HR 211 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Latest updateFeb 6, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor

Julia Brownley

Introduced

January 6, 2025

Latest action

February 6, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Under current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides health care to eligible veterans, including prescription medications and medical services. Title 38 of the United States Code governs VA benefits and establishes copayment requirements for various services. Currently, the VA can charge veterans copayments for contraceptive items and services, similar to other prescription medications. However, the Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurance plans to cover certain contraceptive methods without any copayment or cost-sharing. This creates an inconsistency: veterans using VA health care may face out-of-pocket costs for contraception that civilians with private insurance do not.

The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act amends Section 1722A(a)(2) of title 38 to eliminate copayments for contraceptive items covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill prohibits the VA from charging veterans copayments that exceed the agency's actual cost for contraceptive medications, and it further prohibits any copayment for contraceptive items that federal law requires private insurers to cover without cost-sharing under the Public Health Service Act. This aligns VA coverage with the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage standards, ensuring veterans receive the same no-cost access to approved contraceptive methods as privately insured Americans.

The changes take effect upon enactment, immediately eliminating copayments for eligible contraceptive items at VA facilities nationwide. The bill does not require new appropriations; instead, it redirects existing VA pharmacy budgets by removing copayment collection for these specific items. The downstream effect reduces out-of-pocket spending for veterans seeking contraception through VA health care, potentially increasing utilization of preventive reproductive health services. This may modestly increase VA pharmacy costs for contraceptive medications, though the agency's overall budget remains unchanged. The change applies only to contraceptive items explicitly covered under federal insurance requirements, leaving copayment structures for other VA services intact.

Key Provisions

1Prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from charging veterans copayments exceeding the agency's actual cost for contraceptive medications furnished through VA health care.
2Eliminates all copayments for contraceptive items that federal law requires private health insurance plans to cover without cost-sharing under the Public Health Service Act.
3Aligns VA contraceptive coverage with Affordable Care Act standards, ensuring veterans receive no-cost access to the same approved contraceptive methods as privately insured Americans.

★ Why this matters

Veterans currently seeking contraception through VA health care may face copayments that civilians with private insurance do not pay. This bill removes those out-of-pocket costs, making contraceptive access more affordable for veterans. The change aligns the VA with federal insurance standards, reducing financial barriers to preventive reproductive health care. Veterans will have immediate access to no-cost contraception at VA facilities nationwide.

● Who this affects

Veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs health care who use or seek contraceptive services face the most direct impact. Women veterans, in particular, benefit from expanded access to no-cost contraceptive options. VA health care providers and pharmacy staff will implement the copayment elimination at VA medical centers and clinics. The Department of Veterans Affairs budget will experience modest shifts in pharmacy spending as copayment revenue for contraceptive items is eliminated.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 211

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on 
 copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2025

  Ms. Brownley (for herself, Ms. McClellan, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Cherfilus-
  McCormick, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Peters, Mr. Khanna, Ms. 
     Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Landsman, Mrs. Ramirez, and Ms. 
 Schakowsky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                                 A BILL

 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on 
 copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Access to Contraception for 
Veterans Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON COPAYMENTS FOR CONTRACEPTION.

    Section 1722A(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to pay'' and all that follows through the 
        period and inserting ``to pay--''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(A) an amount in excess of the cost to the Secretary for 
        medication described in paragraph (1); or
            ``(B) an amount for any contraceptive item for which 
        coverage under health insurance coverage is required without 
        the imposition of any cost-sharing requirement pursuant to 
        section 2713(a)(4) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300gg-13(a)(4)).''.
                                 <all>

Auto-Whip

Where House representatives currently stand

Built from official statements, public releases, and voting records where they exist. Members without enough evidence are marked as no position.

448 tracked

Support

444

No Position

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Support

Members whose public record points toward backing the bill.

Brendan Boyle

D-Pennsylvania · District 2

Likely support

While there is no explicit statement about the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act on the provided website content, Representative Boyle demonstrates a strong commitment to veterans' issues and healthcare access. His website prominently features a 'Veterans' section, and his legislative priorities include health care and government reform. As a Democrat representing Pennsylvania's 2nd District, he typically aligns with Democratic positions supporting contraceptive access and veterans' benefits. However, without direct evidence of his position on this specific bill, the confidence level remains moderate. His general advocacy for healthcare access and veterans' support suggests he would likely favor legislation expanding contraceptive access for veterans, but explicit confirmation is not available in the provided materials.

Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations