WUNRN
USA
- PRESIDENT REAFFIRMS MOST HEALTH INSURERS MUST COVER CONTRACEPTION
January 20, 2012 - By Robert Pear
"......The
rule takes a big step to remove cost as a barrier to birth
control, a longtime goal of advocates for women’s rights and experts on
women’s health......."
__________________________________________________________________
USA - HEALTHCARE INSURERS MUST
COVER BIRTH CONTROL
Historic Guidelines Add Birth Control
to List of Preventative Medical Services.
8/1/2011 - WASHINGTON — U.S. health insurance
companies must offer women free birth control and other preventive health care
services under Obama administration rules released, a historic decision
supported by family planning groups and opposed by conservative groups.
The rules from the Health and Human Services
Department are part of the nation's healthcare overhaul and largely follow recommendations
from an advisory group released last month . Under the new
guidelines, no copays would be required.
The U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) report,
commissioned by the Obama administration, recommended that all U.S.-approved
birth control methods -- including the "morning-after pill," taken
shortly after intercourse to stop a pregnancy -- be added to the list of
preventive health services.
The recommendation faced opposition from
conservative and religious groups that balked at using taxpayer money to cover
birth control, especially the "morning-after pill."
The guidelines go into effect on Monday,
requiring insurers to provide free coverage of preventive care services for
women in all new plans beginning in August 2012.
"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 HHS added an amendment allowing religious institutions to choose whether to cover contraception services in their insurance. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had urged the HHS to exclude birth control as a service.
The
adoption of the recommendations is a win for organizations such as the American
Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Planned Parenthood.
"Eliminating cost sharing for these
crucial preventive services will make needed care more accessible and will
improve the health of millions of women," said Iowa Democratic Senator Tom
Harkin, who had urged HHS to accept the report's guidelines.
The health department's guidelines followed the
IOM's recommendations to require free screening for gestational diabetes,
testing for human papillomavirus in women over 30, counseling for HIV and
sexually transmitted infections, lactation counseling, screening for domestic
violence and yearly wellness visits.
Research suggests that the public supports
adding birth control to the list of services.
A Thomson Reuters/NPR survey in May found 76.6
percent of respondents believe private insurance plans, without government
assistance, should cover some or all costs associated with birth control pills.
Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters