Women's Health Care in America: as of January 2013

A New Day for Women’s Health: Affordable Access to Preventive Care For too long, cost has kept too many women from accessing basic healthcare, even if they had health insurance. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the 2010 health reform law, beginning on August 1, 2012, all women enrolled in a new or renewed insurance plan will be able to access a wide range of preventive health services without copay or additional out-of-pocket costs. This critical new service will help women and families stay healthy and support women’s economic security, among other benefits. The new preventive care services for women are:  Annual well-woman visit: This visit will ensure a woman gets at least one annual exam with her doctor per year, to determine what preventive services are appropriate for her and set up a plan to ensure she gets the care she needs.  Birth control counseling and supplies: Access to all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, including condoms and sterilization procedures, will be accessible to help women plan for healthy pregnancies and avoid unintended pregnancy.  Gestational diabetes screening: Women who are 24-28 weeks pregnant or at risk for developing gestational diabetes will have access to this test, which will help both women and their children. Women with this disease are at higher risk of developing other forms of diabetes in the future, and children of women with gestational diabetes have a greater risk of being insulin-resistant or overweight.  Breastfeeding support and supplies: While a natural process, breastfeeding is also a learned skill. To ensure that women who choose to breastfeed are able to do so successfully, trained lactation consultants and supplies will be available to help women and their infants obtain the benefits of breastfeeding.  Screening and counseling for sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV: Sexually active women will have access to counseling for STIs (including HIV), which has proven to reduce high-risk behaviors. Women will also have access to HIV screening, specifically; this is of critical importance as HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact on women in the US.  Expanded testing for cervical cancer: Even if her pap test is normal, women age 30 or older will have access to a DNA test for HPV (a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer) every three years. Early screening has been shown to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer.  Screening and counseling for domestic violence: In the US, one in four women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Screening has shown to help women who have survived interpersonal or domestic violence obtain appropriate care and intervention to increase her safety.