Bill would provide free contraceptives to immigrants

A Colorado bill would provide free contraceptives and reproductive care to people living in the U.S. illegally.

The legislation, heard by the House Health and Insurance committee Wednesday, aims to create a reproductive health care program within the state health department to provide contraceptives, management of birth control products or devices and counseling to people who do not qualify for Medicaid because of their citizenship or immigration status.

Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo, one of the bill’s sponsors, cited medical studies that show access to contraception leads to declines in maternal and infant mortality and higher graduation rates among young women.

“By helping them plan pregnancies and achieve goals like graduation or higher education, more Coloradans will be able to make informed, healthy choices and avoid the cycle of poverty,” Caraveo said.

Oregon and Washington already have similar programs, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The bill also allows for Medicaid recipients to obtain 12 months of birth control at once, a service that some private insurance companies currently provide, Caraveo said.