Health Care Reform Preventive Services
by Denise Early on Mar. 28, 2012, under HealthUnder health care refom, preventative services regulations require coverage for a broad category of preventive services, including:
- immunizations
- blood pressure and cholesterol screenings
- diabetes screening for hypertensive patients
- various cancer and sexually transmitted infection screenings
- depression screenings
- tobacco cessation programs
- obesity screening and counseling, as well as other services
Plans can no longer charge a patient a co-payment, coinsurance or deductible for these services when they are delivered by an in-network provider.
Additionally, on August 1, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new guidelines on Women’s Preventive Health Services that require non-grandfathered group and individual health benefit plans (including Student Health Plans) and issuers to provide preventive services without cost sharing. This regulation applies to group health plans in the first plan year that begins on or after August 1, 2012 (in the Individual market, by policy year). These services 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; and
- domestic violence screening and counseling.
