Washington Senate passes bill allowing 12-month refills of birth control pills

OLYMPIA – Medical insurance plans in Washington likely will soon be required to let women policyholders buy a year’s worth of birth control pills at one time.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed and sent to Gov. Jay Inslee a House bill that requires a prescription for contraceptives to be refilled for 12 months unless the woman requests less. Supporters said it was important for women who travel, particularly out of the country where contraceptives are difficult to obtain, or who take birth control pills for certain medical conditions, to be able to get long-term refills.

The bill passed 48-1 in the Senate, with only Republican Mike Padden voting no. In the House it passed 93-5; among Spokane-area representatives, Republicans Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin voted no, all others voted yes.