New Mandatory Preventive Items and Services (2021 Updates)

Most plans will be required to cover new preventive items and services beginning later this year, or in 2022 or 2023 (depending on the plan year), including ones related to Hepatitis B virus infection screenings and colon cancer screenings.

Background

Non-grandfathered group health plans must provide coverage for in-network preventive items and services and may not impose any cost-sharing requirements (such as a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible) with respect to those items or services.

Evidence-based items or services that have in effect a rating of A or B in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (“USPSTF”) are considered to be “preventive.” The USPSTF recommendations can change, and those changes generally apply for plan years that begin on or after the date that is one year after the date the new recommendation or guideline is considered to be issued

Employer Action

Employers sponsoring non-grandfathered group health plans should review the various preventive care requirements effective for their upcoming plan years. Such coverage must be provided in-network, without cost-sharing.

For fully insured health plans, carriers are generally responsible for compliance and should include these benefits as applicable. Self-funded health plans should discuss with TPAs to ensure coverage is in effect for plan years that begin on or after the applicable effective dates.

For a complete list of preventive items and services, visit:

https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics