Copyright 2000 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel
December 16, 2000 Saturday METRO EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 03B
LENGTH: 177 words
HEADLINE:
Contraceptive coverage bill to be reintroduced
BODY:
Madison -- Two Wisconsin legislators say they
will bring back a bill requiring health insurance policies to cover
contraceptives after a federal agency ruled it was
discriminatory to exclude them.
The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission ruled Wednesday that it is unlawful for employers to exclude
contraceptive coverage from their health insurance plans if
they also cover services like weight control drugs. Excluding
contraceptives violates the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act,
which requires equal treatment of women "affected by pregnancy, childbirth or
related medical conditions" in all aspects of employment, the EEOC said.
State Sen. Gwendolynne Moore (D- Milwaukee) and state Rep. Terese
Berceau (D-Madison) introduced legislation last session to cover
contraceptives.
Moore's legislation would require that
all private and public health insurance policies provide
coverage for contraceptives if the policy or
plan covers outpatient health services.
Last year, the proposal stalled
in a Republican-controlled Assembly committee.
LOAD-DATE: December 16, 2000 
