Reps. Duckworth, Murphy, Crowley introduce bill protecting women's access to oral contraceptives.
Reps. Duckworth, Murphy, Crowley introduce bill protecting women's access to oral contraceptives.
U.S. Reps. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patrick Murphy (D-FL) and Joe Crowley (D-NY) have introduced legislation aimed at protecting a woman's right to affordable birth control.
The Affordability is Access Act provides women access to affordable and safe oral contraceptives by clarifying if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves an over-the-counter oral contraceptive, and insurance companies remain obligated to cover it without cost sharing.
“Access to affordable birth control is crucial to protecting the health of women and reducing unplanned pregnancies,” Duckworth said. “With birth control costing women as much as $600 a year, the truth is that affordability is access. Without access to affordable birth control that is covered by health insurance, millions of women would effectively lose control over their reproductive health.”
The bill also affirms the FDA’s authority to determine the safety, quality and efficacy of drugs and to make them available over-the-counter without a prescription, and it protects consumers by prohibiting retailers from interfering with a customer’s ability to purchase contraception.
The bill has 74 cosponsors.
The legislation was introduced last month in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).
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