summary
Introduced
05/19/2017
05/19/2017
In Committee
05/26/2017
05/26/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Access to Birth Control Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to contraceptives, including: (1) providing a customer a contraceptive without delay if it is in stock; (2) immediately informing a customer if the contraceptive is not in stock and either transferring the prescription to a pharmacy that has the contraceptive in stock or ordering the contraceptive and notifying the customer when it arrives, based on customer preference, except for pharmacies that do not ordinarily stock contraceptives; and (3) ensuring that pharmacy employees do not take certain actions relating to a request for contraception, including intimidating, threatening, or harassing customers, interfering with the delivery of services, intentionally deceiving customers about the availability or mechanism of action of contraception, breaching or threatening to breach medical confidentiality, or refusing to return a prescription. The bill does not prohibit a pharmacy from refusing to provide a contraceptive to a customer if: (1) it is unlawful to dispense the contraceptive to the customer without a prescription and no prescription is presented; (2) the customer is unable to pay for the contraceptive; or (3) the pharmacy employee refuses to provide the contraceptive on the basis of a professional clinical judgment. The bill does not preempt state law or any professional obligation of a state board that provides greater protections for customers. Civil penalties and a private cause of action are established for violations of this bill.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to contraceptives. Specifically, it mandates that pharmacies provide contraceptives without delay if in stock, inform customers if not in stock and either transfer the prescription or order the contraceptive, and ensure employees do not take certain actions like intimidating, deceiving, or refusing to provide contraceptives. The bill allows pharmacies to refuse to provide contraceptives only if it is unlawful without a prescription, the customer cannot pay, or the employee has a professional clinical judgment for refusal. It establishes civil penalties and a private cause of action for violations, while preserving stronger state laws or professional obligations. The bill aims to ensure access to FDA-approved contraception.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (18)
Carolyn Maloney (D)*,
Karen Bass (D),
Suzanne Bonamici (D),
Judy Chu (D),
David Cicilline (D),
Yvette Clarke (D),
Gerry Connolly (D),
Peter DeFazio (D),
Keith Ellison (D),
Raúl Grijalva (D),
Gwen Moore (D),
Grace Napolitano (D),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Chellie Pingree (D),
Jackie Speier (D),
Mark Takano (D),
Maxine Waters (D),
Frederica Wilson (D),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 05/26/2017)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2567/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2567/BILLS-115hr2567ih.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2567/BILLS-115hr2567ih.pdf.pdf |
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