Institute of Medicine Report

AMCHP is pleased to share that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a new report today recommending eight preventive health services for women. These services will be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). At the request of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the IOM’s Preventive Services for Women Committee identified critical gaps in preventive services for women as well as measures that will further ensure women’s health and well-being. HHS is expected to respond to these recommendation by the end of August. The proposed recommendations contribute significantly to state efforts to improve women’s health overall, and support efforts to promote preconception and inter-conception care for women of child bearing age.

The IOM recommends that HHS require health insurance plans cover the following preventive services for women with no cost sharing:
* screening for gestational diabetes
* human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as part of cervical cancer screening for women over 30
* counseling on sexually transmitted infections
* counseling and screening for HIV
* contraceptive methods and counseling to prevent unintended pregnancies
* lactation counseling and equipment to promote breast-feeding
* screening and counseling to detect and prevent interpersonal and domestic violence
* yearly well-woman preventive care visits to obtain recommended preventive services

AMCHP Chief Executive Officer Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE, stated, “I am pleased that these IOM recommendations recognize the unique health needs of women and strongly support their widespread adoption. AMCHP urges the Department of Health and Human Services to implement these scientifically based recommendations and develop the guidelines necessary to afford women access to comprehensive preventive services.”

A summary of the IOM report is here<http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2011/Clinical-Preventive-Services-for-Women-Closing-the-Gaps/Preventive%20Services%20Women%202011%20Report%20Brief.pdf>; the full report is here<http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13181&page=R1>; and AMCHP’s Comments to the Institute of Medicine are here<http://www.amchp.org/Advocacy/health-reform/Documents/AMCHP%20Comments%20Preventive%20Services%20for%20Women.pdf>.

Comments

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments