If Republicans had been successful in repealing and replacing Obamacare, Planned Parenthood would have lost most of its funding. However, in the aftermath of failing to repeal Obamacare, a number of liberally run states are now scrambling to to secure funding for Planned Parenthood in their states.
Healthcare is on hold in Washington after the first Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare failed to attract necessary support to pass. But that’s not stopping Democratic lawmakers in states across the nation who are pushing legislation to protect birth control access, Planned Parenthood funding and abortion coverage before the GOP comes up with another option.
This year alone, 14 states – Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington – are considering 12-month prescription requirements to make it easier and cheaper for women to stay on the pill. Maryland passed a similar plan in 2015, which is set to take effect in 2018.
In Nevada, state lawmakers and health care advocates plan to continue to promote bills that would allow women a similar 12-month access to birth control supplies, and require all health insurers to cover contraceptives at no extra charge, regardless of religious objections.
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