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Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new guidelines to ensure that women have access to recommended preventive services without cost sharing.
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Highlights |
The new guidelines include:
- Well-woman visits
- Screening for gestational diabetes
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older
- Sexually-transmitted infection counseling
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening and counseling
- FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling
- Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling
- Domestic violence screening and counseling
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How it Affects You |
This provision will go into effect for plan years that begin on or after 8/1/2012. Grandfathered plans are able to be exempt from the changes above. Religious organizations can be exempt from the contraceptive provision. The timing of the guidelines ensures that employers have a full year to respond, which is positive.
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Our View |
The inclusion of contraception methods, in our opinion, is the item that will affect most employees. Interestingly, the guidelines allow for cost sharing for brand-name drugs as long as generics are offered at no cost share or copay. Some of these measures, such as well-woman visits and breastfeeding support, were already in existance under the Affordable Care Act of health care reform.
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For More Information |
For more information on this law, please contact your Account Manager or visit the following government resources:
News Release
Fact Sheet
Insurance Guidelines and Frequency
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