After a push from Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announced yesterday that certain medications that help prevent breast cancer will now be fully covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under new guidance issued today by HHS, women who are at a higher risk of breast cancer will have access to certain categories of preventive drugs without any out-of-pocket expenses. Kuster had previously called on HHS to include this cancer treatment as a preventive service under most health insurance plans.

“We have a long way to go when it comes to treating and preventing cancer, and today’s announcement is an important step forward in that effort,” Kuster said. “Under this new guidance, women at increased risk of breast cancer will have access to critical preventive drugs without any out-of-pocket expenses. This is great news for women all across the country and particularly in New Hampshire, which has the second highest incidence of breast cancer in the country. I urged Secretary Sebelius to make this change, and I am very pleased that HHS responded to my request and took this common sense step to improve the health care law.”

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