Governor Nixon Stands Up for Birth Control - Rejects SB749
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Women - Not Employers - Best Suited to Make Birth Control Decisions
Jefferson City, MO – Today, Governor Nixon vetoed a birth control refusal bill that would have put Missouri insurance companies on a legal collision course forcing them to choose between violating state or federal law.
The Missouri Legislature passed the bill in an attempt to undermine the incredibly popular proposal requiring most health insurance plans to cover birth control as preventive care with no additional co-pays. SB 749 (Lamping-R24) attempts to block the federal law supported by the majority of Americans.
“As a trusted health care provider to one in five women in America, Planned Parenthood sees every day how important affordable birth control is for women,” said Peter Brownlie, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and mid-Missouri. “Governor Nixon recognizes that birth control is a pocketbook issue for Missouri women and should be fully covered by insurance no matter where they work,” said Brownlie.
“We applaud Governor Nixon’s veto. Given that the vast majority of Missourians support access to birth control, we know they are applauding the governor too,” said Mary Kogut, vice president of patient services at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri. “Legislators, employers and insurers should not be making decisions for the women and families of Missouri,” said Kogut.
Fact: Birth control is basic health care. Nearly 700,000 women in Missouri use some form of birth control. www.guttmacher.org/pubs/win/2006/Missouri.pdf
Fact: Virtually all (99%) sexually experienced women in the US have used birth control, including 98% of Catholic women. www.guttmacher.org/pubs/Religion-and-Contraceptive-Use.pdf
Fact: A majority of Americans agree women should have access to birth control, no matter where they work.
• 77% agree birth control should not be part of the national political debate (Bloomberg News, 3/14/12)
• 57% think religiously affiliated hospitals should cover contraception at no cost (Public Religion Research Institute, 3/15/12)
• 61% say insurance companies should cover the full cost of birth control (Washington Post-ABC News, 3/10/12)
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.