Source: https://healthlaw.org/resource/contraceptive-coverage-requirement-timeline/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 08:23:43+00:00

Document:
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that most new health plans cover women’s preventive health services — including contraception — without cost-sharing is a significant triumph for millions of women who are currently insured or who will obtain health insurance through the ACA. Unfortunately, various ongoing efforts could deprive many women of the right to obtain affordable birth control. This timeline provides a history of the requirement’s adoption and its implementation.
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that most new health insurance plans cover women’s preventive health services — including contraception — without cost-sharing is a significant triumph for millions of women who are currently insured or who will obtain health insurance through the ACA. Unfortunately, various ongoing efforts could deprive many women of the right to obtain affordable birth control. This timeline provides a history of the requirement’s adoption and its implementation.
July 19, 2010: The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury (the Departments) issue interim final regulations implementing § 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), which provide that a non-grandfathered group health plan or health insurance issuer must cover certain items and services, without cost-sharing, as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and HRSA.2 (33 comments received).
January 20, 2012: Secretary Sebelius reaffirms exemption authorized in the amended interim final regulations, and indicates that a safe harbor would be provided for certain other religiously affiliated non-profit organizations.
President Obama announces plan to implement an “accommodation” for certain religious groups.
August 1, 2013: Temporary safe harbor expires.
1 Affordable Care Act (ACA), Pub. L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010), § 1001, 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13 (amending § 2713 of the PHS Act).
2 Interim Final Rules for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Act, 77 Fed. Reg. 41,726 (July 19, 2010).
3 Inst. of Medicine of the Nat’l Academies, Clinical Preventive Services for Women: Closing the Gaps at 1-2 (2011), http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Clinical-Preventive-Services-for-Women-Closing-the-Gaps.aspx. HRSA charged the IOM with developing recommendations on the preventive services necessary to ensure women’s health and well-being. Id. at 1. To this end, the IOM convened a committee of 16 eminent researchers and practitioners to serve on the Committee on Preventive Services for Women. Id.at 2.
4 U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., Health Res. & Servs. Admin., Women’s Preventive Services: Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines, http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines.
5 Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 76 Fed. Reg. 46621 (Aug. 3, 2011).
6 Belmont Abbey Coll. v. Sebelius, No. 1:11-cv-01989 (D.C.D.C. filed Nov. 10, 2011).
7 CCIO & CMS, Guidance on the Temporary Enforcement Safe Harbor for Certain Employers, Group Health Plans and Group Health Insurance Issuers with Respect to the Requirement to Cover Contraceptive Services Without Cost Sharing Under Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act, Section 715(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and Section 9815(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code 3-4 (Feb. 10, 2012).
8 Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 77 Fed. Reg. 8,725 (Feb. 15, 2012) (to be codified at 45 C.F.R. pt. 147).
9 This was the first of several congressional hearings. The National Health Law Program submitted testimony to the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, and other committees, supporting the contraceptive coverage requirement.
10 Student Health Insurance Coverage, 77 Fed. Reg. 16,453 (March 21, 2012) (to be codified at 45 C.F.R. pts. 144, 147, and 158).
11 O’Brien v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., No. 4:12-cv-00476 (E.D. Mo. filed March 15, 2012). The National Health Law Program filed an amicus brief in O’Brien and subsequent cases to highlight well-established evidenced-based standards of medical care that recognize that contraception is essential preventive care for women. The brief further addresses prevailing federal laws and policies pre-dating the ACA that recognize, and make available, contraceptive counseling, services, and supplies. https://healthlaw.org/images/stories/NHeLP_Amics_Br._filed_stamped.pdf.
12 Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act, 77 Fed. Reg. 16,501 (Mar. 21, 2012) (to be codified at 45 C.F.R. pt. 147).
13 U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., Health Res. & Servs. Admin., Women’s Preventive Services: Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines, http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines.
14 CCIO & CMS, Guidance on the Temporary Enforcement Safe Harbor for Certain Employers, Group Health Plans and Group Health Insurance Issuers with Respect to the Requirement to Cover Contraceptive Services Without Cost Sharing Under Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act, Section 715(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and Section 9815(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code 3-4 (Aug. 15, 2012) (updating earlier guidance issued on Feb. 10, 2012).
15 Dep’t of Labor, HHS, & Dep’t of the Treasury, FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation XII (Feb. 20, 2013), http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca12.html#5.

References: § 2713
 § 1001
 § 300
 § 2713
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