In January 2009, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced the Prevention First Act (S. 21/H.R. 463). This important legislation aims to prevent unintended pregnancies through common-sense measures to expand access to contraceptives and provide comprehensive sex education.
Specifically, the Prevention First Act:
- Improves access to family planning services by investing in the Title X program and expanding eligibility for family planning services under the Medicaid program.
- Ensures that private health plans offer the same level of coverage for contraception as they do for other prescription drugs and services.
- Ensures that women who survive sexual assault receive factually accurate information about emergency contraception (EC) and access to EC upon request.
- Supports comprehensive sex education programs that helps young people make responsible decisions and includes medically accurate information about abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention.