California Assembly Votes to Increase Access to Birth Control

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 31, 2012

Contact: Ana Sandoval, PPAC Communications,
916.712.6239 or

Amy Moy, California Family Health Council, 415.518.4465

 

California Assembly Votes to Increase Access to Birth
Control

Maintains State’s Leadership on Women’s Health with
the Passage of AB 2348

SACRAMENTO —This morning the California State
Assembly voted to pass AB 2348 (Mitchell) – the Access to Birth Control Bill
–with 43 Assembly members voting in favor of the measure, 28 voting against and
9 members not voting. The bill is expected to move to the Senate
Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.

The vast majority of Californians – a full 89% – agree that
birth control is an essential component of women’s health care. But even in
California, thousands of women lack timely access to contraception, leaving
them at significant risk of unintended pregnancy. In some parts of the state
this is due to shortages of doctors and other health professionals authorized
to order or furnish these medications. AB 2348 would help address this problem
by allowing Registered Nurses to work within their scope and training to
dispense hormonal birth control – some of the safest and widely used
medications in the world – under a standardized procedure.

“We’d like to thank Asm. Holly Mitchell for her
leadership in authoring AB 2348 and the members of the California Assembly who
voted to increase access to birth control,” said Kathy Kneer, president
and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “Their votes
clearly state that California supports women’s reproductive health and will
ensure that no matter where you live, ALL women should have timely access to
birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies.”

“All of the members who voted for AB 2348 today should be
applauded. They understood that this sound public health policy will expand
access to quality preventive health care for thousands of women across
California,” said Julie Rabinovitz, President and CEO of California Family Health
Council. “While states like Kansas, Arizona and Texas are making vital health
care harder to get, California is proudly taking a different route.”

 

Many leading medical institutions, including the World
Health Organization (WHO), the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), have
developed evidence-based guidelines for use of hormonal contraceptives which
are based on patient assessment, medical history, blood pressure, history of smoking
and other basic elements that are well within the skills, training and scope of
practice of RNs.

AB 2348 can help more women get the birth control they
want when they need it without compromising quality care. That’s why it has the
backing of a broad coalition of health and women’s organizations throughout
California including United Nurses Association of CA/Union of Healthcare
Professionals, California Primary Care Association, American Nurses
Association, California; Women’s Community Clinic, Black Women’s Health
Project, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Black Women for Wellness,
Women’s Health Specialists, National Center for Youth Law, Sistersong, American
Civil Liberties Union, California, and Physicians for Reproductive Choice &
Health.

For the past two decades California has led the nation in
efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy; however, we still have a large unmet
need for publicly funded family planning services, particularly in rural areas
of the state. Women shouldn’t have to wait hours in a medical office or
months to get an appointment for birth control. We can do better. That’s why
California women need AB 2348 to become law.

California Family Health
Council (CFHC)distributes federal Title X family
planning funding to nearly 80 health care organizations throughout the state
that collectively serve over 1.2 million Californians with sexual and
reproductive health care services every year. CFHC also conducts advanced
research in reproductive health technologies, leads health education, training
and community outreach efforts and advocates to expand access to quality sexual
and reproductive health care for all Californians. http://www.cfhc.org

Planned Parenthood
Affiliates of California (PPAC) is a
501 (c) 4 organization, representing eight separately incorporated Planned
Parenthood affiliates throughout California on statewide governmental issues.
PPAC is one of 21 state public affairs offices of Planned Parenthood Federation
of America. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public
policy in areas of reproductive and preventive health care, family planning and
comprehensive sexual health education. http://www.PPactionCA.org