Health Reform Update: Expanded Preventive Services for Women
 
HHS releases new guidelines

In previous communications we have discussed that the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (health care reform) will expand the definition for preventive care services and require insurance carriers to cover those preventive services at 100% (no member cost sharing).  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently adopted additional  Guidelines for Women’s Preventive Services that include:

• Well-woman visits
• Support for breastfeeding equipment
• Contraception
• Domestic violence screening

With regard to contraception and contraceptive counseling, women will have access to all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education & counseling.  Abortifacient drugs, however, would not be covered.

How will this affect my group health plan?
 
Many of the expanded preventive care services HHS wants to mandate are already covered under private group health plans; however, member cost sharing generally applies.  The inclusion of these services under the ‘preventive care’ umbrella, as defined by the Affordable Care Act, removes any member cost sharing for those services.

When do the new rules take effect?

The expanded preventive care definition will take affect for new health plans effective August 1, 2012, and for existing ‘non-grandfathered’ health plans as those plans renew on or after August 1, 2012.  The final regulations on the HHS’ newly-issued guidelines will be released some time after September 30, 2011.