Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Tuesday signed into law a bill (SB 848) that will facilitate access to contraception in the state, the Washington Post reports (Wiggins, Washington Post, 5/10).
The law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2018 (Wood, Baltimore Sun, 5/9).
Law details
Under the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), insurers must cover at least one version of each of the 18 FDA-approved birth control methods without cost-sharing. Insurers are permitted to use "reasonable medical management techniques" to curb costs, such as only covering the generic version of an approved contraceptive. Further, they can charge a copayment or deductible to encourage beneficiaries to use a particular brand or generic version of a given contraceptive method.
The Maryland law will increase the number of versions of each contraceptive method that is covered (Women's Health Policy Report, 3/7). The law will bar insurers from charging copayments for any form of contraception. Further, insurers will not be allowed to require preauthorization for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
Under the Contraceptive Equity Act, women will be able to obtain a six-month supply of contraception dispensed at one time. In addition, according to the Baltimore Sun, the law makes Maryland the first state both to require insurers to cover emergency contraception and to cover vasectomies without cost-sharing. Sterilization services for women already are covered at no additional cost in the state, the Sun reports (Baltimore Sun, 5/9).
According to supporters of the law, the legislation affects state-regulated insurers, which cover about one-third of state residents. The law also expands contraceptive coverage offered via Medicaid plans.
Comments
Karen Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, said, "Maryland is on the forefront across the board with this act ... Many other states are implementing piecemeal provisions, but there's nothing as comprehensive as this act."
Nelson added, "When so many states and so many pockets of the country are trying to take away reproductive health care and take away rights of women, Maryland is saying, 'We are going to provide more health care coverage and more access to birth control.'"
Del. Ariana Kelly (D), who sponsored SB 848, called the measure the most important contraceptive legislation since the state in 1998 required insurers to cover contraception. Kelly said the law will make a "huge difference in people's lives" (Baltimore Sun, 5/9). She added, "Family planning is essential for women's rights and costs is a factor in family planning ... This legislation is going to help to eliminate barriers and reduce cost for women and for men" (Washington Post, 5/10).
Separately, Peter Beilenson, president and CEO of insurer Evergreen Health, who supports the law, noted, "It's preventive care. It's frankly not expensive at all." According to the Sun, supporters of the bill noted that the measure's long-term savings will outweigh any short-term increases in coverage costs (Baltimore Sun, 5/9).
