AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling in California v. Texas, in which the court dismissed the lawsuit based on lack of standing:
“The AAMC applauds the Supreme Court’s decision today to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will help safeguard access to high-quality and affordable health care for millions across the country. This decision is instrumental in ensuring that all people can access care and more confidently face health threats, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders, among other conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many of the deepest disparities in access to care, and this decision will help protect patients, families, and communities, particularly low-income and rural populations. By upholding the ACA, the court has preserved the health coverage of over 20 million people who are able to access coverage, either through Medicaid expansion or thanks to marketplace subsidies.
We appreciate Congress and the Biden administration’s work to make health care coverage more accessible by both increasing ACA marketplace subsidies and extending the Special Enrollment Period earlier this year. The AAMC also strongly supports the president’s proposal in his fiscal year 2022 budget to permanently expand the enhanced ACA marketplace subsidies to more people. We urge Congress and the administration to continue to find ways to improve the health of all, such as sustaining and strengthening programs that provide access to health care coverage and narrow the gap in care felt by many communities, particularly low-income, rural, and other underserved patients.”