HB 345 Summary

• Health care insurers offering plans in Alaska must cover prescription contraceptives, voluntary sterilization procedures, and related medical services necessary to prescribe, dispense, insert, deliver, or remove these contraceptives.

• Insurers must reimburse providers for prescription contraceptives intended to last 12 months for subsequent refills even if the insured was not enrolled at the time of first dispensing, and cannot deny coverage if an insured switches contraceptive methods within 12 months.

• Insurers cannot require copayments, deductibles, or other cost sharing for contraceptive coverage and cannot restrict or delay coverage using medical management techniques; coverage applies to all enrolled individuals including spouses and dependents.

• Religious employers meeting specific Internal Revenue Code or federal self-certification criteria are exempt from contraceptive coverage requirements for their group health insurance plans.

• Medical assistance (Medicaid) must cover prescription contraceptives and related services on the same 12-month refill basis, effective only upon federal approval by January 1, 2017; the bill takes effect January 1, 2017.