An Oregon law that mandates all health insurance plans in the state include prescription drug coverage, including birth control, went into effect this week. The law also requires hospitals to inform victims of sexual assault about emergency contraception and make it available if the patient wishes, according to the Daily Women’s Health Policy Report.
The bill, which had bipartisan support, was signed into law by Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski (D) in May. The provision on contraceptives could affect as many as 1.4 million women who are covered by private insurance, as about half of insurers in the state did not cover birth control.
We were pushing for it because we believe women should have access to birth control. It’s just basic health care for women,” Nancy Bennett, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, told the The Oregonian . “Women are paying way more out of pocket for their health care than they should be.”
