Health Reform’s Preventive Services Provisions For Women Effective August 1
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As of August 1, 47 million women now have access to eight new prevention-related health care services without additional cost-sharing, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires coverage of these services, and the provisions take effect at the next renewal date — on or after August 1, 2012 — for most health insurance plans.
The eight new prevention-related services are:
- Well-woman visits.
- Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases.
- Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling.
- FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education, and counseling.
- Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.
- HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older.
- Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women.
- HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women.
These services are based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, which relied on independent physicians, nurses, scientists, and other experts as well as evidence-based research to develop the recommendations. Group health plans and issuers that have maintained grandfathered status are not required to cover these services. In addition, certain nonprofit religious organizations, such as churches and schools, are not required to cover these services.
For more information, visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2012/womensPreventiveServicesACA/ib.s....
Source: CCH