| Planned Parenthood applaudes new requirements to cover women's health, family planning |
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By: BO BRADSHAW, TNNS
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Posted: Monday, August 8, 2011 9:18 am
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NASHVILLE - Insurance companies would be required to cover family planning, birth control and annual wellness exams in Tennessee and across the nation if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines are approved as part of the Affordable Care Act that was signed into law in the spring.
Last summer HHS released new insurance market rules requiring all new private health plans to cover evidence-based preventive services such as mammograms, blood pressure checks and childhood immunizations without charging a co-payment, deductible or co-insurance. HHS says this announcement builds on that progress by making sure that women have access to a full range of recommended preventive services.
Lois Uttley, a co-founder of the group Raising Women's Voices, says getting rid of additional fees makes sense.
"We hear of women who are being asked to pay anywhere from 25 to even 60 dollars to fill a birth control prescription. In these tough economic times, that's something that a lot of women just can't afford."
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee applauds the decision, saying it's monumental for millions of women who have struggled with the cost of birth control and other essential health-care services such as cervical cancer and HIV screening. Planned Parenthood says eliminating co-pays for preventive health care will help reduce unintended pregnancies in Tennessee and across the nation. Opponents say it will drive up costs and intrude where government doesn't belong.
The Institute of Medicine, an independent panel of doctors and health experts which is part of the U.S. National Academies, has designated eight specific services that should be covered as part of the new plan.
Susan Wood, director of The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, says the change will offer women all preventive services at least once a year.
"At that visit, you get a PAP smear, a blood pressure check, you might have screening for STDs, you might get a breast exam, a chance to get all the preventive services available at least once a year."
Planned Parenthood says that while this announcement is a victory for women's health, they are disappointed that HHS is considering proposals that would limit this protection for some women. Planned Parenthood says they will continue to work hard to ensure that all women, regardless of their employers or insurers, have access to the health care they need, including affordable birth control.
If HHS adopts the recommendations, health insurance policies would change in about a year to cover the "well woman" exams and screenings without co-pays or deductibles.
More information is available online at www.plannedparenthood.org. |
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