-saving.

“I remain optimistic that the fact that the Trump administration has chosen to defend this policy, which mandates that nearly every insured American has access to numerous preventive services without out-of-pocket costs, will persuade some conservative justices on the Supreme Court to uphold the current policy and ensure these crucial preventive services remain broadly accessible.”

Fendrick and his associates at the U-M Center for Value-Based Insurance Design provide additional details on the case.

A ruling from the Supreme Court on this matter is anticipated later this spring.