Proposal:Affordability is Access Act

This proposal is archived and closed to further debate. It was introduced in the 116th Congress, which has concluded, and the bill was not enacted into law.

Bill	S 1847
Type of Legislation	Senate Bill
Congress	116
Source	View original on Congress.gov

Geographic Scope

National

Description

Affordability is Access Act

This bill establishes several requirements relating to health-insurance coverage of, and access to, over-the-counter contraceptives.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury to specify that private health-insurance plans must cover over-the-counter contraceptives that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), even without a prescription. Under current law, private health-insurance plans (with some exceptions) must cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, without cost-sharing requirements.

The bill also prohibits retailers from interfering with an individual's access to oral contraceptives that are meant for routine, daily use and are FDA-approved for use without a prescription.

Bill Title

Affordability is Access Act

Linked Goals

• Goal:Promote General Welfare

Steps

• 2019-06-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• 2019-06-13: Introduced in Senate

Projected Outcome

A more informed proposal or public response aligned with the Promote General Welfare goal.