Measures require health insurers to cover birth control prescriptions

Jennifer Coleman

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999 | 9:01 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Nevada pro-choice and pro-life advocates are clashing over bills to make health insurers cover birth control and other reproductive health services.

Calling the bills a matter of "contraceptive equity," supporters of SB28 and AB60 told Senate Government Affairs and Assembly Commerce committees it's time for insurance companies to recognize that contraceptives are a major part of women's health care.

"The average woman spends five years of her life trying to conceive and the rest of her life trying to prevent it," said Cookie Bible, a nurse practitioner for Planned Parenthood.

The two committees also heard testimony Monday from Landra Reid, wife of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on the importance of accessible contraceptives for American women.

"If men had to pay for contraceptive devices, the insurance industry would cover them," Mrs. Reid said.

She added that of the 3.6 million pregnancies in the country each year, 60 percent aren't planned. Of those unplanned pregnancies, 44 percent end in abortions.

"Reliable family planning methods must be made available if we wish to reduce this disturbing number," she said.

Sen. Reid introduced the Equity in Prescription and Contraception Coverage Act of 1997 in the U.S. Senate. That act was later amended to cover only federal employees.

Opponents testified against both bills because of the lack of a religious conscience clause, and because they cover devices and drugs - such as RU486 - that prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.

At the Senate hearing, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who authored SB28, clashed with the Rev. Tom Cronin, representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno, over those exceptions.

"Since the state's current plan covers oral contraceptives, why is today's policy OK?" Titus said.

Cronin said any birth control method is offensive to the Roman Catholic Church.

"Why haven't you been here before to protest the policy?" Titus asked.

Several other pro-life advocates also testified, including representatives of the Nevada Eagle Forum and Nevada Right to Life.

Titus' bill requires the state health insurance plan to cover contraception and services related reproductive health.

The state employee health plan covers oral contraceptives, but not the exam necessary for the prescription, Titus said.

The costs for services or contraceptives that aren't covered by insurance companies end up costing women 68 percent more than men in out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to birth control pills, Titus would like to see Depo-Provera, NorPlant, IUDs, diaphragms and cervical caps included as options under the state employees' plan.

AB60, by Assemblywoman Chris Guinchigliani, D-Las Vegas, is broader, making the same demand on all health care providers in Nevada and requiring insurers to pay for contraception and hormone replacement therapy.

"AB60 is not about pro-life or pro-choice, not about Democrats or Republicans or Libertarians. It is legislation that would mandate that if an insurer covers prescription drugs in general, then they must cover prescription contraception," she said.