The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School (CHLPI) partnered with a team from Manatt to file an amicus brief on February 25 in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of several organizations representing people with chronic illness or disabilities in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc.
The case concerns the constitutionality of requiring commercial health plans to provide no-cost-sharing coverage for preventive services. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit had ruled that the members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which determines which services are required to be covered, had been appointed unconstitutionally. The CHLPI/Manatt brief argues that the Supreme Court should reverse the Fifth Circuit decision.
The brief argues that the people often forgo evidence-based preventive services when there is a cost attached and that a uniform federal requirement for no-cost preventive services ensures the entire health care system aligns around covering services that prevent chronic illness and disability, and reduces health care expenses.
The CHLPI team on the brief included director of Health Law and Policy Clinic Carmel Shachar, director of Health Care Access Elizabeth Kaplan, and Clinical Fellow Anu Dairkee.
The Manatt team on the brief was led by Partner Michael Kolber and included Partner Benjamin Shatz and Associate Shannon Gonick.
Read the full amicus brief here.
