It took dozens of women (and a few good men) a dozen years to win full contraceptive services and supplies coverage for insured women in Hawai'i, but in July, 1999 Hawai'i became just the 8th state to enact legislation to prohibit the exclusion of these vital preventive services in virtually all health insurance in the state. Much was learned in the process, which involved problem identification, needs assessment, consensus building, strategic education and persuasion of key decision=makers. The crafting of a carefully worded "conscience clause" accomodated the conflicting values of advocates and opponents, and, with the Act itself provides model legislation. The common practice of exclusion of contraceptive services and/or supplies by health insurers is believed to be a significant cause of unintended pregnancy due to lack of access to preventive reproductive health. As the trend toward universal health coverage and managed care continues, full access to such services must not be assumed, and indeed will not occur unless any and all contraceptive exclusions are challenged and eliminated. Hawai'i did it, and so can you!
Learning Objectives: During the roundtable, conferees will 1) discuss the key processes which enabled legislators to agree to require health insurers in Hawai'i to elminate exclusions of contraception; 2) analyze the 'conscience clause' of the Hawaii law and its usefulness in other states; and 3) assess the need for and possible approaches to winning contraceptive coverage in their own states
Keywords: Health Care Politics, Contraceptives
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.