Since passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many preventive care services are covered at no cost to health plan participants. An October information request issued by the IRS and two other federal agencies is evaluating whether to expand no-cost preventive care to include over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services without cost sharing and without a prescription by a health care provider. Items referenced in the proposed rule include tobacco cessation therapies, folic acid supplements for women planning to become pregnant or who could be pregnant, breastfeeding supplies and certain OTC contraceptive products. Comments must be received by December 4, 2023.
