CARMICHAEL, Calif. — Saying "a woman's right to choose must never be held up by red tape," Gov. Gray Davis ordered HMOs to pay for women's "morning-after" contraceptives. The move makes California the first state in the nation to cover the pills.
Under Davis' directive, HMOs are required to cover the costs through participating pharmacists within the HMO's network or, in emergency situations, from pharmacists who do not have a contract with their HMO.
"No other state has actively told their plans they must include emergency contraception," said Kathy Kneer, president and director of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. "They are the first to make sure everyone is in compliance with the law."
The morning-after pill can prevent ovulation or fertilization when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Nationwide, Planned Parenthood said use of the drugs by its patients rose to 310,000 prescriptions in 2000, from 48,000 two years earlier. About 100 Planned Parenthood clinics in California filled 24,495 prescriptions in 2000, up from 3,419 in 1998.
Davis, a Democrat, has been trumpeting his support for abortion rights and increased access to contraceptives in his re-election fight against gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon. Simon's spokesman, Bob Taylor, wouldn't say whether the Republican candidate, an abortion opponent, supported the increased access to emergency contraceptives.
"There are much more important topics," Taylor said.
In 1999, Davis signed a bill requiring HMOs to cover federally approved contraceptives. In January, he signed another bill allowing pharmacists to provide emergency contraception.