United States of Care Submits Comments in Response to CMS, IRA, and EBSA’s Proposed Preventive Services Rule Change

Today, United States of Care (USofCare) submitted comments on the proposed rule change by the Internal Revenue Service, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would protect the status of contraception as a free preventive service, making access to care more affordable for millions of people. 

Our comments highlighted some insights on the popularity of free preventive care from our listening work, along with the following themes:

• Improved Health Outcomes: Access to free preventive care is crucial for positive health outcomes. Cost-free access to reproductive health services like contraception are essential to ensuring millions of people can determine their own care without financial burden.
• Reduced Health Disparities: Many people live in “contraceptive deserts,” where access to reproductive care is scarce. This disproportionately impacts Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous communities. Providing access to cost-free contraception will reduce the barriers many face when accessing care.
• Reduced Barriers to Access: People will be able to access critically needed contraceptive care without facing barriers due to ideological objections from their health insurance issuer or employer through the elimination of the moral exemption rule and the creation of the individual contraception arrangement.

USofCare applauds the Departments’ leadership in furthering health equity and expanding access to care and calls for the swift adoption of this rule.

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About United States of Care

United States of Care is a nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kevin Perez-Allen 

(714) 499-4481

[email protected]

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