Obama's team stated that "they were inclined to accept the panel's advice and that the new requirements could take effect for many plans at the beginning of 2013." Kathleen Sebelius (secretary of health and human services) revealed a 10-year plans to improve the health of the U.S. citizens (which was submitted to her by the Institute of Medicine - part of the National Academy of Sciences.) Contraceptive coverage was one of the changes proposed. Officials would like to act on said recommendations by August 1 and are receptive to the proposition of removing cost from birth control for U.S. women as a barrier to keep them from receiving it. Obviously, these recommendations were whole heartedly supported by women's rights supporters and organizations, and rejected by the Roman Catholic Church.
As stated by Ms. Sebelius: "This report is historic. Before today, guidelines regarding women’s health and preventive care did not exist. These recommendations are based on science and existing literature.”
(SCIENCE, people!)
The panel who submitted these recommendations concluded that insurers should be forbidden to create a monetary wall for women to pass over or through, thus making it more difficult for them to receive the preventative tools they need to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Additionally, the medical panel recommended that that government require health plans to screen for detection of domestic violence, H.I.V. as well as counseling and equipment to promote breastfeeding with free breast pump rentals, gestational diabetes in pregnant women, DNA testing for HPV and other preventative screening.
As part of supporting evidence for said recommendations, the medical panel said that almost 50% of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and of those unintended, 40% end in abortion. If women had unrestricted access to contraception there would be far unintended pregnancies, teen pregnancies and (shocker of all shocks!) abortions.
Cost has not yet been considered but according to the panel it is highly cost effective.
Barbara A. Mikulski (Democrat of Maryland) said it best: “We are one step closer to saying goodbye to an era when simply being a woman is treated as a pre-existing condition. We are saying hello to an era where decisions about preventive care and screenings are made by a woman and her doctor, not by an insurance company.”
For more information, see Robert Pear's article in the New York Times.
If you are just beginning to read my blog, here is the first entry that briefly describes the purpose.
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