Murphy, Duckworth, Crowley Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Affordable Birth Control

Statement

Today, Congressman Patrick Murphy (FL-18), Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), and Congressman Joe Crowley (NY-14), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, introduced legislation to defend a woman's right to affordable birth control. The Affordability is Access Act would ensure women maintain access to their preferred method of birth control by clarifying that if the FDA approves an over-the-counter (OTC) oral contraceptive, insurance companies would still be required to cover it without a prescription. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the legislation in the Senate last month.

"Millions of women across the country depend on birth control to manage their health care and reproductive needs," said Rep. Murphy. "Maintaining the current access women have is more important than ever. This legislation would preserve access to affordable birth control without overcharging women and without government interference."

"Access to affordable birth control is crucial to protecting the health of women and reducing unplanned pregnancies," said Duckworth. "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."

"Every woman deserves access to affordable contraception, whether it is written on a prescription pad or sold over-the-counter," said Rep. Crowley. "Building on the progress made under current law, our legislation gives women the assurance that they will continue to have the flexibility they need to choose the birth control that works best for them and their families, without worrying about insurance coverage and high prices."

Along with protecting women by guaranteeing access to affordable birth control, the legislation also affirms the FDA"s sole authority to determine the safety, quality and efficacy of drugs and make them available over-the-counter without a prescription. It also prohibits retailers from interfering with a consumer's ability to purchase contraception.

The legislation has also attracted support from leading women's and physicians groups.

"NARAL Pro-Choice America applauds Reps. Duckworth, Murphy, and Crowley for recognizing that contraception can be expensive-- and doing all they can to make sure its affordable and accessible," said Sasha Bruce, senior vice president of campaigns and strategy for NARAL Pro-Choice America. "This is the very definition of leadership. We urge Speaker Boehner and any other lawmaker who claims to support women's access to birth control to move this legislation without delay."

"Every day, obstetrician-gynecologists see the many benefits that birth control provides women, including giving them the choice of if and when to start families," said Mark S. DeFrancesco, MD, President of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "This bill would help uninsured women access the health benefits provided by oral contraceptives without the cost of a doctor's visit, and would also ensure that women with insurance coverage can get their choice of oral birth control without a copay, even if they do not have a prescription. ACOG applauds this important bill."

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