Trending News Today: States Take Action to Provide Access to Birth Control Medications

There has been a spike in insurance claims for young children with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and conditions that are typically associated with older adults, a recent study found. Insurance claims for prediabetes rose 110% from 2011 to 2015, while claims for type 2 diabetes more than doubled for individuals up to 22-years-old, according to Kaiser Health News. These findings suggest that interventions are needed to assure that young adults and children are adopting healthier lifestyles.

The House will likely approve a measure that would allow lawmakers to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without threats of a filibuster, The New York Times reported. This measure was recently approved in the Senate, as part of a budget blueprint. Oppositional Democratic lawmakers said that moving quickly to repeal the ACA could threaten the health and financial security of millions of Americans.

Numerous states are taking action to ensure that women have access to free prescription birth control if that provision is repealed as a part of dismantling the ACA. These prescriptions may be too costly for many to afford, and repealing this measure may leave women without effective contraceptive options. California, Maryland, Vermont, and Illinois have already written this mandate into their state law, with New York, Minnesota, Colorado, and Massachusetts following their lead, according to The New York Times.