(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus cheered today as 140,400 Montana women gained access to new preventive services covered by their health insurance plans with no out-of-pocket costs. 

"Each one of these 140,400 women is a mother, daughter, wife, sister or friend who deserves access to the very best health care choices. Today is a win for all Montana women and their families," Baucus said.

The new health care law requires insurance companies to cover preventive services for women at no additional out-of-pocket costs for all new health plans starting on or after August 1, 2012. A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates about 47 million women nationwide and 140,400 Montana women have insurance plans that will be required to cover the new services (Full Report).

*New preventive services covered as of today include:

ü  Well-woman visits

ü  Domestic violence screening and counseling

ü  Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases

ü  FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education and counseling

ü  Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling

ü  HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older

*NOTE: Preventive services determined based on scientific recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, which relied on independent physicians, nurses, scientists, and other experts as well as evidence-based research to develop its recommendations. 

The health care law already requires new insurance plans to cover many other preventive services for all Montanans including: Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol tests; many cancer screenings, including mammograms; counseling on such topics as quitting smoking, losing weight, eating healthfully, treating depression, and reducing alcohol use; regular well-baby and well-child visits, from birth to age 21; routine vaccinations against diseases such as measles, polio, or meningitis; counseling, screening, and vaccines to ensure healthy pregnancies; and flu and pneumonia shots. (Learn More)