Three years ago, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that allows employers to be exempt from Affordable Care Act mandates to provide birth control to employees if they object due to religious or moral values. Just last week, the nation was thrusted into a tailspin when two federal judges issued competing rulings regarding the continued access to a medication used for miscarriage care over twenty years after it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The unfortunate consequence of these court actions is that they endanger the health and economic security of at least 2.5 million women in Pennsylvania who depend on coverage funded by their employers for access to affordable, effective contraceptives while creating unnecessary angst and uncertainty for millions of women in our Commonwealth.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports access to contraceptives and recognizes that contraceptives are an integral component of women’s health care. Contraceptives are not only a means for women to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, they are often utilized as a life-saving medication for women that is often overlooked in this debate over women’s health, treating conditions like endometriosis and Polycystic ovary syndrome.

As such, these assaults on women’s health must end. Contraception is health care, and employers should not be permitted to decide what medical care a woman has the right to receive. Access to health care is inextricably linked to economic mobility, and basic preventative care like birth control should not be a luxury that is only available to some. As Legislators, we should be reducing barriers to health care, not creating more.

To that end, I encourage my colleagues to strongly consider joining the fight by co-sponsoring this important legislation.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Takesha Latham in Rep. Krueger’s Harrisburg office via email at tlatham@pahouse.net.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1218: P.L.682, No.284
Printer's No. 3288: P.L.682, No.284