[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-404244-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-404244-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","prh-organizational-comment-on-coverage-of-over-the-counter-otc-preventive-services","PRH - Organizational Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Preventive Services","","Physicians for Reproductive Health (PRH) submits comments in response to a request for information on how preventive services requirements under section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act apply to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services. The submission emphasizes that no-cost OTC coverage—covering contraception, PrEP, folic acid, and breast/chestfeeding supplies—is essential to remove cost-sharing barriers and improve access and utilization. It argues that broader access can reduce unintended pregnancy, STIs, HIV infections, and related infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, while addressing interconnected barriers such as lack of insurance, provider access, and cultural competency.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/prh-organizational-comment-on-coverage-of-over-the-counter-otc-preventive-services/404244/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/prh-organizational-comment-on-coverage-of-over-the-counter-otc-preventive-services/404244.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"ahduag","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",10,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What issue does PRH address in its response?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"PRH addresses how section 2713 preventive services requirements should apply to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services, including whether they should be covered without cost-sharing.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Which OTC preventive items and services does PRH mention?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"PRH mentions OTC contraception, PrEP, folic acid supplements, and breast/chestfeeding supplies available without a prescription.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Why does PRH argue that no-cost OTC coverage is important?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"PRH argues no-cost coverage helps people access and consistently use preventive methods by removing cost and other access barriers, improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},404244,1790694134,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":55,"slug":125},"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":55,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},3985747870414,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","December 4, 2023  \nVIA ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION  \nRe: Request for Information; Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services (File code 1210–ZA31)  \nDear Secretary Becerra, Acting Secretary Yu, and Secretary Yellen:  \nPhysicians for Reproductive Health (PRH) is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this request for information regarding the application of the preventive services requirements under section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services, including contraception, PrEP, folic acid, and breast/chestfeeding1 supplies, available without a prescription by a health care provider. We welcome the opportunity to submit information to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (the Departments) and provide input on the importance of access to and coverage for OTC preventive items and services without cost-sharing.  \nPRH is a physician-led national advocacy organization that organizes, mobilizes, and amplifies the voices of medical providers to advance reproductive health, rights, and justice. Our programs combine education, advocacy, and strategic communications to ensure access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care. We believe this work is necessary for all people to live freely with dignity, safety, and security. As a network of physicians who care for people and provide the full spectrum of family planning care, we are committed to ensuring that all people have access to essential preventive sexual and reproductive health care. PRH strongly supports the Departments’ goal of increasing access to high-quality preventive care and submits the following for full consideration by the Departments.  \nAvailability of No Cost OTC Preventive Items and Services is Essential for Ensuring Full Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care.  \nAs physicians, we understand the importance of access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care services for all people without barriers. Access to OTC preventive items without cost-sharing is an important first step to ensuring the availability and accessibility of preventive items and services that support a person’s well-being. Utilization of preventive sexual and reproductive health care can reduce rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV infections, infant morbidity and mortality, and maternal morbidity and mortality. i However, there are interconnected barriers that limit a person’s ability to access the full spectrum of care, including the cost, lack of insurance coverage, lack of access to reproductive and sexual health care providers, and lack of culturally competent providers.ii  \nNo-cost access to reproductive and sexual health care preventives items, including OTC  \ncontraceptives, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), folic acid supplements, and breast/chestfeeding  \n1 The language “breast/chestfeeding” is utilized throughout this comment to recognize that not all lactating people or parents associate with the term “breastfeeding” or the term “chestfeeding.” The term “breast/chestfeeding” is meant to encompass people of all gender identities.  \nsupplies will help mitigate the barriers to preventive care many people face and will increase access and use of preventive care, improving reproductive and sexual health outcomes. Following this RFI, the Departments must take action to reduce barriers to these essential preventive care and services by ensuring that people have access to reproductive and sexual health care preventives items without cost-sharing regardless of insurance status. No-cost coverage for OTC preventive items will ensure that individuals can consistently and effectively use these methods of preventive care, advancing positive reproductive and sexual health outcomes for all.  \nOTC Contraceptive Coverage.  \nAs physicians, we believe it is essential that every individual can make informed choices about pregnancy preven","cbCaimAIBCKy6qpr","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimAIBCKy6qpr","pdf",312402,"English","# Availability of No Cost OTC Preventive Items and Services is Essential for Ensuring Full Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care\n## OTC preventive access reduces barriers and improves outcomes\n# OTC Contraceptive Coverage\n## Informed pregnancy prevention and methods available OTC\n## Disparities and barriers affecting underserved groups","[{\"question\":\"What issue does PRH address in its response?\",\"answer\":\"PRH addresses how section 2713 preventive services requirements should apply to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services, including whether they should be covered without cost-sharing.\"},{\"question\":\"Which OTC preventive items and services does PRH mention?\",\"answer\":\"PRH mentions OTC contraception, PrEP, folic acid supplements, and breast/chestfeeding supplies available without a prescription.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does PRH argue that no-cost OTC coverage is important?\",\"answer\":\"PRH argues no-cost coverage helps people access and consistently use preventive methods by removing cost and other access barriers, improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes.\"}]","PRH - Organizational Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Preventive Services | PDF",1790546537,25]