HONOLULU — The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has joined other national community advocates in an amicus (friend of the court) brief to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Affordable Care Act. The new law,
HONOLULU — The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has joined other national community advocates in an amicus (friend of the court) brief to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Affordable Care Act. The new law, signed by President Obama, has been the subject of numerous legal challenges, with federal courts reaching conflicting rulings.
The Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari (agreeing to hear the case) in connection with a case called National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius and Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida.
“We joined our colleagues across the country in filing a brief in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because it holds tremendous hope and potential for families everywhere,” Council CEO Robin Puanani Danne said in a news release issued this week.
“The ACA aims to improve our current health care system by increasing access to health coverage for Americans and introducing new protections for people who have health insurance. For example, if you have health insurance, you will benefit from steps to stop insurance companies from canceling your coverage if you get sick,” Danne said.
The law will also require insurance plans to cover out-of-pocket costs for many proven preventive and screening services such as colonoscopies and mammograms to catch problems at their earliest, most treatable stages, Danne said.
“Your job might not offer health insurance. Or maybe you have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition such as asthma or cancer. The law now offers health plans for people with pre-existing conditions who have had trouble finding care. And it will increase access to coverage for even more Americans in 2014l,” Danne said.
Retired Judge William Fernandez, chair of the council’s Policy Center, said Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders joined the amicus brief because they, too, are affected by the law.
“As an organization, we want to be on record in support, and to stand with other national advocates to increase access to healthcare for all Americans,” Fernandez said in the news release.
The council administers the Native Hawaiian Policy Center to convene non-governmental organization around policy priorities that build strong Hawaiian communities. For more information, visit www.hawaiiancouncil.org.
