Expanded access to women's preventive health services requires campus healthcare providers to become 'in-network' with health insurance plans
DALLAS, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Since September 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has required health insurance plans to cover most clinical preventive services without patient cost sharing. Effective immediately the ACA is now expanding this coverage to include several women's health services. The important caveat: Healthcare providers must be 'in-network' with insurance plans.
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New services included that are commonly performed at campus health centers:- Well-woman visits
- HPV DNA testing
- STI and HIV screening and counseling
- Contraception and contraceptive counseling
Unfortunately for students, the majority of campus healthcare providers are not 'in-network' with health insurance plans. Therefore, if students want to receive this important ACA benefit on campus, campus health centers must become 'in-network' providers.
According to Sheila Dorgan, MSN, FNP, Director of Health Services at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, "Since we're 'in-network' with all the large insurers, our students already have no cost sharing – no co-pays or deductibles – for preventive services. And our students continue to benefit now that the new women's health laws are effective."
Students at health centers that are not 'in-network' will be forced to pay for these services on campus. That could force many female students to seek care with an off campus 'in-network provider.
According to Dorgan, "Since our health center bills health insurance and is 'in-network', UMass Dartmouth students will be able to remain on campus to receive women's healthcare without cost sharing. This keeps our students on campus, which is better for retention."
Vivature, Inc is headquartered in Dallas, TX, and serves over 200 universities across the U.S.
CONTACT:
ASHLI GEHRMANN
972-367-4856
[email protected]
SOURCE Vivature, Inc