A bill that would guarantee copay-free coverage for birth control in Massachusetts earned initial approval in the House Wednesday morning and appears likely to be advanced to the Senate later in the day.
The bill would guarantee free access to oral contraception for women in Massachusetts, let women pick up a 12-month supply of birth control after their initial prescription, and mandate coverage of emergency contraception at pharmacies without a copayment or a new prescription.
A Center for Health Information and Analysis report released last week found the bill’s mandates will cost the health care system between $1.9 million and $5.7 million annually over the next five years, adding between 84 cents and $2.40 to the annual premium for a Massachusetts subscriber.
