,,ii  ,cal5d> ,no4 #dei #aac? ,,congress
  #b;d ,session  ,s4 #begh  ,,9 ,,!     
,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july  
#i1 #bjad ,mrs4 ,murray 7= h]self1 ,mr4 
,udall ( ,colorado1 ,ms4 ,baldw91 ,mr4  
,begi*1 ,mr4 ,b5net1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1    
,mr4 ,book]1 ,mrs4 ,box]1 ,mr4 ,br[n1   
,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4 ,durb91
 ,mrs4 ,fe9/e91 ,mr4 ,frank51 ,mrs4     
,gillibr&1 ,mrs4 ,hagan1 ,mr4 ,h>k91    
,mr4 ,he9ri*1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4        
,johnson ( ,s\? ,dakota1 ,mr4 ,ka9e1    
,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,mr4 ,lev91 ,mr4 ,m>key1 
,mr4 ,m55dez1 ,mr4 ,m]kley1 ,ms4        
,mikulski1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,reid1    
,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4 ,s*atz1 ,mr4 ,s*um]1   
,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,ms4 ,/ab5[1 ,mr4 ,te/]1  
,mr4 ,udall ( ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,wal%1 
,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4 ,:iteh\se1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 
,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 ,coons1 & ,mr4 ,w>n]7 
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read !   
fir/ "t  ,july #aj1 #bjad,read ! second 
"t & plac$ on ! cal5d>  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
ensure t employ]s _c int]f]e 9 _!       
employees' bir? control & o!r heal? c>e 

decisions4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act  
may be cit$ z ! ,protect ,wom5's ,heal? 
,f ,corporate ,int]f]5ce ,act ( #bjad4  
#b4 ,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to
 ensure t employ]s t provide heal?      
b5efits to _! employees _c d5y any      
specific heal? b5efits1 includ+         
contraception cov]age1 to any ( _!      
employees or ! cov]$ dep5d5ts ( su*     
employees entitl$ by ,f$]al law to      
receive su* cov]age4  #c4 ,f9d+s        
,congress f9ds z foll[s3 7#a7 ,access to
 ! full range ( heal? b5efits &         
prev5tive s]vices1 z gu>ante$ "u ,f$]al 
law or ?r\gh ,f$]al regulations1        
provides all ,am]icans ) ! opportunity  
to lead heal?i] & m productive lives4   
7#b7 ,bir? control is a critical heal?  
c>e s]vice = wom54 ,n9ety-n9e p]c5t (   
sexually active wom5 use bir? control at
 lea/ once 9 _! lifetimes1 & ! ,c5t]s = 
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion decl>$ x 
"o ( ! ,t5 ,great ,public ,heal?        
,a*ievem5ts ( ! #bj? ,c5tury4 ,:ile !   
mo/ common reason wom5 use contraception

 is to prev5t pregnancy1 #eh p]c5t (    
oral contraceptive us]s cite            
noncontraceptive heal? b5efits z reasons
 = us+ ! me?od4 ,f\rte5 p]c5t ( bir?    
control pill us]s1 m ?an #a1ejj1jjj     
wom51 rely on bir? control pills =      
noncontraceptive purposes only4  7#c7 ,9
 addition to provid+ heal? b5efits =    
wom51 access to bir? control has be5    
directly connect$ to wom5's economic    
success & ability to p>ticipate 9       
society equally4 ,wom5 ) access to bir? 
control are m likely to h high]         
educational a*ievem5t & c>e] a*ievem5t1 
& to be paid high] wages4  7#d7 ,!      
indep5d5t1 nonpr(it ,in/itute ( ,m$ic9e 
recomm5ds1 z "p ( its recomm5d$         
prev5tive heal? measures1 t wom5's      
prev5tive heal? be cov]$ by heal? plans 
) no co/-%>+ to promote optimal heal? ( 
wom54 ,! ,in/itute ( ,m$ic9e not$ t !   
contraceptive me?ods recomm5dation 0 "o 
( ! mo/ important recomm5dations = wom54
  7#e7 ,af=dability has long be5 a b>ri]
 to wom5 be+ able to use bir? control & 

