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California Gov. Davis Directs HMOs to Pay for Morning-after Pill
Aired March 28, 2002 - 11:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In California, Gov. Gray Davis is directing HMOs to comply with state law in paying in emergency contraception for women for the so-called morning-after pill. This prevents an egg from implanting in the uterus. It is different from the French abortion pill, RU-486.
More on this now from Sacramento affiliate KCRA and reporter Kevin Riggs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NATHALIE NAJJAR, PHARMACIST: It is for emergency situations.
KEVIN RIGGS, KCRA REPORTER (voice-over): Carmichael pharmacist Natalie Najjar is talking about the so-called morning-after pill, which under a three-month state law must be made available without doctor's prescriptions. Najjar, a pharmacist for six years, teamed up with the Califonia's governor to boost awareness of that right, part of a continued outreach campaign from the state's department of managed health care.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lack of awareness and cost have been standing in the way of women's access to emergency contraception.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: There has been is some ambiguity by HMOs as to whether or not they have an obligation. But under the Hertzberg bill, they do, and I am today directing all HMOs to provide this coverage.
RIGGS: A spokesman for the HMO industry denied there has been any foot dragging on coverage of this new benefit, but did say expectations about emergency contraception are unrealistic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One little concern we do have is that people have an expectation that something is available that may not be as readily available just now as they think.
RIGGS: That's because pharmacists can only dispense the pills after they have been properly trained and certified, a process that is just beginning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the San Francisco Bay area, we have had a lot of interest. And really, the interest is picking up considerably. We just did a training here in Sacramento last Saturday.
RIGGS: Cost is other issue. Pharmacists are charging what they call an assessment fee for the time they spend with a customer -- and it is still unclear who much of the cost the insurers will pick up.
NAJJAR: I don't foresee that it's going to be a major issue. Some women may want to opt to pay out of pocket just because it may be a privacy thing that they don't to have their doctors or their insurance companies aware of this particular incident.
RIGGS: Use of the pill, supporters say, prevents conception and is not abortion. The idea, they say, is to reduce the number of abortions done every year.
(on camera): Widespread use of the so-called morning-after pill will not only depend on publicity, but also on training. That is likely to take some time since there are 15,000 pharmacists in California.
In Sacramento County, Kevin Riggs, KCRA 3 Reports.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Our thanks to our affiliate KCRA for that.
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