Kudos to Republicans, Yes Republicans for Passing Birth Control Measure in Virginia

State will Now Require Insurers to Provide 12 month coverage

The Republicans in the state legislature in Virginia did a good thing.  They passed a law that requires insurers in that state to cover birth control for 12 months.  Yes, you are reading this correctly, Republicans are supporting common sense family planning.

The legislation was sponsored by Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax), who said it will help women avoid gaps in birth-control use. It passed both chambers in the Republican-controlled legislature with large bipartisan majorities.

Representatives for health insurers questioned whether the law was necessary, noting that current insurance policies allow people to get 90-day prescriptions and ask for automatic refills.

Advocates called the 12-month birth-control measure a “common-sense” measure that will make it easier for women to stay on the medication.

They cited studies that say having access to 12 months of birth-control pills could reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies by 30 percent and decrease by 46 percent the odds of having an abortion.

A similar bill failed to get out of committee in 2016. The difference this year was that Filler-Corn personally lobbied Republicans, said Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.

So despite all evidence to the contrary Republicans can govern responsibly in some situations.  Now if somebody will just explain that to Washington.