Contraception Is Prevention Victory

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made a significant advance for women's health by announcing that private health insurers must cover contraception without charging women co-pays!  Raising Women's Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the women's health coalition led by WOMEN'S WAY, has been advocating for the adoption of this measure and is thrilled by the news!  Thanks to all of you who signed the Contraception in Prevention petition - our collective voice certainly helped to bring about this historic victory! You can thank Secretary Sebelius here.

Eliminating this cost barrier for family planning services will lead to increased access to contraceptive care and better health outcomes for women and their babies. Along with contraception, HHS adopted the full list of women's preventative health services to be available without co-payments recommended by the Institute of Medicine such as yearly well-woman exams, breastfeeding supports, and screening and counseling for domestic violence and HIV infection. The new requirements will take effect January 1, 2013, in most cases.

The downside is that HHS intends to offer religious employers the ability to refuse to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees. HHS will be accepting written comments for the next 60 days so we will be thanking Secretary Sebelius for taking this significant step forward for women and urging her to ensure ALL women have access to contraception regardless of what their employers may believe!