Statement on Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision Regarding the Affordable Care Act

On Dec. 18, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the Texas v. United States case concerning the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law, passed in 2010, provides millions of Americans, including more than one million Texans, with access to health care coverage. The court ruled that the individual mandate is unconstitutional and sent the case back to a court in Texas to determine how to move forward.

While the legal case runs its course through the judicial system, it is important that consumers who have recently secured their insurance through the healthcare exchange understand they still have coverage. Methodist Healthcare Ministries will remain committed and engaged in our proactive efforts to increase access to care for the least served across Texas. We are called to do, in the words of John Wesley, all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times, to all the people we can, for as long as we can. Whether it is through the direct services provided through our clinical and regional operations, the resources provided to our funded partners in South Texas or the policies and best practices our advocacy agenda supports – Methodist Healthcare Ministries will continue our efforts to ensure we are supporting resilient families and thriving communities.

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