AHA Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Challenges 5th Circuit Ruling on Preventive Care Service Coverage

Interest of Amici Curiae¹

The American Hospital Association, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Federation of American Hospitals, America’s Essential Hospitals, and the Association of American Medical Colleges respectfully submit this brief as amici curiae.

The American Hospital Association represents nearly 5,000 hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations. AHA members are committed to improving the health of the communities they serve and to helping ensure that care is available to and affordable for all Americans. AHA educates its members on healthcare issues and advocates on their behalf so that their perspectives are considered in formulating health policy.

The Catholic Health Association is the national leadership organization for the Catholic health ministry. Comprised of more than 650 hospitals and 1,600 longterm care and other health facilities in all fifty States, CHA works to advance the ministry’s commitment to a just, compassionate healthcare system that protects life and advocates for a healthcare system that is available and accessible to everyone, paying special attention to underserved populations.

The Federation of American Hospitals is the national representative of more than 1,000 tax-paying community hospitals and health systems throughout the United States. FAH members provide patients and communities with access to high-quality, affordable care in both urban and rural areas across 46 states, plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Dedicated to a market-based philosophy, the Federation provides representation and advocacy on behalf of its members to Congress, the Executive Branch, the judiciary, media, academia, accrediting organizations, and the public.

America’s Essential Hospitals is dedicated to equitable, high-quality care for all people, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Consistent with this safety net mission, the association’s more than 335 members provide a disproportionate share of the nation’s uncompensated care, with three-quarters of their patients uninsured or covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Essential Hospitals reach outside their walls to help communities overcome social drivers of poor health, including poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity.

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a nonprofit association dedicated to improving the health of people everywhere through medical education, healthcare, medical research, and community collaborations. Its members include all 159 U.S. medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; approximately 400 teaching hospitals and health systems; and more than 70 academic societies.

Amici and their member-hospitals know better than anyone that preventive healthcare services are essential for the early diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening illnesses for millions of Americans. Amici write to offer guidance, from hospitals’ perspectives, on the harmful impact that upholding the Fifth Circuit’s decision would have on the American healthcare system and all who depend on it. 

1. 1. No counsel for any party authored this brief in whole or in part and no entity or person, aside from amici curiae, their members, or their counsel, made any monetary contribution intended to fund the preparation or submission of this brief.