Massachusetts House passes no co-pay birth control bill

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts House on Wednesday passed a bill that would guarantee Massachusetts women access to birth control without a co-pay, even if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

"Obviously, we're not sure what Congress is going to do from day to day, bad enough from week to week or month to month," said House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop. "It's important that we take it up here in Massachusetts and we send a message to Massachusetts in terms of protecting, in this case, women."

The House voted 140-16 in favor of the bill, H.4009. It will now go to the Senate, which is expected to be supportive. Gov. Charlie Baker has also voiced support for the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, the bill's Senate sponsor, said the Senate plans to take up the bill on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/11/massachusetts_house_passes_no.html