DENVER – Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill Monday that makes contraceptive medicine more accessible for women.
House Bill 1186, sponsored by Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose, requires insurance providers to cover a year’s supply of prescription contraceptives.
The bill goes into effect Jan. 1, 2019, and is expected to have an immediate effect on women’s health and access to reliable contraception, said Vicki Cowart, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
“This bill better allows women to plan their families and their futures,” Cowart said.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, said the bill should be seen as a bipartisan effort that distinguishes Colorado’s legislature from the gridlock in Congress.
“As we’ve seen women’s health being threatened at every level nationally, we were actually able to come together in Colorado to solve a problem in a bipartisan way,” Pettersen said.
State Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, said HB 1186 is especially important for women in rural areas where a pharmacy might be miles away and difficult to access during regular business hours.
“This is going to be a game-changer, an absolute game-changer, for women’s health and family planning,” Donovan said.
Lperkins@durangoherald.com
