The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) required health plans to cover services listed in the HHS comprehensive list of preventive services at no cost to patients. Just this past August 1st, as part of an expansion of coverage for women’s preventive care under the PPACA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandates that the following soon to be co-pay free:

• well-woman visits;

• screening for gestational diabetes;

• human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older;

• sexually-transmitted infection counseling;

• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling;

• breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling;

• domestic violence screening and counseling; and

• FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling.