Oregon plans to protect womens health coverage:

Monday, March 6 the U.S. House Republicans publicized their plan to repeal the

Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obama Care.

Oregon lawmakers proposed different healthcare aims on January 9, 2017. The

state has been planning ahead for the Trump administration repeal on the ACA. House

Bill 2232 has the agenda to protect reproductive health services, including birth control

without co-payment, abortions and other amenities. The measure plans to continue free

birth control, offer STI testing, and assist mothers in breastfeeding and prenatal care and

other reproductive health services.

The Center of Disease Control website said 28 other states are planning to impose laws

that cover contraceptives also.

NY Times said, the ACA improved access to preventive contraceptive measures

for 30 million women, giving them access to co-pay free services. The U.S. Department

of Health Services said that ACA lowered the abortion rates, by 12-percent from 2011 to

2014. The CDC said during 2008-2012 abortions decreased 31,698 abortions per year. In

contrast from 2003-2007 abortions increased by 248 per year.

In 2011 and 2012, abortions were reported at a historic low by the CDC. They

have reported abortion data analysis since 1969. The highest abortion rates were in the

1980s. The CDC requests data from 52 reporting areas, all of the states plus D.C. and

NYC.
Now that President Donald J. Trump does not plan to continue the ACA, Oregon

has proposed a measure to keep womens reproductive health covered and accessible. HB

2232 builds off the ACA, in order to maintain healthcare accessibility for women. This

bill expands on the ACA by offering abortions as well. HB 2232 also affirms no tolerance

of discrimination in healthcare coverage.

Oregon Live said, HB 2232 is sponsored by Oregon Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha

who advocates for women who cannot pay for these services. OregonLive said,
secondary sponsor Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson proclaimed that Oregon has always

initiated health services for women.

Monnes was referring to Oregons HB 2879, which allowed all of the states

pharmacies to provide birth control and hormonal patches on demand to patients. In

order for Oregon pharmacists to prescribe and provide the birth control, the patient

must be 18 or older or with proof of prior prescriptions of birth control. HB 2879

became effective July 13, 2015.

Just a month prior, on June 11, 2015 HB 3343 became effective. It required

insurers to cover 12-months worth birth control supplies, including the patch, ring or the

pills. Oregon was the first state to pass this bill. Prior to HB 3343 women had to

inconveniently get pharmaceutical refills every 30 to 90 days.

In the last few years, Oregon has been ahead of the game in

supporting their women with healthcare, coverage and accessibility.

According to the Oregon Legislative website there are no scheduled

committee meetings or floor sessions for HB 2232. The Planned

Parenthood Pro-Choice Coalition press release says they are in coalition

with HB 2232, as well as American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon,

Family Forward Oregon, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, Oregon Latino

Health Coalition, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon ad

Western States.