DeLauro, Capps Laud IOM Women's Health Recommendations

Press Release

Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Lois Capps (CA-23) applauded a new report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocating that contraception services, supplies education and counseling be included in the comprehensive preventive care guidelines under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Signed into law last year, the ACA fundamentally changes the American health care system, shifting the focus away from reactive responses and towards prevention and wellness. All Americans will benefit from this change, but women especially as they live longer and have specific health care needs that have traditionally been overlooked.

Capps submitted testimony to the IOM signed by 42 other members, including Congresswoman DeLauro, in support of requiring that contraceptive services are included in the essential benefits package. They cited a strong research base that shows the important health impacts of planning a pregnancy and proper birth spacing on both a woman and her children, as well as studies that indicate women and their families experience cost barriers to affordable, reliable birth control methods.

"I commend the IOM and their work to interpret the ACA's clinical preventive care requirements for women, especially the inclusion of contraceptive methods, regular screenings for HPV, counseling and education for sexually active women, and annual "well-woman' preventive care services," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "The passage of the Affordable Care Act was one of the proudest moments of my life-- for over a year, many of my colleagues and I fought to ensure that the legislation would include specific health care benefits for women, expanding their access to care instead of restricting their choices. The recommendations in this study reflect that effort, and will ensure that for the first time, women are on equal footing with men when it comes to health care."

"Planning a pregnancy and proper birth spacing are critically important to ensure that both a woman and her children are as healthy as possible. However, especially in hard economic times like we are experiencing now, women and their partners often have to choose between high contraceptive costs and paying the bills. The IOM's recommendation to include all FDA contraceptive methods as a critical preventative service--without cost sharing--and to cover the patient education and counseling necessary to ensure each woman can choose the method best for her, is a critical step in empowering all women to plan their pregnancies," said Congresswoman Capps.

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