By Saerom Yoo, Jun. 4, 2015, Statesman Journal, June 4, 2015

The Oregon Legislature gave its stamp of approval on expanding access to birth control Tuesday, as two bills advanced through the Capitol.

House Bill 3343, which would require health insurance providers to cover birth control prescriptions that are filled 12 months at a time, passed the Senate and is now headed to the governor's office. House Bill 2879 would allow women to purchase the pill at the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. It was approved by the House and now heads to the Senate.

Oregon could make history if the both bills are signed into law.

Many insurers allow patients to fill their birth control prescriptions for only 30 or 90 days at a time, even if the prescription is written for a year. Under HB 3343, insurers would be required to reimburse the cost of filling the prescription for 12 months, after the patient has received an initial three-month supply.