Senators Cappelletti, Collett, and Schwank are fighting to protect Pennsylvanians’ access to contraceptives

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – December 10, 2025 – To further strengthen every Pennsylvanian’s right to health care, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17, Montgomery/Delaware), Senator Maria Collett (D-12, Montgomery) i Senator Judy Schwank (D-11, Berks), introduced Senate Bill 1112 to protect access to contraceptives.

The bill would require all insurers to provide coverage for contraceptives, eliminate most co-pays for related insurance, waive prior authorization requirements for certain contraceptives, and authorize insurers to concurrently cover contraception for up to 12 months.

“Safe and accessible contraceptives are an essential pillar of reproductive health care. No one should have to cut through complex bureaucracy or bear the burden of financial hardship just to gain access to a trusted drug or device that will keep them safe and healthy.” – said Senator Cappelletti. “While the full spectrum of reproductive health care withstands ongoing threats from Republican leadership – at all levels of government – ​​this bill would provide another necessary safeguard in Pennsylvania for anyone seeking reproductive care.”

Following Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court rulingnationwide threats to family planning clinics have increased. Before Dobbs, publicly funded family planning clinics provided contraceptive care to one quarter of all U.S. women receiving such care. Many of these clinics have been forced to close their doors or are struggling to operate amid the Trump administration’s stalling. Title X AND Medicaid financing.

Dobbs also enabled continuing to inaccurately conflate abortion and contraception conservative decision makers who sought to dismantle the reproductive health care system.

Contraceptives are commonly used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, forms of contraceptives serve many medical purposes, often including regulating hormones, family planning, and treating stern conditions such as endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

“If we want to build a safer and healthier Pennsylvania, we need access to affordable health care for all, including reproductive care.” – said Senator Collett. “This legislation seeks to protect patients’ right to make their own health care decisions by removing unnecessary financial and administrative barriers. As a registered nurse, I am proud to join Senators Cappelletti and Schwank to send a clear message to Pennsylvanians: we will not back down to defend basic health freedoms.”

Between 2022–2023: 54.3% of US women aged 15–49. used contraception and 6.8% of men aged 18–49 in the US ever had a vasectomy – the only form of constant contraception available to men.

From September 2025 at at least 31 other states, including the District of Columbia require insurers to cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. If access to contraceptives is maintained, The Women’s Policy Research Institute has found a wide range of benefitsincluding, but not constrained to, overall economic growth, significantly fewer unintended pregnancies and greater participation of women in the labor market.

“This legislation affirms that reproductive health care is essential,” she added. – said Senator Schwank. “We cannot allow unnecessary barriers to prevent women from accessing the contraceptive care and treatment they need. When we make access to contraception easier, we empower women to make decisions that are right for them and their families.”

Senate Bill 1112 was referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on December 5, 2025. This is companion legislation to Representative Leanne Krueger’s (D-161, Delaware) bill. House Bill 1140. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 116–87 to pass HB 1140, and as of June 3, 2025, the bill was stalled in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

Supporters of this legislative initiative can contact their Pennsylvania state senators and ask them to sign their support of Senate Bill 1112. Find out who your state’s senator is.

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The post Senators Cappelletti, Collett, Schwank, Fighting to Protect Pennsylvanians’ Access to Contraceptives appeared first on Pennsylvania Senate Democrats.

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