Today, to mark the 59th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Griswold v. Connecticut—which found that the constitutional right to privacy protects access to contraception—Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, and Erica Songer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Counsel to the Vice President, convened women’s community leaders, health care advocates, and reproductive rights advocates to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong record of strengthening access to affordable, high-quality contraception, an essential part of reproductive health care. They were joined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, and Principal Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights Jenny Ma.
Contraception has come under attack by Republican elected officials following the Supreme Court’s devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Just earlier this week, Senate Republicans refused to support legislation to protect a woman’s fundamental right to contraception in every state. As part of its work to continue to protect access to reproductive care, including contraception, the Biden-Harris Administration reversed the prior Administration’s restrictions on the Title X Family Planning Program and called on Congress to increase Title X funding to support family planning providers, expanded contraception access for veterans and service members, and improved insurance coverage for those covered under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. As part of these continued efforts, Administrator Brooks-LaSure announced a new funding opportunity of more than $11 million to support states in enhancing and expanding access to reproductive and maternal health coverage and services—with an emphasis on contraception and family planning services.
Participants discussed how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has paved the way for attacks on reproductive care, including abortion, IVF, and contraception. Participants also highlighted opportunities for continued federal and state action to address gaps in access, close health disparities, and partner with the private sector. Many also underscored the importance of access to Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use, that became available earlier this year.
Speakers at the convening included:
• Jamie Hart, Coalition to Expand Contraceptive Access
• Megan Kavanaugh, Guttmacher Institute
• Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Power to Decide
• Joy McGlaun, CVS Health