Women’s health advocates cheered the Washington Senate’s passage of the Reproductive Parity Act. The law would require insurance plans that offer maternity care to cover abortions as well.
The bill passed 26 to 22. It took six years to get the law through the Senate. Now all eyes are turned toward another, more comprehensive act, the Reproductive Health Access for All Act, advocates say.
“Senators have stood strong and fought back against harmful amendments to ensure no woman’s pregnancy decision is affected by an inability to pay for care,” said Courtney Normand, the Washington public affairs manager for Planned Parenthood.
The state also mandates that plans cover contraceptives, mammograms and prostate cancer screening.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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