Virtually all health insurance plans could soon be required to offer female patients free coverage of prescription birth control, breast-pump rentals, counseling for domestic violence, and annual wellness exams and HIV tests as a result of recommendations released Tuesday by an independent advisory panel of health experts.There is no guarantee these recommendations will be adopted, and, naturally, the "pro-life" brigade is already throwing a shit-fit about the possibility because, despite whatever bullshit rationale they tack onto their protestations, they hate women having agency, choices, and autonomy. But, as Digby points out, this is a fight worth having, especially because "liberals will win it."
The health-care law adopted last year directed the Obama administration to draw up a list of preventive services for women that all new health plans must cover without deductibles or co-payments. While the guidelines suggested Tuesday by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine are not binding, the panel conducted its year-long review at the request of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
In a statement, Sebelius praised the committee's work as "historic" and "based on science and existing literature."
"We are reviewing the report closely and will release the department's recommendations...very soon," she added.
Think Progress has more.
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