Women’s Health Initiative Passes House

A women’s health initiative moves to the Senate on the strength of an overwhelming vote in the Hosue. The bill would allow women direct access to gynecologists, call for cancer screenings, and mandate insurance coverage of contraceptives. That is the single controversial aspect of the bill. Sponsor Joan Barry of St. Louis says she has included exemptions agreed to by both pro-life and pro-choice groups. Also, doctors opposed to contraceptives would not have to prescribe them. And, employers with a religious objection would not have to provide that insurance. The vote was 142-3.