August 1 Marks Step Forward for Women’s Health with Affordable Care Act Preventive Health Rules – CA has Opportunity to Go a Step Further with AB 2348!

August 1 marks the day when under the Affordable Care Act (passed by Congress and signed by President Obama) women can begin to access birth control and other preventive health services without co-pays or deductibles! Access to birth control is an essential health care service for women. If you are covered by private insurance, you may now be eligible for free birth control and preventive health services such as cervical cancer screening, STI testing, HIV testing, and breastfeeding counseling and supplies.

Even before the enactment of the ACA, California led the nation in providing access to preventive and reproductive health care. Since 1997, Family PACT (California’s Family Planning Program) has offered no-cost family planning services to low-income women and men. In addition, California gave women guaranteed access to OBGYNs without referral in 1998 and California adopted contraceptive equity in 1999.

California can continue to lead! Important legislation, Assembly Bill 2348 (Mitchell) will help California go one step further in access to birth control. What good is free birth control if there are no health professionals to provide it?  That's why Planned Parenthood and the California Family Health Council are sponsoring AB 2348 to increase access to safe birth control. Even in California, thousands of women can't get timely access to birth control, because there aren't enough health professionals authorized to dispense it. This lack of timely access leaves women at significant risk of unintended pregnancy.

AB 2348 is common sense legislation that would increase access to birth control for thousands of women by allowing registered nurses to dispense birth control. AB 2348 is supported by many health and women's organizations including the American Medical Women's Association, the American Nurses Association, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Service Employees International Union, United Nurses Association/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Black Women for Wellness, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice California Black Women's Health Project and many others.

Take action now in support of AB 2348 by visiting: http://www.ppactionca.org/birthcontrolaccess