Fifth Circuit Decision Sets Stage to Strip Health Care from Millions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rafael Medina, [email protected], 202.869.0390 

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision finding the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional and remanding the severability issue back to the district judge:

“It is suspect that a ruling that could strip health care away from millions was issued the same evening as a historic impeachment vote. The Fifth Circuit’s 2-1 decision is potentially devastating, especially to the millions of people who depend upon access to life-saving health care through the Affordable Care Act. By punting a final decision on this case, two judges hope to set the stage for a second Trump administration to strip health care away from women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and everyone who was previously denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Trump and his conservative allies are trying to take away our health care through extreme, ideologically motivated judges because they failed to do so legislatively – and the Fifth Circuit has furthered that agenda.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.