D.C. Act 22-49. Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2017.
AN ACT
To amend, on an emergency basis, the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Federal Law Conformity Act of 2000 to require insurers to cover preventive services for women without cost-sharing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2017".
Sec. 2. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Federal Law Conformity Act of 2000, effective April 3, 2001 (D.C. Law 13-254; D.C. Official Code § 31-3831 et seq.), is amended by adding a new section 5b to read as follows:
"Sec. 5b. Coverage of women's preventive health services.
"(a) An individual health plan or group health plan, a health insurer offering health insurance coverage for prescription drugs, and health insurance coverage through Medicaid and the DC Alliance program shall provide coverage for, and shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements on, women for the following preventive health services required to be covered under section 2713 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, approved March 23, 2010 (124 Stat. 131; 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13), and the act's implementing regulations, guidelines, and recommendations:
"(1) Those evidence-based items or services that have in effect a rating of "A" or "B" in the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force as of April 4, 2017, available at https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Name/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations/;
"(2) Such additional preventive care and screenings not described in paragraph (1) of this subsection as provided for in comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration as of April 4, 2017, available at https://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/; and
"(3) Any additional preventive services identified by the United States Preventive Services Task Force or the Health Resources and Services Administration after April 4, 2017.
"(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall be construed consistently with all provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, approved March 23, 2010 (124 Stat. 141; 42 U.S.C. § 18001 et seq.).".
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).
