Press ReleasesPress Release on Contraceptive EquityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Organization for Women, Michigan Chapter joins the alliance of civil and women’s rights groups in strong support of the recent ruling by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to require Michigan businesses to include contraceptives in their prescription coverage. This ruling is considered a huge step forward in ending sex discrimination related to healthcare. As Michigan NOW has stated throughout this battle, denying coverage of medication and/ or services that only apply to women is a clear violation of the Elliott-Larson Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the act lists pregnancy and related conditions as elements of sex discrimination. In addition, the 2000 ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that employers may not discriminate against women in their health insurance plans by denying benefits for prescription contraceptives, if they provide benefits for drugs, devices and services used to prevent other medical conditions. This decision was supported by a federal court ruling, Erikson v. The Bartell Company, in June 2001. Michigan NOW applauds the Civil Rights Commission in following suite in these two cases. In addition to legal aspects of the issue, the decision to support contraceptive equity will have far reaching remedial effects on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses women are currently paying for reproductive healthcare services. The current spending gap for out -of-pocket expenses between women and men is 68%. A woman’s access to contraception is essential to preventing unplanned pregnancies and also plays a significant role in reducing the need for abortion. Michigan NOW highly commends the Michigan Civil Right’s Commission decision to recognize contraception as an example of basic and necessary healthcare, and asking businesses in Michigan to do the same. Michigan Conference of the National Organization for Women NOW’s purpose is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men.
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