Texas Judge Rules Against Evidenced Based Medical Care

San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) strongly condemns the ruling of U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor on September 7th, 2022 that an Affordable Care Act provision requiring the coverage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is a violation of religious rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993.  

Evidence shows that PrEP helps reduce HIV transmission and thus is a key strategy in reducing the spread of this disease.  SFCCC and its member clinics promote the use of PrEP when appropriate and are committed to reducing health disparities by increasing PrEP uptake amongst vulnerable patients.  Throughout the country, including in San Francisco, black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities have a disproportionate share of the disease burden, and this ruling could widen these disparities.   

Using a “religious freedom” claim to impact the availability of evidenced based medical care is a frightening precedent.  SFCCC will continue to fight to reduce health disparities, and make sure that preventive services are available to all.