PRESS RELEASE
211 7th Avenue N, Ste. 100
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 255-0331 Fax: (615) 255-0354
website: www.tnjustice.org
June 17, 2021
Contact:
Michele Johnson
Executive Director
(615) 417-1492
The Supreme Court Dismisses the Case to Strike Down the Affordable Care Act
In response to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case to strike down the Affordable Care Act, Michele Johnson, the Tennessee Justice Center’s Executive Director, made the following statement:
Today’s ruling is a huge victory for all Americans, including the 31 million people who were in immediate danger of losing their health care in the midst of a deadly pandemic. All Tennesseans can breathe easier today without the threat of massive disruption to our healthcare system.
It is still appalling that our state chose to participate in this lawsuit, which received widespread criticism from legal experts and leaders of both political parties.
The ACA affects not only those who receive coverage directly through the Marketplace, but all Americans benefit in some way from the many health reforms and consumer protections included in the ACA. The ACA protects people with pre-existing conditions and is particularly important for those who have long faced barriers to care, including Black and brown people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and low-income people.
Instead of trying to take health care away from tens of millions of people, it’s time for Tennessee’s elected officials to build on the ACA’s successes and make improvements that will make health care more affordable and accessible. Both state and federal lawmakers must make coverage affordable for all Tennesseans.
About the Tennessee Justice Center
The Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) is a non-profit public interest law and advocacy firm serving families in Tennessee. It gives priority to policy issues and civil cases in which the most basic necessities of life are at stake and where advocacy can benefit vulnerable families statewide. TJC works to empower its clients by holding government accountable for its policies and actions.
