In a groundbreaking and somewhat controversial decision coming from the Nation’s capital this week, U.S. health insurance companies will now be required to offer women free birth control and other preventive health care services. In addition, 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 will all be included women’s health coverage.

The announcement is another part of the Obama Administration’s broader effort to address the health and well-being of our communities through initiatives such as the President’s Childhood Obesity Task Force, the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign, the National Quality Strategy, and the National Prevention Strategy.

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Health and Human Services Department (HSS) commented:

“The Affordable Care Act (ACA) helps stop health problems before they start. These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need.”

The nation seems to agree. A Thomson Reuters/NPR survey in May 2011 found 76.6% of respondents believe private insurance plans, without government assistance, should cover some or all costs associated with birth control pills.

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, should also 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 morning-after pill (emergency contraception) is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It can be started up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse.

People have used birth control methods for thousands of years. Today, there are many safe and effective birth control methods available.

The adoption of the recommendations is a win for organizations such as the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Planned Parenthood.

Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin said:

“Eliminating cost sharing for these crucial preventive services will make needed care more accessible and will improve the health of millions of women.”

The announcement comes about a year after HHS released rules that all new private health plans cover evidence-based preventive services, including mammograms, colonoscopies, blood pressure checks, and childhood immunizations without charging a copayment, deductible, or coinsurance.

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. The rules governing coverage of preventive services which allow plans to use reasonable medical management to help define the nature of the covered service apply to women’s preventive services. Plans will retain the flexibility to control costs and promote efficient delivery of care by, for example, continuing to charge cost-sharing for branded drugs if a generic version is available and is just as effective and safe for the patient to use.

Written by Sy Kraft