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Hobbs issues executive order expanding access to birth control for state government workers • Arizona Mirror [1]

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Date: 2024-05 

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order Monday expanding access to birth control for Arizonans who work for the state.

Hobbs’ order requires the Arizona Department of Administration to designate oral contraceptives as a preventative “essential health benefit” that must be provided to state employees at no cost. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the formal name for Arizona’s Medicaid program, is ordered to provide a report to Hobbs on expanding contraception coverage for its members, as well.

“Access to contraception is a right,” Hobbs said in a press release announcing the executive order. “While members of our legislature tell Arizona women to put aspirin between their knees instead of taking action to pass the Arizona Right to Contraception Act, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect our reproductive freedom and ensure every Arizonan can access contraception.”

Hobbs’ order also directs the Arizona Department of Health Services, along with the state Pharmacy Board, to educate pharmacists about contraceptive options in order to fully comply with the executive order.

And the governor is ordering ADOA and the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions to provide a report to her on the feasibility of including coverage in state health plans not just for contraception but treatments for infertility, such as in vitro fertilization.

The executive order comes shortly after the state legislature moved to repeal an 1864 near-total ban on abortion. However, that repeal won’t take place until 90 days after the legislative session ends, and it’s unclear when that will happen. Last year, lawmakers remained in session until July 31.

The Arizona Supreme Court last week delayed until September the implementation of the 1864 law, which the justices said trumps a 2022 law restricting abortion to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, so that Attorney General Kris Mayes can craft an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Voters will have an opportunity in November to enshrine reproductive health protections in the state constitution with the Arizona Abortion Access Act.

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[1] Url: https://azmirror.com/briefs/hobbs-issues-executive-order-expanding-access-to-birth-control-for-state-government-workers/

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