What is the Reproductive Health Equity Act (HB 3391)?
House Bill 3391, also known as the Reproductive Health Equity Act, is a bill that provides for expanded coverage for some Oregonians to access free reproductive health services, especially those who, in the past, may have not been eligible for coverage of these services. It also provides protections for the continuation of reproductive health services with no cost sharing, such as co-pays or payments toward deductibles, and prohibits discrimination in the provision of reproductive health services.
Benefits to those with private insurance
The Reproductive Health Equity Act ensures that people with Oregon private health insurance plans, including employee-sponsored coverage, have access to reproductive health and related preventive services with no cost sharing regardless of what happens with the Affordable Care Act.
The bill includes prohibition of services on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or
disability. This protection may be an immediate benefit for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. For example, an individual who was assigned female at birth and identifies as male goes into a provider for cervical cancer screening, but his insurance only covers these screenings for females. The Reproductive Health Equity Act ensures that insurance must cover services for this individual, regardless of his name, or what gender is on his driver’s license or his birth certificate.
Benefits to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for medical assistance if not for their immigration status
The Reproductive Health Equity Act provides benefits for Oregonians who have been excluded from coverage of the full range of services in the past and who can become pregnant. For example, women who are undocumented including DACA recipients and women who have held lawful permanent resident status for less than five years. These women have limited options for coverage for preventive reproductive health services at no cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act. Now, many of those services are covered under the Reproductive Health Equity Act. Medical care for individuals up to 60-day postpartum will also be covered.
Abortion benefits
The law improves abortion access in a couple of different ways. First, it requires Oregon private health insurance plans to cover abortions with no out-of-pocket costs. Also, it covers abortion services for individuals who would otherwise be eligible for medical assistance if not for their immigration status.
When will benefits be available?
Different benefits outlined in the bill go into effect at different times.
- The part of the law addressing discrimination went into effect August 15, 2017.
- Coverage of abortion services for individuals who are undocumented began January 1, 2018.
- All other services for undocumented individuals was fully implemented April 1, 2018.
- The change to cost-sharing requirements for private insurance plans go into effect January 1, 2019.
What is the Reproductive Health Program’s role?
Our role is to administer and fund the program for the full range of services for women who can become pregnant who would otherwise be eligible for medical assistance if not for their immigration status. We have nearly 50 years’ experience serving the entire state of Oregon, including some of the most underserved and
underrepresented communities in the state. We have an established and trusted clinic network in place, we are working on expansion of that network. Our goal is to increase access to high quality, client-centered reproductive health services for all Oregonians.
What services are available under this program?
Individuals are eligible for a full range of reproductive health services, including the following:
- A comprehensive list of FDA approved contraception, and contraceptive-related services including counseling;
- Voluntary sterilization;
- Screenings for pregnancy, sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), breast and cervical cancers, genetic cancer risk factors;
- Counseling on tobacco use, STIs, and relationship safety; and
- Abortion.
Where can these services be accessed?
Many of the same places individuals may already be going including local health departments, Planned Parenthood, federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics. Visit our Find a Clinic page to search for clinics.
Starting January 1, 2018, OHP is now available to more children and teens younger than 19, regardless of immigration status. Those newly eligible receive full OHP coverage, including reproductive health care. For more information, visit OHPnowCOVERSme.org. These individuals will be able to access services at our clinics in addition to other providers who accept the Oregon Health Plan.
Report to the Legislature
OHA was charged, as part of HB 3391, with reporting to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health on the implementation of section 5 of the act. The report was submitted to the legislature in September 2018 and is available below.
House Bill 3391 Reproductive Health Equity Act: Report to the Legislature