Nevada Senator Co-Sponsors National Women's Health Bill

A bill introduced last week by six senators would increase federal spending on women's health, family planning and contraception; it would also require health insurance companies to expand coverage for birth control; and it would direct hospitals to give emergency contraception to rape victims who request it. The legislation would increase, from $278 million to $643 million, funding for public health programs that seek to detect breast and cervical cancers, HIV and STDs among women.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a sponsor of the bill, said wider availability of sex education, preventive health care and birth control would reduce the incidence of STDs and unintended pregnancies. The bills co-sponsors are Sens. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

Reid described the bill as an opportunity to "find common ground" between abortion rights and anti-abortion forces, but some conservative organizations were critical of the bill. Pia de Solenni, director of life and women's issues for the Family Research Council, said that for moral reasons, some might prefer a choice of health coverage that does not encourage birth control.

Broadening insurance coverage for contraceptives, Reid said, would prove more economical for health plans that routinely cover abortions, tubal ligations and sterilizations. "We are not asking for special treatment of contraceptives, only equitable treatment within the context of an existing prescription drug benefit," Reid said.

Back to other news for April 26, 2004