Rules Requiring Contraceptive Coverage Approved

Rules Requiring Contraceptive Coverage Approved

From Targeted News Service (August 1, 2011)
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine (1st CD), issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree welcomed a historic announcement today that the Obama Administration will require all new insurance policies to provide coverage for women's health care--including well-woman visits, breastfeeding support, domestic violence screening, and contraception--without charging a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible.

"Out-of pocket expenses have been on the increase and basic health care services like birth control or check-ups have become unaffordable for a lot of women," Pingree said. "Giving all women access to these services allows them to take charge of their own health care."

Last summer, Pingree wrote to the Obama Administration to recommend full coverage for contraceptive services and basic health care screenings.

The guidelines will ensure women have access to a full range of recommended preventive services without cost sharing, including:

* well-woman visits;

* screening for diabetes;

* human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older;

* sexually-transmitted infection counseling;

* HIV screening and counseling;

* FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling;

* breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling; and

* domestic violence screening and counseling.

Under the health care reform law passed last year, the Obama Administration had to decide what services should be classified as "preventive." The health care reform law requires preventive procedures be covered without co-pay in all new insurance policies. The Administration's decision today followed the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences.

New health plans will need to include these services without cost sharing for insurance policies with plan years beginning on or after August 1, 2012.

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