ANA DISAPPOINTED IN THE SUPREME COURT RULING

ANA DISAPPOINTED IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES’ RULING TO STRIKE THE ACA CONTRACEPTION MANDATE

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is disappointed in the 7-2 ruling of the United States Supreme Court to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for health insurance plans to cover the total costs of contraception. Millions of women currently rely on employer-sponsored health insurance plans for birth control at no costs.

When it comes to reproductive health, ANA believes health care consumers have the right to access high-quality health care while also retaining the right to make decisions about their personal health and the reproductive services that they seek. ANA fully supports access to contraception and contraception counseling as essential components of effective health care for all as well as nurses’ right to refuse participation in a particular case based on ethical grounds, unless the patient’s safety is at risk.
ANA has historically and consistently advocated for the health care needs of all, including services related to reproductive health. ANA signed on to an amicus brief in support of the respondents, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey, which argued that access to high quality health care as well as comprehensive and evidence-based reproductive health services is an essential part of healthcare for women. ANA joined the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Nursing, Physicians for Reproductive Health, and Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health as amici in this brief.