Washington Reproductive Health Act (SB 5574)

SB 5574 would require comprehensive insurance coverage for reproductive health, including access to birth control and a requirement for insurance companies that cover maternity care to also cover abortion care.

Under this bill, any health care plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2016 would be required to provide coverage for:

• all contraceptive drugs, devices and other products approved by the FDA;
• voluntary sterilization procedures; and
• any associated consultations, examinations, procedures, and medical services needed for the contraceptive drugs or sterilization procedures.

The coverage:

• must provide reimbursement to the provider for up to a 12-month supply of contraceptives obtained at one time by the enrollee, with contraceptives available onsite, if possible;
• may not require copayments, deductibles or other forms of cost-sharing; and
• may not require a prescription to trigger coverage of over-the-counter contraceptives.

If an enrollee changes his/her contraceptive method, SB 5574 ensures that a health carrier may not deny coverage.  Benefits must also cover all enrollees, enrolled spouses, and enrolled dependents regardless of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, age, or disability.

SB 5574 requires any health care plan that provides maternity care or services to also provide equivalent coverage to permit the voluntary termination of a pregnancy.  Enrollees should have full access to abortion-related services with coverage being subject to the same terms and conditions of maternity care or services.

Finally, SB 5574 calls for the governor’s interagency coordinating council on health disparities to conduct a literature review on disparities in access to reproductive health care based on socioeconomic status, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, geography, and other factors.  Results of the literature review are expected by January 1, 2016, along with recommendations on removing disparities in access to repudiative health care.

STATUS

Reintroduced and retained in present status on April 29, 2015 which means it will be live in the next legislative session.

Companion bill to HB 1647.

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