Prevention First

Why does Ohio Need Prevention First?

• Voters in Ohio overwhelmingly support access to contraception, and public funding of contraception for low income women.  Moreover, providing more access to contraceptives is viewed by Ohioans as more effective in reducing the number of abortions than enacting more restrictive abortion laws. 1 
• This timely initiative will result in better health and well-being for all Ohioans.
• In Ohio, 1.3 million women are in need of family planning services and 666,670 women are in need of state funded family planning services. 2
• Ohio ranks 48^th among all states in public funding of contraceptive services. 3 
• Ohio has the 28^th highest teen pregnancy rate in the United States. 4     

What the Ohio Prevention First Act will do.

• Require a health insurance company to cover FDA-approved prescription contraception if the policy covers other prescription drugs or devices.
• Require sex education classes to provide students with medically accurate health information about abstinence, contraception, and STD including HIV/AIDS.  Sex education programs that do not follow these guidelines are not eligible for state funding.
• Launch a teen pregnancy prevention grant program through the Ohio Department of Health to award grants to public and private entities to establish or expand programs geared toward at-risk youth.
• Require a pharmacy to dispense any prescribed drug, device or over-the-counter medication in stock without delay, consistent with the normal timeframe, and ensure that every licensed pharmacist does not intimidate, threaten or harass it’s customers in the delivery of services.
• Ensure access to emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors in all hospital emergency rooms.
• Require the Department of Health to distribute materials and educate medical professionals and the general public about emergency contraception.
• Earmark the existing $1.7 million in state funds each year for women’s health for programs that include contraceptive services.

Senate Bill 179

Introduced on May 30, 2007; Sen. Sue Morano (Sponsor Testimony)

Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee.
Hearings: June 27, 2007