Interest groups are seeking to influence the Obama administration's decision on whether to include birth control on the supplemental list of women's preventive services that health insurers will be required to cover without out-of-pocket costs for the consumer, CQ Weekly reports (Ethridge, CQ Weekly, 7/26).

The new health reform law (PL 111-148) requires insurers to provide coverage of a range of preventive services currently recommended by health experts, such as wellness visits, vaccinations, screenings and laboratory tests. There will be no copayments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket charges for the recommended tests and screenings. The rules apply to all new health plans that begin coverage after Sept. 23, 2010 (Women's Health Policy Report, 7/15). HHS will select an independent panel of physicians, nurses, scientists and other health professionals to determine the coverage requirements for a supplemental list of women's preventive services that are not already addressed in government-supported guidelines, according to CQ Weekly. The list will be released by Aug. 1, 2011 (CQ Weekly, 7/26).

"So far, advocates for making birth control one of the preventive services ... have lobbied more actively than those who oppose it," according to CQ Weekly. Planned Parenthood Federation of America has sent 300 advocates to urge lawmakers to include coverage of birth control. According to Laurie Rubiner, Planned Parenthood's vice president for public policy, the group hopes to receive the support from lawmakers such as Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who oppose abortion rights but in the past have supported birth control measures.

Groups that oppose inclusion of birth control on the list say they have only just begun to fight against the service's inclusion. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it has not started to lobby lawmakers to oppose inclusion of birth control (CQ Weekly, 7/26).

Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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