PHI Applauds New Guidelines That Assure Critical Preventive Health Services for Women

The Public Health Institute (PHI) welcomes today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of new guidelines that will ensure women receive critical preventive health services at no additional cost. This is an important step forward in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act that will help to address health disparities, reduce health care costs and save lives. 

By accepting evidence-based recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine, HHS is taking action to ensure that a host of key preventive services will be more widely available for women. Under the guidelines announced today, new health insurance plans will be required to cover women’s preventive services such as well-woman visits, HIV screening and counseling, screening for gestational diabetes, breastfeeding support, domestic violence screening and contraception without charging a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible. Access to these services is crucial to preventing disability and death in literally thousands and thousands of women.

Today’s action by the Administration is a significant step forward in helping women to stay healthy, avoid or delay the onset of disease and lead productive lives.