Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs, Vetoes Several Bills On Women's Health

On Sunday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed and vetoed several bills related to reproductive health in a flurry of last-minute action before a midnight deadline to address more than 700 measures, the Sacramento Bee reports (Sanders, Sacramento Bee, 10/13). Most of the bills Schwarzenegger approved will take effect Jan. 1, 2010 (Sanders, Sacramento Bee, 10/12).

The signed measures include a bill (AB 119) by Assembly member Dave Jones (D) that prohibits health insurance companies from charging different premiums based on gender. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who has sued the state over the practice, said the new law "will end discriminatory treatment of women in the individual health insurance market" (Colliver, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/13). Schwarzenegger also signed a bill (SB 148) by Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D) to require clinicians who conduct mammograms to publicize any health violations identified in state Department of Health inspections (Sacramento Bee, 10/12).

Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill (SB 674) by Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D) that would have established greater oversight for fertility clinics that offer in vitro fertilization. The governor said that the bill did not go far enough to strengthen regulations and that he hopes to work with medical practitioners to develop even tougher licensing requirements (Bailey/Halper, Los Angeles Times, 10/12). In addition, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill (AB 98) by Assembly member Hector De La Torre (D) that would have required health insurers to cover maternity services. Schwarzenegger said the bill would contribute to rising health care costs. This is the third time the governor has vetoed such a measure. The governor also vetoed a bill (AB 513) by Assembly member Kevin De Leon (D) that would have required health plans to cover lactation consultation and breast pump rentals. "This, like other mandates, only increases cost in an environment in which health coverage is increasingly expensive," Schwarzenegger said in his veto message (Sacramento Bee, 10/12).


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