Today, Rep. Dan Stewart gave sponsor testimony for HB 333, the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) act. This bill is a single-provision break-out of the Ohio Prevention First Act. He explained how hospital policies that do not permit rape survivors to be given Emergency Contraception by Emergency Room staff victimizes women who have already suffered through what no person should have to endure.
Last week, Rep. Tyrone Yates presented sponsor testimony on the Ohio Prevention First Act, HB 293. Rep. Yates spoke to a packed committee room as he laid out the six elements of Prevention First.
Require sex education classes to provide students with medically accurate information about abstinence, contraception and condom use as ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. (also introduced separately as HB316 the Act for Our Children’s Future)
Ensure that sexual assault victims have access to emergency contraception as well as any CDC recommended preventative treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in all hospital emergency rooms. (also introduced separately as HB 333, the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act)
Create a state teen pregnancy prevention task force that would recommend medically accurate and scientifically proven effective programs for reducing Ohio’s teen pregnancy rate.
Require a pharmacy to dispense any prescribed drug, device or over-the-counter medication in stock without delay, consistent with the normal timeframe, and ensure that every licensed pharmacy does not intimidate, threaten or harass its customers in the delivery of services.
Require the Department of Health to create materials to educate medical professionals and the general public about emergency contraception and to make them available on their website.
Forbid a health insurance company from limiting or excluding coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraception if the policy covers other prescription drugs or devices, prevent insurance companies from charging a higher co-payment for contraception than they charge for other prescription drugs, and require the health insurance policies of public employees to cover contraception at the same rate as that of other prescription drugs. (also introduced separately as HB 332)
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