Coverage, Patient Education, and Counseling for Family Planning, Contraceptive Methods, and Sterilization Procedures

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) supports policies and legislation that would require public and private insurance plans to provide coverage and not impose cost sharing for all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women and men with reproductive capacity including those contraceptive methods for sale over-the-counter.

The AAFP supports the position that Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) be offered as a first-line contraceptive method and encouraged as an option for most women with reproductive capacity. The AAFP supports assuring coverage and adequate payment of LARC. Placement prior to hospital discharge, should be paid separate from the global fee. The AAFP also supports adequate coverage and payment for LARC as a treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding. 

The AAFP is concerned about the sexual health of adults and adolescents and believes physicians should provide patient education and counseling to both men and women to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies. This includes information about abstinence, contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and providing emergency contraception. It includes the discussion of all contraceptive methods, where to obtain them, and the reliability of each. In addition, the family physician should explain how the different contraceptive methods do and do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. If the family physician is uncomfortable providing these services, the patient should be referred to another physician or provider who is willing to provide the education and counseling and/or services.

(2011 COD) (2020 COD)