Some of you may have been following the release of the Institute of Medicine’s report on clinical preventive services for women. This is a big, big deal for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their recommendation that women have access to birth control without a co-pay. But did you know their were some violence-related issues addressed in thew new report, as well?
Specifically, IOM recommended gender-based and domestic violence screening as part of the basic package of well-woman care included in basic insurance coverage. From the report brief:
[T]he committee recommended that all women and adolescent girls be screened and counseled for interpersonal and domestic violence in a culturally sensitive and supportive manner. An estimated five million women are physically, sexually, or emotionally abused by their partners each year in the United States. Screening for risk of abuse is central to women’s safety, as well as to addressing current health concerns and preventing future health problems.
Recommendation for Preventive Health Care Services for Women That Should Be Considered by HHS (click on link for enlarged image of recommendations chart)