Starting next August, all new health plans will be required to provide copayment-free coverage of a range of women’s preventive services, including contraception, the Health and Human Services department announced Aug. 1.
Covered services include well-woman visits; screening for gestational diabetes; DNA testing for the human papillomavirus in women age 30 and older; counseling for sexually-transmitted infections; HIV screening and counseling; Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods as well as sterilization procedures; breastfeeding support and supplies; and screening and counseling for domestic violence, according to the HHS.
New or significantly revised health plans must offer these recommended services without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles under the Affordable Care Act. The requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after Aug. 1, 2012.
The list of women’s preventive services was developed for HHS by an expert panel of the Institute of Medicine. HHS accepted all of the IOM’s recommendations, which were released July 19.
"These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.
The one controversial element of the coverage requirements is the inclusion of contraception on the list of covered services.
HHS plans to allow religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees to opt out of covering contraception. HHS issued an interim final rule that allows these groups to buy or sponsor group health insurance that does not cover contraception if it violates the group’s beliefs. The interim final rule is modeled after similar religious exemptions in place in the 28 states that already require insurance companies to cover contraception, according to the HHS.