Sponsored by: Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Summary:

The Prevention First Act is a family planning initiative that would expand access to preventive health care services and education programs to help reduce unintended pregnancy, prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and support healthy families by improving women’s health — all while saving scarce public health dollars. The bill would: Increase access to family planning services by increasing funds to Title X clinics that help women plan healthy pregnancies, prevent unintended pregnancies, lower rates of STIs, including HIV/AIDS, and detect breast and cervical cancer at its earliest stages.  Increase access to health care for low-income families by expanding Medicaid coverage for family planning.  Ensure equity in prescription insurance and contraceptives coverage by requiring health plans to offer the same level of coverage for contraception as they do for other prescription drugs and services. Reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy by improving awareness about emergency contraception (EC).  EC is an essential component of comprehensive health care that should be easily accessible to all women. Provide sexual assault survivors access to EC. Protect teens through REAL Sex Ed.  Teens need accurate, complete information to help them both postpone sex and protect themselves when, in the future, they do become sexually active.

PPNT Position:

Strongly Supports—Increasing access to family planning services and providing comprehensive sex education will improve women’s health, reduce rates of unintended pregnancy (which will in turn reduce the numbers of abortions), and lessen the spread of STIs. The U.S. has one of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies and STIs among industrialized nations and improving access to family planning services and education is the most effective way to reduce those rates.

Latest Action:

01/04/2007—Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Recorded Votes:

None.