#preventative care

"The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday [June 27, 2025] upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, ruling in Kennedy v. Braidwood that health insurance companies must continue covering preventive services recommended by a federal task force — including HIV prevention medication, cancer screenings, and vaccines.

The Court ruled 6-3, in an opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concluding that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force operates constitutionally and that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has the authority to appoint its members as inferior officers. That means the ACA’s mandate, requiring insurers to cover preventive services, remains intact. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neal Gorsuch dissented.

The majority rejected arguments that the Task Force’s structure violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, emphasizing that Congress had provided for the Secretary’s oversight and removal authority, making the Task Force’s members “inferior officers.”

At issue was whether insurers could be compelled to cover services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which prevents HIV transmission. Public health experts say PrEP access is especially vital for Black and Latine gay and bisexual men and transgender women, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV.

Other services potentially on the chopping block included screenings for cancer, depression, hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections, as well as a range of vaccines and counseling interventions.

The plaintiffs, a group of Christian business owners, argued that being required to cover PrEP violated their religious beliefs, claiming the medication “encourages homosexual behavior.” A lower court had previously sided with them, sparking concern that the ruling could jeopardize nationwide access to dozens of preventive health services.

Medical experts and LGBTQ+ advocates emphasized that PrEP is used by people of all backgrounds and sexual orientations, and that HIV “does not discriminate.”

Friday’s decision, on the last day of the Supreme Court's term, marks a significant win for LGBTQ+ health equity and for public health more broadly, following years of legal attempts to undermine the ACA’s nondiscrimination and preventive care mandates.

A joint statement by Lambda Legal, PrEP4All, the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, the Center for HIV Law and Policy, and Equality Federation called the ruling “the right decision to reject this assault,” saying it “uphold[s] essential protections for preventive services and affirm[s] that prevention and early detection of diseases save lives, improve health outcomes, and reduce long-term health outcomes.”

They said the Braidwood case “has been not just an attack on HIV prevention or LGBTQ people — it has been a coordinated effort to dismantle access to no-cost preventive healthcare for more than 150 million Americans.”

“This was never about religious liberty,” the statement continued. “It has been about using LGBTQ people as a scapegoat to push a broader agenda that punishes the vulnerable. And the truth is, most of the people harmed by this decision wouldn’t have been queer. They would be working-class families, Black and Brown communities, rural Americans, and anyone who relies on preventive care to stay healthy and alive.”

The groups warned that while the ruling preserves existing protections, vigilance is needed to prevent political interference. “History reminds us that silence is deadly,” they said, invoking the memory of the AIDS crisis and those who “weaponized faith to justify inaction.” ...

“This Pride Month, we celebrate this victory as we honor the legacy of those who fought back at Stonewall, who took to the streets with ACT UP, and who demanded dignity at the height of crisis,” the statement said. “We carry that legacy forward now. Join us. Raise your voice. Defend preventive care. Fight back.”"

Doc: Heather! That is breakfast, lunch, AND dinner for her!

Me: *am an unrepentant puppy treater and give more*

One aspect of preventative health is reducing stress as much as possible. Stress is one of the main contributing factors to the onset of many illnesses — physical and mental. It plays such a significant role, that it doesn’t matter if you eat well or exercise regularly if your stress levels are high.

Here are some easy, low/no cost ways to reduce stress:

Polio vaccine

I had a few concerning symptoms a while ago and ended up getting a mammogram to check them out. My mother had emphasized over and over throughout my childhood how badly mammograms sucked, so I was nervous. Like, trembling in the waiting area nervous.

Since then, I've spoken with friends who are my age (early 30s), and they all said they were also terrified of getting a mammogram when the time came. My experience may not be universal, but I thought I would share how mine went in case it encourages someone else to get important care or helps them feel less nervous.

This is a mammogram machine:

The mammogram tech lowers the bottom table-ish surface (plate) to chest height, then helps you place one breast on the surface. The top plate lowers until it compresses your breast. It stays there for a moment while the tech takes images of the breast. You may be asked to hold your breath at certain moments so they can get a clear image.

(I want to say here that the compression is firm, but for me, it did not hurt, or pinch, or sting, or any of the unpleasant adjectives I've heard older people use. A lot of that probably depends on how sensitive your breasts are, but the mammogram tech reminded me to tell her if something was too uncomfortable.)

The top plate lifts, then they tilt the plates into a diagonal angle. The top plate lowers again, this time compressing your breast at an angle. More pictures.

The same thing happens with your other breast. That was literally it.

Like I said, this was one mammogram experience and it was the only one I've ever had. I'd be interested to hear how they go for other people, but frankly, I'd go through a lot worse not to die of breast cancer like so many others in my family have. This wasn't a fun or entirely pleasant experience, but not the horrible, painful, aching mess I had been led to believe it would be.

Finally, if you're someone who has had mammograms (especially if you are speaking around younger people, including your kids), please be mindful of how you talk about the experience. I cannot emphasize enough how pants-shittingly terrified my friends and I all were because we had heard the horror stories from our parents. You don't want to be the reason someone puts off important preventative care.