Today, LDF filed a “friend of the court” brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Department of Health & Human Services v. Florida. The brief urges the Court to uphold the minimum coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care legislation passed by Congress in 2010, which has been challenged on constitutional grounds.
Throughout our country, access to adequate healthcare for African Americans has been severely limited as a result of the high cost of health insurance. The minimum coverage provision, which is scheduled to come into effect in 2014, promises to address this problem by creating a regulatory framework that lowers the cost of insurance and, therefore, makes health care more affordable. By reducing the exclusionary, harmful effects of the current health care system, the provision will enable African Americans to lead healthier, freer lives. John Payton, LDF’s President and Director Counsel stated “Congress not only was well within its power to enact this important law, but it was right to do so. The severe racial inequality in our health care system threatens the ability of African Americans to participate fully in the life of our nation and also undermines the health of our country’s democracy.” The Court will hear the case in March.
