U.S. panel: Cover birth control for free

[liberal N proud]

Institute of Medicine recommends insurers be required to cover birth control without copays

WASHINGTON — Millions of women may soon gain free access to a broad menu of birth control methods, thanks to a recommendation issued Tuesday by health experts advising the government.

An Institute of Medicine panel recommended that the government require health insurance companies to cover birth control for women as a preventive service, without copayments. Contraception — along with such care as diabetes tests during pregnancy and screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer — was one of eight recommended preventive services for women.

The law already requires most health plans to provide standard preventive care for people of both sexes at no additional charge to patients, but the women's health recommendations were considered so sensitive that the nonpartisan institute was asked to examine the issue and report back. The IOM advises the government on complex issues related to medical science and health care policy.

A half century after the introduction of the birth control pill, the IOM recommendations may help to usher in another revolution. Medical experts say easier access could start a shift to more reliable forms of long-acting birth control, such as implants or IUDs, which are gaining acceptance in other economically developed countries.

First, expect a fight over social mores. Catholic bishops and some other religious and social conservatives say pregnancy is a healthy condition and the government should not require insurance coverage of drugs and other methods that prevent it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43812253/ns/health-womens_health/?GT1=43001

[RT Atlanta]

1. Good

And if not, they should revoke all insurance coverage for boner pills (er, um, "ED" pills) for men.

On edit: did any one hear the NPR article about this matter this morning? They had the obligatory "against it" speaker from some conservative group who mentioned persons objecting to BC on faith, etc. as a reason for not requiring mandatory coverage. All I could think is WTF?!? Cant those folks keep their faith to themselves and let others whose health (and wallets) benefit from this recommendation, actually receive some good?

[JuniperLea]

2. It's a choice, an option...

"Catholic bishops and some other religious and social conservatives say pregnancy is a healthy condition and the government should not require insurance coverage of drugs and other methods that prevent it."

Then discuss it with your own "flock" and leave the rest of us the hell alone! We have the right NOT to conform to religious ideas, and we should have the right not to be batted around the face and head with this religious crap.

[SharonAnn]

9. The majority of Catholic women ignore Catholic bishops

[Mimosa]

3. The unrecs on this show DU is shockingly full of 'conservatives'

This proposal is merely sensible.

Excerpt:

"An Institute of Medicine panel recommended that the government require health insurance companies to cover birth control for women as a preventive service, without copayments. Contraception — along with such care as diabetes tests during pregnancy and screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer — was one of eight recommended preventive services for women."

Why would anybody object to this topic? We need to know what's going on, don't we?

[HockeyMom]

5. Catholic Church opposes ALL BC

even condoms. Even though the majority of their own flock use "artificial" BC, they would not nesitate to ban BC on everyone, if they could. I suppose there are other right wing religious organizations who feel the same, but catholics have to be largest group among them.

[Mimosa]

6. I think we know why the patriarchal Catholic hierarchy wants to ban birth control

Very few people convert to Catholicism. They want passive peasants to breed more bodies to support the Church. The Catholic Church hierarchy supports unlimited illegal immigration from Catholic countries including Central America and Mexico. Here in ATL Hispanics at young ages usually have large families. Until lately Atlanta never had many Catholics.

I was brought up Catholic, attended parochial schools. And I appreciate some of catholic contributions to humanity. But on issues such as this they are tragically wrong.

[HockeyMom]

7. 12 years of Catholic School, myself

From what I have seen, WE are their biggest "threat". We have learned the tools, in their own schools, we agrue against what they teach. I grew up in NYC. Even in Catholic school, I did not know one single Cathollic family back in the 50s, who had more than 3 children. I, myself, am an only child. NO BC? Tell me another one.

[SharonAnn]

10. I, too, was in CAtholic schools through the 50's and early 60's. Big families were the rule.

I'm from a family of 8, many with 6 or more, and there were several in my class of 10 or more. Though, of course there were also many with 3 or 4.

My mother, after 8, had her tubes tied. She had to leave town and "accidentally" deliver early there to get her tubes tied. Couldn't get it done in our town without everyone knowing.

She said that if the priests thought having more than 8 kids was terrific, then they should have them. And she was healthy and we were economically well off. But still, 8 kids? Because "they" say you have to many as you physically can? She decided, "No!"

[HockeyMom]

4. Back in the 60s my insurance DID cover my BC pills

for free. Actually, there WEREN'T any co-pays at all for physician scripts. They certainly didn't single out BC back then, before the Fundies pushed their religion into it.

[liberal N proud]

8. It is in their best interest to cover birth control

Prevent the pregnancy and you don't have to pay for the prenatal care or the child after birth.

I would think the bean counters would rule here.

[SharonAnn]

11. "Risk Management" would be the term that describes it.