For Immediate Release
November 9, 2020
Contact: Brian Reardon

Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

"As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) strongly urges the Court to uphold the law.

"Striking down the ACA would be devastating to the approximately 20 million Americans who gained coverage under the law, including 15 million low-income individuals who are covered by Medicaid Expansion. It would adversely impact the approximately 130 million Americans with pre-existing medical conditions, including those diagnosed with COVID-19. The pain of repeal would be borne by some of the most vulnerable in our society – pregnant women, racial minorities, and low-income individuals and families.

"CHA believes health care is a basic human right and that the ACA has been vital in expanding access to care. At a time when our country is faced with a pandemic, access to health care is more critical than ever. Our members witness firsthand the devastating impact that a lack of affordable health insurance and health care has on individuals, families and communities, especially during the pandemic. The uninsured often do not seek out the care they need and may suffer unnecessarily if their illness or injury gets worse. If the Supreme Court strikes down the entire ACA, it would wreak havoc on the U.S. health care system and irreparably harm those most in need of care. We strongly urge the Court to rule that the individual mandate is severable, as clearly intended by Congress when it eliminated the individual mandate penalty but did not repeal the entire ACA."

In May 2020, CHA filed a brief as amicus curiae in support of the petitioners in California v. Texas. The full brief can be found HERE.

Download a PDF of the statement

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.
• Learn more at www.chausa.org.