Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Bill Number

H.R. 211

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Last Updated

2026-05-08T08:06:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act aims to improve access to contraceptive services for veterans by limiting or eliminating copayments (out-of-pocket fees) charged by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for these items. It ensures that veterans, particularly women, face fewer financial barriers to obtaining birth control.

Key Provisions

• Copayment Limits: Veterans cannot be required to pay more than the VA's actual cost for certain medications covered under VA health benefits.
• No Cost-Sharing for Specific Contraceptives: Copayments are prohibited for any contraceptive item that federal health insurance laws require to be covered without any out-of-pocket costs. This refers to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate under the Public Health Service Act, which requires most health plans to cover preventive services like contraception at no cost to the patient.
• The bill amends Section 1722A(a)(2) of Title 38, United States Code, which governs copayments in the VA healthcare system.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, Section 1722A(a)(2) allowed the VA to charge copayments for medications, including contraceptives, based on standard fee schedules.
• The amendment restructures this section to explicitly cap copayments at the VA's procurement cost for qualifying medications and fully waives them for ACA-mandated contraceptives, aligning VA benefits more closely with private insurance requirements under the ACA.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The VA may see reduced revenue from copayments but could experience increased utilization of preventive services, potentially lowering long-term healthcare costs related to unintended pregnancies.
• On Citizens: Female veterans and their dependents will benefit from lower or no costs for contraceptives, promoting reproductive health equity and easier access to family planning options within the VA system.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic VA healthcare policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Veterans: Especially women veterans who rely on VA healthcare for reproductive services; the bill reduces financial barriers to contraception.
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for implementing the changes, adjusting billing systems, and ensuring compliance with the new copayment rules.
• Healthcare Providers in the VA System: May see shifts in how services are delivered or prescribed due to improved affordability.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Alignment: The bill harmonizes VA policies with the ACA's preventive care mandates, potentially reducing legal challenges related to unequal treatment in healthcare access (e.g., ensuring parity between VA and civilian insurance benefits).
• Constitutional Considerations: It supports equal protection principles under the U.S. Constitution by addressing potential disparities in healthcare access for veterans, a protected class of citizens.
• Political Context: As a targeted amendment to veterans' benefits, it could influence broader discussions on reproductive rights and gender equity in federal programs, though the bill itself is narrowly focused on VA-specific reforms without broader ideological overtones.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

Cosponsors (85)

Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Turner, Sylvester [D-TX-18], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray, Jr. [D-CA-31], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13] and 35 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• 2025-01-06: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
• 2025-01-06: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act — issued 2025-01-06 — PDF (2 pages)