IOM Panel Urges Mandatory Contraception Coverage
Various news outlets have reported on the Institute of Medicine's recommendations to Kathleen Sibelious, head of the Department of Health and Human Services, about what should be covered under the new health care bill.
NYTimes: "The (Obama) administration asked the Institute of Medicine, a nonpartisan, nongovernmental arm of the National Academy of Sciences, to help identify the specific services that must be covered for women."
"A leading medical advisory panel recommended on Tuesday that all insurers be required to cover contraceptives for women free of charge as one of several preventive services under the new health care law. Obama administration officials said that they were inclined to accept the panel's advice and that the new requirements could take effect for many plans at the beginning of 2013." Earlier this year, the Administration suggested that it would adopt this course of action when HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "unveiled a 10-year program to improve the nation's health. One goal was to 'increase the proportion of health insurance plans that cover contraceptive supplies and services.'"
WaPo: reports that the Affordable Care Act "adopted last year directed the Obama administration to draw up a list of preventive services for women that all new health plans must cover without deductibles or co-payments." Even though "the guidelines suggested Tuesday by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine are not binding, the panel conducted its year-long review at the request of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius."
LA Times: reports, "Among eight recommendations, the panel urged coverage for 'the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling.'" Since almost "half of all pregnancies [are] unplanned in the US, many experts see easy access to contraception as critical to women's and babies' health. Mothers with unwanted pregnancies are less likely to receive prenatal care and engage in unsafe behaviors such as drinking and smoking, according to research cited by the institute." Sebelius said that HHS "would review" the panel's recommendations "before it finalizes regulations 'very soon' specifying which preventive services will have to be covered."
Wall Street Journal: "the recommendation to eliminate co-pays for contraceptives is certain to generate controversy. Already, the Family Research Council, a conservative group, said that it disagrees with the recommendation on the grounds that it would compel opponents of family planning to help pay for contraceptives. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards lauded the recommendations, saying that they would help to improve women's health. "
Washington Times: also notes objections raised by the Family Research Council, which "said including the morning-after pill in the insurance guidelines 'essentially would mandate coverage for abortion.'" But, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), "who introduced the amendment requiring all health plans to cover women's preventative care, applauded the recommendations," saying, "We are one step closer to saying goodbye to an era when simply being a woman is treated as a pre-existing condition. ... We are saying hello to an era where decisions about preventative care and screenings are made by a woman and her doctor -- not by an insurance company."
AP: reports that a battle "over social mores is brewing. Catholic bishops and other religious and social conservatives say pregnancy is a healthy condition and the government should not require insurance coverage of drugs and other methods that prevent it." Still, "short of repealing part of the health care law, it's unclear what opponents can do to block the recommendations. A final decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is expected around Aug. 1."
Florida Independent: "Reproductive justice groups all over the country -- including in Miami -- are petitioning the feds to eliminate co-pays for birth control through the Affordable Care Act." HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wants to review recommendations from the IOM before deciding the matter. Meanwhile, groups such as MI LOLA, are "launching a month-long campaign called 'Contraception is Prevention-NO co-pays for birth control.' The group is working with Raising Women's Voices, which has organized around this issue, to petition Sebelius for her support."
Lots more coverage:
LA Times
The Hill
Time
NPR
ABC
CBS
PBS
target="_blank">Baltimore Sun
Kaiser Health News
National Journal
St Louis Post Dispatch
Indianapolis Business Journal
HealthDay
CNN
Politico
For those of you blisfully unaware of how the American health care system works, this report is advocating a major change in how women's health is considered under health insurance. This is a game changer.
OMG there are so many tags to choose from...
NYTimes: "The (Obama) administration asked the Institute of Medicine, a nonpartisan, nongovernmental arm of the National Academy of Sciences, to help identify the specific services that must be covered for women."
"A leading medical advisory panel recommended on Tuesday that all insurers be required to cover contraceptives for women free of charge as one of several preventive services under the new health care law. Obama administration officials said that they were inclined to accept the panel's advice and that the new requirements could take effect for many plans at the beginning of 2013." Earlier this year, the Administration suggested that it would adopt this course of action when HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "unveiled a 10-year program to improve the nation's health. One goal was to 'increase the proportion of health insurance plans that cover contraceptive supplies and services.'"
WaPo: reports that the Affordable Care Act "adopted last year directed the Obama administration to draw up a list of preventive services for women that all new health plans must cover without deductibles or co-payments." Even though "the guidelines suggested Tuesday by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine are not binding, the panel conducted its year-long review at the request of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius."
LA Times: reports, "Among eight recommendations, the panel urged coverage for 'the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling.'" Since almost "half of all pregnancies [are] unplanned in the US, many experts see easy access to contraception as critical to women's and babies' health. Mothers with unwanted pregnancies are less likely to receive prenatal care and engage in unsafe behaviors such as drinking and smoking, according to research cited by the institute." Sebelius said that HHS "would review" the panel's recommendations "before it finalizes regulations 'very soon' specifying which preventive services will have to be covered."
Wall Street Journal: "the recommendation to eliminate co-pays for contraceptives is certain to generate controversy. Already, the Family Research Council, a conservative group, said that it disagrees with the recommendation on the grounds that it would compel opponents of family planning to help pay for contraceptives. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards lauded the recommendations, saying that they would help to improve women's health. "
Washington Times: also notes objections raised by the Family Research Council, which "said including the morning-after pill in the insurance guidelines 'essentially would mandate coverage for abortion.'" But, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), "who introduced the amendment requiring all health plans to cover women's preventative care, applauded the recommendations," saying, "We are one step closer to saying goodbye to an era when simply being a woman is treated as a pre-existing condition. ... We are saying hello to an era where decisions about preventative care and screenings are made by a woman and her doctor -- not by an insurance company."
AP: reports that a battle "over social mores is brewing. Catholic bishops and other religious and social conservatives say pregnancy is a healthy condition and the government should not require insurance coverage of drugs and other methods that prevent it." Still, "short of repealing part of the health care law, it's unclear what opponents can do to block the recommendations. A final decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is expected around Aug. 1."
Florida Independent: "Reproductive justice groups all over the country -- including in Miami -- are petitioning the feds to eliminate co-pays for birth control through the Affordable Care Act." HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wants to review recommendations from the IOM before deciding the matter. Meanwhile, groups such as MI LOLA, are "launching a month-long campaign called 'Contraception is Prevention-NO co-pays for birth control.' The group is working with Raising Women's Voices, which has organized around this issue, to petition Sebelius for her support."
Lots more coverage:
LA Times
The Hill
Time
NPR
ABC
CBS
PBS
target="_blank">Baltimore Sun
Kaiser Health News
National Journal
St Louis Post Dispatch
Indianapolis Business Journal
HealthDay
CNN
Politico
For those of you blisfully unaware of how the American health care system works, this report is advocating a major change in how women's health is considered under health insurance. This is a game changer.
OMG there are so many tags to choose from...