Law mandates coverage for vasectomies, other birth control

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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Vermont is poised to become the first state to require public and private health insurance to cover vasectomies without copays and deductibles.

Vasectomies are among several types of birth control covered in a bill Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law on Monday.

The law allows women to get oral contraceptives for 12 months without repeated doctor’s office visits. It boosts Medicaid payments for doctors who provide patients with long-acting reversible contraceptives, like the intrauterine device.

Maryland has enacted similar legislation, but it doesn’t take effect until 2018. Most provisions of Vermont’s bill take effect this October.

Industry trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans says it opposes the law. It says the law fails to address the underlying prices charged for the services.

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