Federal agencies have finalized prior guidance related to the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services provisions, which require non-grandfathered group health plans to provide coverage for certain preventive health services (including contraceptive services) without cost-sharing.

Among other things, the final rules extend the availability of the existing accommodation for non-profit religious organizations (from contracting, providing, paying, or referring for contraceptive services) to certain closely held for-profit entities that object to providing contraceptive coverage based on sincerely held religious beliefs. The rules also finalize standards concerning documentation and disclosure of a closely held for-profit entity’s decision not to provide coverage for contraceptive services. The final rules will generally apply on the first day of the first plan year that begins on or after September 14, 2015.

To learn more about the requirement to cover recommended preventive services without cost-sharing, visit our section on Preventive Services within the Client Resource Center HR Library.