The Affordable Care Act ( Aca ) - 1674 Words

Background: the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is a federal health reform bill, requires most public and private health plans to provide a minimum coverage of women’s preventive healthcare services with no cost sharing.1 Therefore, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) was commissioned to review what preventive services are essential for women’s health and welfare and consequently should be considered in the development of guidelines for women’s preventive services.2 According to the IOM recommendations, all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient counseling and education must be covered for all women with reproductive capability without having to pay a co-insurance, co-payment or a deductible. The covered†¦show more content†¦The HHS, however, has not exempted for-profit businesses whose owners claim religious objection to some forms of contraceptives that were required to be covered under the mandate rule.6 Essentially, th e most controversial methods of contraception are intrauterine devices, vaginal implants, and both forms of emergency contraceptive pills known as Plan B and Ella.7 Issue: As of October 24, 2014, 45 legal cases have been filed by for-profit companies against the contraception coverage mandate.8 Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes family planning, which includes contraceptives, as one of the main public health accomplishments of the 20th century.9 This can be referred to its impact in