WOMEN’S HEALTH: Murray Applauds New Women’s Preventive Care Recommendations

(Washington, D.C.) Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that critical preventive health care services for women and girls, including a full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods, be fully covered by insurance companies at no additional cost. 

“This is a groundbreaking moment for women’s health in this country,” said Senator Patty Murray.  “Implementing these recommendations are the right thing to do and will end unnecessary and burdensome costs for millions of American women who currently struggle to afford contraceptive coverage and other preventive care. These recommendations are absolutely necessary and right and I strongly urge HHS to accept them to make sure that women and girls get the preventive health care services they need and deserve.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked IOM to put together these recommendations for which services should be considered a women’s preventive service and therefore covered by new health plans without cost-sharing under the Affordable Care Act.

The IOM recommendations now go to HHS for a final decision. If HHS adopts these recommendations, new insurance plans cannot charge co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket fees for these women’s preventive services.