Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
In a 6-3 decision (Kennedy v. Braidwood) written by Justice Kavanaugh, the Court upheld the Affordable Care Act's requirement that insurers cover preventive services without cost-sharing, preserving free cancer screenings, HIV prevention, and other preventive care for roughly 100 million privately insured Americans.
This Supreme Court decision upholds existing ACA preventive care requirements, representing a judicial affirmation of established healthcare law. A-score: rule_of_law(4) reflects proper judicial function upholding statutory framework without constitutional damage; separation(1) minimal as Court operates within normal judicial review; civil_rights(3) moderate positive impact preserving healthcare access for 100M Americans. Severity multipliers: durability(1.1) as decision reinforces existing framework; scope(1.2) for federal/broad impact. Base: (0×0.22 + 4×0.18 + 1×0.16 + 3×0.14 + 0×0.14 + 0×0.10 + 0×0.06) = 8.86 × 1.1 × 1.0 × 1.0 × 1.0 × 1.2 = 11.69. B-score: Layer1 moderate (outrage_bait:2, novelty:2, media_friendliness:3) = 8/20; Layer2 low (5/20); no intentionality indicators. Final: (8×0.55 + 5×0.45×0.1) = 6.65. Delta: +5.04. Neither list qualifies (A<25, B<25). This is substantive judicial action preserving healthcare access through normal constitutional processes.
Monitor for legislative attempts to modify ACA preventive care requirements or subsequent legal challenges. Track implementation and coverage continuation across insurance markets.