o!r prev5tive heal? s]vices effectively4
 ,a national survey ( wom5 :o 7 curr5tly
 us+ "s =m ( contraception f\nd t       
"o-?ird w\ld swit* to a diff]5t me?od ( 
contraception if !y did n h to worry    
ab\t co/4 ,wom5 cit+ co/ conc]ns 7 twice
 z likely z o!r wom5 to rely on less    
effective me?ods ( contraception4  7#f7 
,?ree sep>ate /udies h f\nd t lack (    
heal? cov]age is significantly associat$
 ) r$uc$ use ( prescription             
contraceptives4  7#g7 ,co/-%>+          
requirem5ts c dramatically r$uce ! use (
 prev5tive heal? c>e measures1          
p>ticul>ly among l[]-income wom54       
,/udies h %[n t elim9at+ co/-%>+ = ! mo/
 effective =ms ( contraception          
7intraut]9e devices1 implants1 &        
injectables7 leads to sizable increases 
9 ! use ( ^! me?ods4  7#h7 ,! ,pati5t   
,protection & ,af=dable ,c>e ,act       
7,public ,law #aaa-adh7 s\ght to remove 
! b>ri] to c>e by requir+ all new heal? 
plans to cov] recomm5d$ prev5tive       
s]vices )\t co/-%>+1 :i* include wom5's 

prev5tative s]vices4 ,^! s]vices include
 all me?ods ( contraception &           
/]ilization approv$ by ! ,food & ,drug  
,adm9i/ration & relat$ education &      
c\nsel+1 z prescrib$ by a heal? c>e     
provid]4  7#i7 ,! contraceptive cov]age 
provision has be5 a success 9 increas+  
access to ?is critical heal? s]vice =   
wom54 ,z ( #bjac1 #dg1jjj1jjj wom5 7    
cov]$ by ?is requirem5t4 ,wom5 h sav$   
#dhc1jjj1jjj 9 out-(-pocket co/s = oral 
contraceptives ) no copaym5ts 9 #bjac   
comp>$ to #bjab4  7#aj7 ,! ,j\rnal ( !  
,am]ican ,m$ical ,association reports t 
#g out ( #aj p 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates support
 cov]age ( contraception1 )             
significantly high] support among wom51 
,hispanic ,am]icans1 & ,black ,am]icans4
  7#aa7 ,an e/imat$ #gf1jjj1jjj p 9 !   
,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ #cj1jjj1jjj wom51
 are newly eligible = exp&$ prev5tive   
s]vices cov]age "u ! ,pati5t ,protection
 & ,af=dable ,c>e ,act4 ,a total (      
#dh1ejj1jjj wom5 are e/imat$ to b5efit f
 prev5tive s]vices cov]age )\t co/-%>+4 

7#ab7 ,! mo/ appropriate me?od (        
contraception v>ies accord+ to ea*      
individual woman's ne$s & m$ical hi/ory4
 ,wom5 may h m$ical contra9dications &  
?us n be able to use c]ta9 types (      
contraceptive me?ods4 ,x is !re=e vital 
t ! full range ( contraceptive me?ods   
approv$ by ! ,food & ,drug ,adm9i/ration
 be available 9 ord] to ensure t ea*    
woman1 9 consultation ) h] m$ical       
provid]1 c make appropriate decisions   
ab\t h] heal? c>e4  7#ac7 ,cov]+ prov5  
prev5tative s]vices l contraception l[]s
 heal? c>e sp5d+ z x improves heal?4 ,! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t exp]i5c$ no increase 9 
co/s at all aft] x began cov]+          
contraceptives = ,f$]al employees4 ,a   
/udy by ! ,national ,bus9ess ,gr\p on   
,heal? e/imat$ t x co/s employ]s #ae to 
#ag p]c5t m to n provide contraceptive  
cov]age 9 employee heal? plans1 acc\nt+ 
= ! employ]'s direct m$ical co/s (      
pregnancy & indirect co/s relat$ to     
employee abs5ce & r$uc$ productivity4   
7#ad7 ,doz5s ( cases h be5 fil$ 9 ,f$]al

 c\rt by employ]s t want to take ?is    
b5efit away f _! employees & ! cov]$    
dep5d5ts ( su* employees4  7#ae7 ,on    
,june #cj1 #bjad1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt held1
 9 ,burwell v4 ,hobby ,lobby ,/ores1    
,inc4 & ,cone/oga ,wood ,specialties    
,corp4 v4 ,burwell1 t "s =-pr(it        
corporations c take away ! bir? control 
cov]age gu>ante$ to _! employees & !    
cov]$ dep5d5ts ( su* employees ?r\gh _! 
gr\p heal? plan4  7#af7 ,9 a diss5t 9 ^?
 cases1 ,ju/ice ,ru? ,bad] ,g9sburg     
/ates t 9 ?is decision ( />tl+ bread?   
''' ! exemption s\ght by ,hobby ,lobby &
 ,cone/oga ''' w\ld d5y legions ( wom5  
:o d n hold _! employ]s' beliefs access 
to contraceptive cov]age t ! ,,aca w\ld 
o!rwise secure4 ,ju/ice ,g9sburg also   
notes t ! decision op5s up ! door to    
religi\sly gr\nd$ employ] objections to 
a :ole ho/ ( heal? c>e s]vices l blood  
transfusions '''4 antidepressants '''   
m$ications d]iv$ f pigs1 includ+        
ane/hesia ''' & vacc9ations44  7#ag7 ,! 
,supreme ,c\rt's decision 9 ^? cases    

