On Jan. 1 a new law will begin in advancing access to Birth Control

A new law advancing access to birth control statewide will take effect Jan. 1, officials said

Senate Bill 999 by state Sen. Fran Pavley allows women to receive up to a 12-month supply of birth control.

The ability to receive a 12-month supply will eliminate the need to return to a pharmacy every 30 or 90 days to refill prescriptions, reducing the possibility of temporarily not having access to contraception.

“This is a great victory for Californians and shows that our state respects reproductive freedom with actions, not just words,” said Rebecca Griffin, assistant director of California Programs for NARAL Pro-Choice California.

Health care providers explain the new law will have an immediate impact by eliminating the stress many patients feel when they are unable to make their monthly or every-three-months appointments to renew birth-control prescriptions.

Women will have the chance to consult with their doctors and pharmacists to determine the duration of a prescription that works best for them. The prescription for a hormonal contraceptive birth-control pills, the ring or the patch  can be for up to 12 months, which insurance plans would be required to cover.

Annual dispensing is recommended by leading health care experts, who cite research that has found consistent, reliable access to birth control reduces the incidence of unintended pregnancies by 30 percent.

Enactment of the new law was celebrated at a news conference Thursday by Senators Pavley and Bob Hertzberg, the bill’s principal co-author, who were joined by representatives of leading women’s health care organizations.

Bill SB 999 provides the underserved patients of El Proyecto del Barrio clinics critical access to a 12-month supply of contraceptives, contributing to positive women’s health and well being,” said Corinne Sanchez, President and CEO of El Proyecto del Barrio, Inc.

A analysis of SB 999 by University of California medical researchers earlier this year estimated that the bill’s enactment would result in 15,000 fewer unintended pregnancies and save employers, consumers and government agencies a combined $42.8 million each year.