Health rules for women take effect

New and renewed health plans now are required to fully cover a variety of preventive care services for women, a part of the national health care overhaul that took effect Wednesday.

The services that now must be provided without deductibles or copays are:

— Well-woman visits

— Gestational diabetes screening

— Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling

— FDA-approved contraception, contraceptive education and counseling

— Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling

— HPV DNA testing for women ages 30 and older

— Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually active women

— HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women

The decision to cover those services was based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, an independent, nonprofit advisory organization.

The changes could affect about 47 million women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Group health plans and some other plans are exempt from the requirement, as are some nonprofit religious organizations.

For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov/prevention.