BILL NO. 80
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Private Member's Bill
Free Birth Control Act
Claudia Chender
Dartmouth South
First Reading: November 3, 2021
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 gives this Bill a short title.
Clause 2 includes the provision of birth control as an insured service under the M.S.I. Plan and provides that no deductible or co-payment is required for prescription birth control.
An Act to Amend Chapter 197
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Health Services and Insurance Act,
Respecting Free Birth Control
AND WHEREAS not all forms of contraception are easily accessible or are included as insured medical services under the Medical Services Insurance Plan;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable to expand the range of such services, with a view to reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and empowering people to make their own decisions about when to procreate;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable to move to expand coverage of insured medical services in anticipation of the establishment of a national program of Pharmacare;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Free Birth Control Act.
2 Chapter 197 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Health Services and Insurance Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 3 the following Section:
- 4 (1) In this Section, "birth control" includes
(a) medical contraceptives, whether taken orally or injected; and
(b) physical devices designed to operate over an extended period of time to prevent pregnancy,
but does not include a condom or similar temporary physical device.
(2) Subject to subsection (6), for the purpose of subsection 3(2), insured professional services include the provision of and, where necessary, injection or implantation of prescription and emergency birth control.
(3) A provider shall bill a patient's private health insurance, if any, before submitting the claim or remainder of the claim to the M.S.I. Plan for payment.
(4) Subject to subsection (6), no deductible or co-payment may be charged in respect of birth control.
(5) For greater certainty, nothing in this Section restricts the provision of a hysterectomy, vasectomy, tubal ligation, surgical abortion or Mifegymiso as an insured service.
(6) The money required for the purpose of this Section must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 3, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
