USPSTF Issues Two Preventive Service Recommendations

As a reminder, non-grandfathered health plans are required to cover preventive services with an “A” or “B” rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at zero cost to the plan’s participants. Recently, the USPSTF published two new preventive services that non-grandfathered health plans will be required to cover:

• Obesity Screening for Children/Adolescents (age 6 and older); and

• Childhood Vision Screening (ages 3-5).

Plans will have time to implement these new requirements. Coverage for all new or updated preventive services is required to go into effect the first plan year beginning on or after the date that is one year after the new recommendation or guideline goes into effect.