Dive Brief:
- The Women’s Preventive Services Initiative issued a set of draft recommendations that would add to the set of services offered to women by payers at no out-of-pocket cost.
- The new recommendations would allow women to begin mammogram screening for breast cancer at the age of 40 and to return for screening every one or two years.
- Other guidelines for breast cancer screening, such as those issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, recommend mammograms start at age 50.
Dive Insight:
The guidelines were issued as part of ongoing review to update a list of preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act. Public comment on guidelines published by the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative, an initiative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, are welcome until September 30.
In addition to mammogram guidelines, the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative also includes guidelines for breastfeeding supplies, cervical cancer screening, domestic violence screening and more. Many existing recommendations need work, according to a Kaiser Health News article. The initial list of covered services issued by the Institute of Medicine in 2012 are ambiguous about implementation, which has led to scuffles between patient advocates and payers.
The Women’s Preventive Services Initiative hopes its guidelines provide clarity to the covered services list. For instance, it recommends the contraceptive coverage requirement allow women without a prescription to receive a one-year supply of contraceptives all at once. This could help to boost adherence, the group said.