Today, the United States Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of offering numerous preventive care services with “no out-of-pocket cost” to patients in the United States. As a result, various preventive health services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), as mandated in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), can continue be offered on a no-cost basis.   

By finding that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services could appoint members of the USPSTF and could choose to not accept certain of the task force's recommendations, the Court ruled that the Secretary had sufficient authority over the preventive healthcare services task force. In doing so, the Court put to rest arguments that members of the USPSTF, because they are not Senate confirmed, were not constitutionally permitted under the Appointments Clause of Constitution to wield the authority to determine coverages subject to the ACA's mandate.