WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and 14 colleagues in introducing the Convenient Contraception Act, legislation that would improve access to contraceptive products, including over-the-counter contraceptives.
The bill would allow individuals covered by private health insurance plans to receive up to a full-year supply of contraceptives at one time and would require plans to cover the associated cost at pickup. Providing a year-long supply of contraceptives has been proven to improve health outcomes, and many states have already adopted this practice. Despite the documented benefits of providing a year-long supply of contraceptives, the majority of contraceptive users receive a supply of three months or less, needlessly wasting personal time while adding unnecessary paperwork.
“As the Trump Administration and Republicans continue their relentless attacks on health care and women’s freedoms, this legislation would help to expand access to contraceptive products—essential reproductive health care,” said Senator Hirono. “The right to control your own body, free from government interference, is a fundamental right, and I will continue fighting to protect the reproductive freedoms of all Americans.”
Currently, many private health insurance plans require a patient to pick up their contraception prescription multiple times over the duration of a prescription, creating an unnecessary burden and increasing the likelihood of gaps in protection. In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision and the ensuing nationwide attacks on reproductive freedom, Senator Fetterman has firmly defended the right for women to make decisions about their bodies. The Convenient Contraception Act would benefit women across the country, as removing barriers to contraceptive access not only improves contraceptive continuation, decreases lapses in coverage, and increases health care system savings; it also decreases unintended pregnancies, maternal morbidity, and health inequities.
Improving convenient access to contraceptives is popular among most Americans. A recent study found that 77 percent of voters believe it is personally important that the U.S. make access to birth control pills and other contraceptives more easily available.
The Convenient Contraception Act is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Catholics for Choice, Contraceptive Access Initiative, Every Mother Counts, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, MomsRising, Reproductive Freedom for All, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and What to Expect Project.
In addition to Senators Hirono and Fetterman, this legislation was cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
In the House, Representative Underwood’s companion bill was cosponsored by Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL).
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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