Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Legislative Priorities 2021
As of January 18, 2021
Budget Amendments:
(Both included in the Governor’s budget presented 12/16)
- Contraceptive Grant Program - Item 302 F 1 and 4
- An additional $1 m for FY22 for the Contraceptive Grant Program (bringing the FY22 total to $4m)
- Amendment also gives the Virginia Department of Health the flexibility to shift funding from one category of contraceptives to the other
Note: The last budget contained separate line items for LARCs ($2m/year) and other FDA-approved forms of birth control ($1m/year). If flexibility is not provided and one pot of funds runs out before the other, qualifying Virginians will no longer have the full range of options available.
- 12-month supply of contraceptives for Medicaid members - Item 313 YYYYY
- Authorizes 12-month prescriptions of contraceptives for Medicaid members ($1.5m in FY22)
- Dispensing a 13-cycle supply has been shown to not only increase continuous use of birth control and reduce gaps in contraceptive protection, but also reduce costs to the Medicaid program.
- Authorizes 12-month prescriptions of contraceptives for Medicaid members ($1.5m in FY22)
Top Legislative Priorities:
- Remove prohibition on abortion coverage within state health care exchange
(SB1276 Senator McClellan and HB1896 Delegate Hudson)- Would allow health insurance plans that cover abortion services to be sold on the state health care exchange
- Reproductive Health Equity Act (HB1922 Delegate Price)
- Would establish comprehensive coverage for the full spectrum of reproductive health services, including family planning, abortion, and postpartum care, for all Virginians, regardless of income, citizenship status, gender identity, or type of insurance
For questions, please contact:
Rae Pickett, PPAV Interim-Executive Director/Communications Director, rpickett@ppav.org, 202-378-3526
Jennie O’Holleran, PPAV Lobbyist, jennie@broadstreet.group, 703-216-0798
