Underwood Urges VA to Expand Veterans’ Access to Contraceptives

Underwood's ACE Veterans Act would expand veterans' access to a full year's supply of contraception

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), in a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing, urged VA to expand veterans' access to contraceptive options. In her remarks, Underwood highlighted how the coronavirus pandemic presents new challenges to women veterans who must visit a pharmacy multiple times each year for contraceptive refills. Underwood emphasized that access to reliable contraceptive options is essential to women's health care. To address this issue, Underwood has introduced the ACE Veterans Act to expand veterans' access to a full year's supply of contraceptive options.

"Many veterans, especially younger women veterans, rely on the Veterans Health Administration for contraceptive care. Of course, reliable and uninterrupted access to information on a range of contraceptive options, and to contraception, is essential women's health care. But in the middle of a global pandemic, seeing your provider for a prescription and visiting a pharmacy for a refill can be really challenging," said Underwood. "I encourage VA to prioritize expanding one-year contraception dispensing. It's an evidence-based practice that improves women's health and saves money."

Underwood's remarks can be found here.

According to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a full-year dispensing option for oral contraceptive pills at VA could reduce unintended pregnancies among women veterans and produce cost savings for VA.

As a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Servicewomen & Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, and the Women Veterans Task Force, Underwood is an advocate for improving veterans' access to quality care and has worked to help ensure veterans receive the care they have earned. In September 2019, Underwood introduced the Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans (ACE Veterans) Act (HR 4281) to improve access to contraceptives for women veterans by giving them the option to receive a full year's supply of birth control pills, patches, or rings through VA. In March, Underwood introduced the bipartisan Protecting Moms Who Served Act (HR 6141)as a part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, to provide funding to support maternity care coordination through VA. In August 2019, Underwood introduced the bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act which would eliminate copays for preventive health services including contraception, immunizations, and breast cancer screenings.

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