NHLA Mission

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
JUNE 25, 2015

NHLA APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT’S DECISION TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
Supreme Court, Once Again, Upholds Affordable Care Act


Washington, D.C. - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, released the following statement applauding the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in King v. Burwell which upheld subsidies in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The Affordable Care Act has provided the Latino community with the tools to narrow health disparities through prevention programs, lower prescription drug costs, increased opportunities to expand the number of Latino health professionals, and access to affordable, quality health care for over 11 million Latinos across the country.

"Today, the Court handed down a key decision that has far-reaching, life-altering effects on the Latino community, as well as millions of other Americans. The decision protects subsidies for millions of people residing in the 34 states with federal exchanges, which include Florida, Texas, and other states with high Latino populations. 11.8 million Latinos and their families can rest easy knowing that the healthcare insurance that long evaded them is now secure for their families," said Hector Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “For the second time in three years, the Supreme Court rejected a major lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act, making it clear that it is the law of the land. It is time to stop playing games with the law and recognize the tremendous benefits it provides families across America.”

“The Supreme Court has confirmed what we already knew: premium tax credits were intended to help people in every state afford health coverage. Thanks to this ruling, hundreds of thousands of Latinas will retain their health insurance, and up to two million will retain the opportunity to access affordable coverage, now and into the future," said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and Co-Chair of NHLA's Health Policy Committee. “Before the Affordable Care Act, more than one in three Latinas had no health insurance at all, and millions of others struggled with overpriced coverage and inadequate care. Thanks to the gains of the ACA, more Latinas than ever have access to quality, affordable care, and we will not stop until that promise is fulfilled. Latinas will not go back.”
"The National Hispanic Medical Association applauds the US Supreme Court for upholding the ACA health insurance subsidies that increase access to healthcare and behavioral healthcare so needed among Hispanics and all Americans to lead more quality and productive lives," said Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association and Co-Chair of NHLA's Health Policy Committee.

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Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.org and follow @NHLAgenda. For more on NHLA’s Latinos United for Healthcare campaign, please visit http://www.latinosunited.org/healthcare.


FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Teresa Acuña | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 587-4945 |

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