House passes bill protecting contraceptive access across Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday that would add state-level protections for contraceptive access in the Commonwealth.

H.B. 1140 sponsored by state Rep. Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware) said efforts for extreme, anti-choice legislators and activists to deny people’s access to safe, proven and FDA-approved contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy and treat other medical conditions promoted the need for this bill.

She added that the legislation, which she has introduced each session since 2020, is more crucial following the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, giving the states the ability to decide women’s reproductive rights.

“Contraception is health care, plain and simple, and no one but a woman and her doctor should decide what medical care she has the right to receive,” Krueger said. “Pennsylvania currently has no protections in state law for contraceptive access, so attacks at the federal level jeopardize our access. This bill received unanimous approval in committee and passed with a bipartisan vote of 133-69 in the House. Today’s vote is an important first step to ensuring access to contraception for all Pennsylvanians who need, want and deserve it.”

The bill would require all health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to provide coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, products and services, including over-the-counter oral contraception without cost-sharing.

Additionally, it would also create a new statewide standing order for contraceptives, issued by the PA secretary of health or physician general for all FDA-approved over-the-counter emergency contraceptive drugs and FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptive drugs.

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The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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