Sponsors (7)
The bill increases contraceptive access, convenience, and potentially lowers out-of-pocket costs for enrolled veterans by offering and requiring notification of full-year supplies, while imposing modest additional VA/taxpayer costs, some risk of wasted supplies if methods change, and a small administrative burden on providers.
Enrolled veterans who use prescription contraception can receive a full-year supply, reducing pharmacy refill visits and improving continuity of contraceptive use.
Enrolled veterans will be informed by VA medical providers about the full-year supply option, increasing patient awareness and access to contraception.
Enrolled veterans, especially low-income veterans, may face lower out-of-pocket costs and fewer logistical barriers (fewer trips to the pharmacy) because they can obtain a year’s supply at once.
VA (and therefore taxpayers) may face increased short-term pharmacy inventory and budgetary costs from dispensing full-year contraceptive supplies.
Veterans who discontinue or change contraceptive methods before the year ends risk wasting unused products, reducing cost-effectiveness and potentially creating disposal issues.
VA providers and pharmacy staff will incur a small additional administrative workload from the required patient notification and managing larger prescriptions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to offer enrolled veterans the option to receive a full-year supply of prescribed contraceptive products and to notify them of that option.
Official title: Amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow a veteran to receive a full-year supply of contraceptive pills, transdermal patches, vaginal rings, and other contraceptive products, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 30, 2025 by Tammy Duckworth · Last progress September 30, 2025
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer enrolled veterans the option to receive a full-year supply when prescribed contraceptive pills, patches, rings, or other approved contraceptive products, and requires VA medical providers to notify veterans of that option. Defines “contraceptive product” by reference to applicable FDA and PHS approval pathways and adds the new statutory provision to the VA code. The change applies to veterans enrolled in VA health care (annual patient enrollment) and alters VA practice and patient notification; it does not appropriate new funds or change tax law.