Marilyn Moore

Moore and Female Lawmakers Denounce Lack of Vote on Women’s Healthcare Bill

Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) joined women lawmakers to condemn the failure of the House of Representatives to take action on Senate Bill 586 on the final day of the regular legislative session. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on June 2.

“This bill was critical to ensuring that every woman in Connecticut had the opportunity to receive the quality medical care they need to live healthy lifestyles,” Sen. Moore said. “Equity in healthcare continues to be a priority for me and I am committed to fighting for children, women, and families in our state.”

Senate Bill 586, “An Act Expanding Mandated Health Benefits for Women, Children and Adolescents,” was submitted to ensure that women’s health care will be protected under any circumstances with or without protections from the federal government in the face of changes to the Affordable Care Act. The bill would have mandated health benefits for women, children and adolescents, expanded mandated contraception benefits, and required the Commissioner of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to provide expanded contraception benefits.

The House of Representatives “passed temporarily” the bill Wednesday, effectively killing it hours before the end of the 2017 legislative session.

This bill aimed to ensure that health insurance coverage plans cover 21 essential benefits that women need in order to receive comprehensive healthcare in our state, including:

• Well-woman visits for any woman who is younger than 65 years old;
• Breast cancer screenings
• Screenings for sexually transmitted diseases
• Breastfeeding support and counseling for any pregnant or breastfeeding woman;
• Breastfeeding supplies, including a breast pump;
• Gestational diabetes screening for any woman who is 24 to 28 weeks pregnant, and any woman who is at increased risk for gestational diabetes; and
• Osteoporosis screening for any woman who is 60-years-old or older.