– Comment by December 27. This proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would expand access to coverage of recommended preventive services, with a particular focus on reducing barriers to coverage of contraceptive services, including over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives. As part of the proposed rule, most group health plans and health insurance issuers would be required to cover OTC contraceptives without cost-sharing or requiring a prescription. Plans and issuers would have to provide consumers with additional choices of covered contraceptives and drug-led combination products. The proposed rule includes several requests for comments aimed at gathering feedback on whether proposals related to coverage of recommended contraceptive items should be extended to other or all recommended preventive services. CMS provides a fact sheet with brief background and summary of this proposal.
