Preserving Access to Evidence-Based Preventive Services in Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Impact of Kennedy v. Braidwood Supreme Court Decision

In June 2025, the Supreme Court released a decision on the Kennedy v. Braidwood case, which preserved cost coverage provided through the Affordable Care Act for preventive services that received a U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) A/B recommendation (or had substantial changes to recommendations) after March 2010 and preventive services that currently have a draft USPSTF A/B recommendation. Cost coverage of preventive services has been demonstrated to improve care utilization, even when the unit cost of a specific service is low. This Supreme Court decision preserved cost coverage for many preventive services applicable to pregnant and postpartum people, with significant maternal and neonatal benefits. However, there remain ongoing areas of vulnerability for specific preventive services following this decision, such as vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) or preventive services recommended by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (HRSA WPSI). We call healthcare providers to engage in advocacy efforts to preserve access to vital preventive services in pregnancy and postpartum, which must match our commitment to patient care at the bedside.