Ragan: Health Care Law Gives 519,908 Iowa Women Access to Preventive Care

Statement issued by Sen. Amanda Ragan of Mason City

MASON CITY, IOWA – In a momentous step forward, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that—thanks to the Affordable Care Act—47 million women nationwide will have access to free prevention-related health care services without paying out of their own pocket. This means that, beginning August 1, 2012, 519,908 women in Iowa can take greater control over their health by having access to life-saving preventive care free of charge.

For the first time ever, Iowa women will be granted access to potentially life-saving tests and services, without having to worry about costs. No longer will Iowa women be at the disposal of their insurance companies, but will instead be able to take control of their well-being and make decisions to keep them healthy, catch possibly serious conditions at an earlier state and protect themselves and their families from colossal medical bills.

“Costs can be a prohibitive determining factor when Iowa women are making health care decisions,” said Sen. Amanda Ragan of Mason City. “The preventive care available to women through the Affordable Health Care Act can lead to stronger, healthier families in our state. That is where this new access should lead us.”

As Secretary Sebelius put it, “President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their health care. This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions.”

While certain preventive care services were already mandated by the Affordable Care Act, the eight new preventative services required by the law include: well-woman visits, gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases, domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling, FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education and counseling, breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling, HPV DNA testing for women 30 or older, sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women, and finally HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women.

Based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, these new provisions relied on physicians, nurses, scientists and other experts, as well as evidence-based research, to determine the services that are critical to ensuring women’s long-term health. These vital preventative services will allow women to take their health into their own hands and get the care they need before it’s too late.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, stable, affordable health care is becoming a reality for thousands of women and their families across Iowa and for millions of Americans nationwide.

To learn more about the health care services you may be eligible for at no extra charge under the Affordable Care Act, go to http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention