The California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2021
Contact: Monika Lee, (858) 353-7271
Sacramento, CA – Today, the Supreme Court upheld the ACA in California v. Texas, rejecting a lawsuit brought by 18 Republican led states and backed by the Trump administration. The California Pan-Ethnic Health Network released the following statement from executive director Kiran Savage-Sangwan in response to today’s momentous health care victory:
“After countless partisan attacks on the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court has spoken, and the ACA is here to stay. This is especially significant now given that the Biden administration just recently opened the ACA marketplaces for a special enrollment period and as Medicaid has served as such an important lifeline for so many families during the pandemic.”
“Signed 11 years ago by President Obama, the ACA has expanded health care and coverage in a historic way. It set California on a path to ensure everyone, regardless of their income, sex, race, ethnicity, primary language, LGBTQ+ status, disability or immigration status has access to health care.
“The ACA significantly reduced uninsurance rates among communities of color. These are the same communities who were hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and heart attacks but less access to the things and systems that make us healthy like housing and education, all due to systemic racism.
“CPEHN looks forward to working with California lawmakers and the federal administration to continue strengthening our health care coverage, affordability, and quality. We urge state and federal lawmakers to turn their attention to advancing racial equity through the ACA, underscored by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, communities of color. Everyone deserves access to life saving care.”
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