all[s employ]s1 t o!rwise provide       
cov]age ( prev5tive heal? s]vices1 to   
d5y _! employees & ! cov]$ dep5d5ts (   
su* employees contraceptive cov]age & to
 treat a critical wom5's heal? s]vice   
diff]5tly ?an o!r comp>able s]vices4    
,legislation is ne$$ to cl>ify t        
employ]s may n discrim9ate aga9/ _!     
employees & dep5d5ts4  7#ah7 ,x is      
imp]ative t ,congress act to re9/ate    
contraception cov]age & to protect      
employees & ! cov]$ dep5d5ts ( su*      
employees f o!r attempts to take away   
cov]age = o!r heal? b5efits to :i* su*  
employees & dep5d5ts are entitl$ "u     
,f$]al law4  7#ai7 ,?is ,act is int5d$  
to be consi/5t ) ! ,congressional int5t 
9 enact+ ! ,religi\s ,fre$om &          
,re/oration ,act ( #aiic 7,public ,law  
#ajc-ada71 & ) ! exemption = h\ses (    
wor%ip1 & an accommodation =            
religi\sly-affiliat$ nonpr(it           
organizations ) objections to           
contraceptive cov]age4  #d4 ,ensur+     
cov]age ( specific b5efits  7a7 ,9 g5]al

 ,an employ] t e/abli%es or ma9ta9s a   
gr\p heal? plan = its employees 7& any  
cov]$ dep5d5ts ( su* employees7 %all n  
d5y cov]age ( a specific heal? c>e item 
or s]vice ) respect to su* employees 7or
 dep5d5ts7 :]e ! cov]age ( su* item or  
s]vice is requir$ "u any provision (    
,f$]al law or ! regulations promulgat$  
!reund]4 ,a gr\p heal? plan1 z def9$ 9  
section #gcc7;a7 ( ! ,employee          
,retirem5t ,income ,security ,act (     
#aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aaia;b7a771       
sponsor$ by an employ]1 employee        
organization1 or bo?1 & any heal?       
insurance cov]age1 z def9$ 9 section    
#bgia7;b7 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#ia7 is     
requir$ to provide cov]age requir$ "u ! 
,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act1 includ+    
section #bgac ( su* ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#cjj;gg-#ac71 9 addition to o!r         
applicable requirem5ts4  7b7            
,application ,subsection 7a7 %all apply 
not)/&+ any o!r provision ( ,f$]al law1 
includ+ ,public ,law #ajc-ada4  7c7     

,regulations ,! regulations conta9$ 9   
sections #ed4ihae-bgac;,a ( title #bf1  
#beij4gae-bgac;,a ( title #bi1 &        
#adg4aca ( title #de1 ,code ( ,f$]al    
,regulations1 %all apply ) respect to   
?is section4 ,! ,dep>tm5ts ( ,labor1    
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 & ! ,treasury 
may modify su* regulations consi/5t ) ! 
purpose & f9d+s ( ?is ,act4  7d7        
,en=cem5t ,! provisions ( ?is ,act %all 
apply to plan sponsors1 gr\p heal?      
plans1 & heal? insurance issu]s z if    
enact$ 9 ! ,employee ,retirem5t ,income 
,security ,act ( #aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4   
#ajja et seq471 ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice
 ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bja et seq471 & ! 
,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf4 ,any    
failure by a plan sponsor1 gr\p heal?   
plan1 or heal? insurance issu] to comply
 ) ! provisions ( ?is ,act %all be      
subject to en=cem5t ?r\gh "p #e (       
subtitle ,b ( title ,i ( ! ,employee    
,retirem5t ,income ,security ,act (     
#aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca et seq471    
section #bgbc ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice

 ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#bb71 &    
section #dihj;,d ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue   
,code ( #aihf4  ,july #aj1 #bjad,read ! 
second "t & plac$ on ! cal5d>