Wash. Lawmakers Renew Efforts To Ensure Abortion Coverage
February 1, 2013 — Democratic lawmakers in Washington state are renewing efforts to pass legislation (HB 1044) requiring insurers to cover abortion care, the AP/Seattle Times reports.
The Reproductive Parity Act aims to maintain existing abortion coverage levels after new health insurance rules are implemented under the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) in 2014. Last year, a similar measure (HB 2330) passed the Democrat-controlled House, but failed to make it to the Senate floor.
Opponents of the bill said it is unnecessary because insurers in the state already offer abortion coverage.
State House Majority Leader Rodney Tom (D) claimed the bill could put federal Medicaid money in jeopardy because such funds are not allowed to be used for abortion. However, a clause in the measure would nullify any provision found to interfere with the state's receipt of federal money, according to the AP/Times (Kaminsky, AP/Seattle Times, 1/30).
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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The Editors
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
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
