July 30, 2025

Braidwood Decision Puts USPSTF in Jeopardy

On June 27, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the Kennedy v. Braidwood case. Note that the case began in Texas, with plaintiffs asserting religious freedom to allow other similar insurance providers to deny preventive care, which now could be relitigated on remand to the trial court. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of USPSTF’s recommendation to cover preventive care and found the USPSTF to be constitutionally authorized.

In upholding the task force’s constitutionality, the ruling left intact the USPSTF but reasserted the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to both appoint and remove task force members.

Now, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly planning to remove all the members of an advisory panel that determines what cancer screenings and other preventive health measures insurers must cover. Although, an HHS spokesperson denied that Kennedy had made a final decision.

If Kennedy were to dismiss all 16 panel members it would be the latest in a series of far-reaching actions by the long-time vaccine skeptic to reshape U.S. regulation of vaccines, food and medicine.

In June, he fired all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of vaccine experts, replacing them with seven handpicked members, including known vaccine skeptics.

• Braidwood Ruling Resources:
• CHLPI Health Care in Motion: https://chlpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Braidwood-SCOTUS-Decision_6.30_FINAL_edited-7.7.23.pdf
• Friends of AHRQ letter to the Hill: friends_of_ahrq_uspstf_support_letter_0_0.pdf

ACADEMY HAPPENINGS

Academy Completes Impact Survey on Disruptions in HIV Clinical Services

Thank you for completing the survey to help assess the current state of and anticipated disruptions in the delivery of HIV prevention, treatment and ancillary services across the United States.

Your responses will inform the planning of the Emergency HIV Clinical Response Task Force, spearheaded by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, and the HIV Medicine Association. The Task Force was formed as part of a broader HIV community multisectoral effort to mitigate service disruptions due to federal policy changes and budget reductions.

Academy Joins Advocates in the Summer of Advocacy

Before passage of the budget reconciliation bill, doctors, hospitals, and health insurers for weeks issued dire warnings to Republican lawmakers that millions of people would lose health coverage and hospitals would close if they cut Medicaid funding to help pay for President Donald Trump’s big tax and spending bill. Although the bill passed, the Academy is continuing its push to ensure adequate federal resources for HIV prevention and treatment.

Partnering with AIDS United

Academy members can now join AIDS United in their Accountability campaign, with the aim of keeping elected officials accountable for their vote. This campaign will describe the devastating impact on vulnerable communities in targeted states, particularly battleground states with a high HIV burden and a weakened public health infrastructure.

Budget Reconciliation Resources

• KFF – Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill
• NHeLP: Budget Reconciliation Act Implementation Dates For Select Medicaid & Health Provisions
• NHeLP’s more detailed chart: Budget Reconciliation Act Implementation Dates, Funding, and Authorities for Medicaid & Select Health Provisions

Partnering with #SaveHIVFunding Campaign

To respond to many state and federal political challenges, the #SaveHIVFunding campaign is launching Accountability August along with many partners, including Families USA and Popular Democracy. If you are interested in being a part of in-district meetings during congressional recess, please fill out this form to remind legislators how their vote impacts their constituents.

#SaveHIVFuning Summer of Advocacy Trainings and Webinars  

Digital Advocacy Training 

Join the #SaveHIVFunding Campaign for a training on how to engage non-traditional media, including social media, podcasts, influencers and more. The training takes place Thursday, July 31, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Register here.

Direct Action Training

Join the #SaveHIVFunding Campaign for a training on how to do direct action and the basics of civil disobedience from experienced practitioners from around the country. This training takes place Thursday, August 7, at 1:00 p.m. ET. You can register for direction action training here.

POLICY HAPPENINGS

HHS Moves to Bar Undocumented Immigrants from Ryan White Programs

On July 10, HHS rescinded a long-standing interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) that permitted non-citizens from accessing certain federal benefits programs. The Administration’s new interpretation of “federal public benefits” language in the PRWORA revokes exemptions for immigration-related program eligibility requirements and establishes new requirements for programs across HHS that previously did not require verification of citizenship status, including Ryan White programs. HHS is accepting comments on the new policy through August 13.

The Academy will be submitting comments on this new HHS decision after our next PPC meeting on August 11. If you are interested in participating in this process, please contact chauncey@aahivm.org for details.

SIGN-ONS AND STATEMENTS

Statement on Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill

On July 7, the Academy issued its statement on the passage of the budget reconciliation bill.

National HIV Testing Day Press Conference

On June 27, National HIV Testing Day advocates organized by the #SaveHIVFunding campaign held a virtual press conference on the current state of HIV testing and programming. Dr. Carolyn Chu, chief medical officer for the Academy, gave a statement.

Ryan White Grant Delay Sign On Letter

On July 11, the Academy signed on to the FAPP letter urging HRSA to expedite the release of full FY2025 funding to all Ryan White Program grantees.

ADAP Crisis Task Force Negotiations Support Letter

On July 21, the Academy joined ANAC, GLMA, HIVMA and IAPAC in a letter encouraging drug manufacturers to negotiate in good faith discounted pricing and rebating terms with the ADAP Crisis Task Force at levels that will avert a return to waiting lists and other restrictive measures that will delay or deny access to treatment for people with HIV.