Idaho House Rejects Amendment Banning Emergency Contraception From Health Exchange Plans
March 15, 2013 — The Idaho House on Wednesday voted 38-32 to reject an amendment that would have prohibited health plans offered in a state-based health insurance exchange from covering emergency contraception, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The amendment -- sponsored by Rep. Vito Barbieri (R) -- would have altered Gov. C.L. Otter's (R) exchange proposal to ban participating private health plans from covering the drugs Plan B and ella.
Barbieri incorrectly suggested that such drugs could cause an abortion. He argued that an Idaho law forbidding health plans in the exchange from offering abortion coverage was inadequate.
Democratic Minority Leader John Rusche, a physician and former health insurance executive, said there is no scientific evidence supporting claims that taking EC could result in an abortion (AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/13).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
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Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
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