California Family Health Council Applauds HHS Adoption of Women’s Health Coverage Recommendations

New Rule Will Save Money and Improve Individual, Family and Community Health

August 1, 2011 – Berkeley/Los Angeles, California -- Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an interim final rule adopting the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations for preventive health services for women in full with one exception - religious institutions providing insurance coverage to their employees will be allowed to exclude contraceptive coverage in their health insurance plans.  While the  exception for religious institutions is disappointing and we will continue to urge access for all women regardless of their employer, the HHS action is a groundbreaking victory for women’s health overall.

“The historic new guidelines adopted by HHS today underscore what health providers and everyday citizens have long known – reproductive health care is an essential part of comprehensive and cost-effective health care.  Secretary Sebelius and President Obama should be commended for recognizing the long-term fiscal and public health benefits of increasing access to affordable and high quality preventative care for women,” said Julie Rabinovitz, President and CEO of California Family Health Council.

By removing financial barriers to preventative services, significant public dollars will be saved and more women will have access to the unique care they need to live long and healthy lives.

Too often, women go without the care they need to be healthy. More than half of all women avoid key preventive care because of high costs, turning small health issues into big health problems and driving up health care costs across the board. Currently, about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, costing taxpayers an estimated $11 billion a year. According to a national poll, 84 percent of Americans approve of family planning and see birth control as an important part of preventive health care. Among all women who have had sex, 99 percent have used a contraceptive method other than natural family planning but a 2010 survey showed that one in three women voters have struggled to pay for prescription birth control at some point and have used it inconsistently as a result.

“When you combine the scientific and economic evidence and general mood of most Americans, it is remarkable that it has taken this long for comprehensive women's health care and family planning to be recognized and covered as an essential part our health care delivery system.  California Family Health Council will continue to monitor the impact of this decision on family planning patients and providers and will continue to advocate for affordable access to preventative services for all women, without exception,” Rabinovitz added.

The rules announced today will be effective starting August 1, 2012.  More information is available here.