Committee hears testimony backing bill to expand 12-month contraceptive supply coverage to initial prescriptions

Senate Bill 5498, which would expand the existing 12-month contraceptive supply coverage requirement to apply to all prescriptions including initial prescriptions, was presented to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee with testimony from Planned Parenthood and committee staff.

Jim Morishima, staff to the committee, said the bill is identical to a House bill the committee heard in January and summarized the current requirement that health carriers reimburse for a 12-month supply only for refills; SB 5498 would apply that requirement to initial prescriptions as well. Nicole Curran of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates told the committee that the change would remove barriers for survivors of domestic violence, students and others who face hurdles obtaining birth control and asserted that “patients and their providers, not insurance carriers, should have the ability to determine prescription duration.” She urged the committee to pass the bill to expand access.

Details and record: Staff noted that carriers currently reimburse a 12-month supply for refills but not for initial prescriptions; SB 5498 would remove that distinction. Planned Parenthood reiterated prior testimony from January and asked the committee to move the bill forward. Remote witness testimony that was scheduled did not appear in person and the committee asked absent witnesses to submit written testimony.

Next steps: Public testimony concluded and no committee vote on the bill was recorded in the hearing transcript during this session.