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Yesterday, in its recommendation to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) confirmed what we have long known: .

This is a huge step forward for women鈥檚 health, as the IOM鈥檚 recommendation is a significant move toward ensuring that contraception is provided without co-pays or other out-of-pocket expenses in new insurance plans under the health reform law.

Last summer, the federal government commissioned the , an independent medical authority, to review and recommend women鈥檚 preventive health services that should be included in the Department鈥檚 final guidelines on preventive services that are expected later this summer. In a true showing of support for women鈥檚 health, the IOM recommended that the list of services should include 鈥渢he full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods.鈥�

The IOM鈥檚 recommendation, if adopted, will ensure that millions of women have access to the safe and effective contraception they need, which is a critical component of basic health care for women. . Out-of-pocket expenses for birth control, , burden a woman鈥檚 ability to access and use contraception consistently, especially if she is already managing a tight budget. Eliminating extra out-of-pocket costs would remove a major barrier to contraception access, allowing women to make their own personal decisions about whether or when to have children, regardless of the size of their pocketbooks.

The Department of Health and Human Services now needs to make the final decision. Let鈥檚 hope that the department will do the right thing and follow the evidence-based advice they asked for.

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