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House subcommittee continues attack on women’s reproductive health choices

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healthcareTwo bills that would have made access to reproductive health choices for women more accessible and affordable were blocked by the House Commerce and Labor Subcommittee #2.

HB 592 – Hope: Would have allowed a woman whose health coverage already covers oral contraceptives to obtain a 12-month supply all at one time. The bill was laid on the table.

HB 1225 – Boysko: Would have repealed the ban on providing abortion coverage in health plans available through the federal marketplace in Virginia. The bill was laid on the table.

“Personal medical decisions, including whether and when to become a parent, are best left to a woman, her family, and her doctor – not the General Assembly,” said Delegate Jennifer Boysko (86th – Herndon). “To continue this attack on a woman’s right to privacy and medical choice is distrustful of a woman’s ability to make her own decisions. I am very disappointed in the Subcommittee for not having confidence in Virginia women to know what is best for them and their families.”

Dispensing a 12-month supply of birth control has many benefits, including: reducing a woman’s risk of unintended pregnancy by 30%, increasing contraception continuation rates, and decreasing costs per client to insurers by reducing the number of pregnancy tests and pregnancies.

The current ban on insurance coverage for abortion discriminates against women who work for small businesses and working families who cannot afford insurance on their own.

State and federal law already prohibit publicly funded health insurance coverage for abortion, except in particular cases.

“Personal medical decisions, including whether and when to become a parent, are best left to a woman, her family, and her doctor – not the General Assembly,” said Delegate Jennifer Boysko (86th – Herndon). “To continue this attack on a woman’s right to privacy and medical choice is distrustful of a woman’s ability to make her own decisions. I am very disappointed in the Subcommittee for not having confidence in Virginia women to know what is best for them and their families.”

Dispensing a 12-month supply of birth control has many benefits, including: reducing a woman’s risk of unintended pregnancy by 30%, increasing contraception continuation rates, and decreasing costs per client to insurers by reducing the number of pregnancy tests and pregnancies.

The current ban on insurance coverage for abortion discriminates against women who work for small businesses and working families who cannot afford insurance on their own.

State and federal law already prohibit publicly funded health insurance coverage for abortion, except in particular cases.

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