A bill would allow insurers to not pay for contraceptive services and abortions for religious reasons.

Rep. Mark Hilton, a Catawba County Republican, said he filed the bill after hearing from churches and other religious groups that provide insurance.

The state currently allows insurers to not include RU-486 and other so-called morning-after pills that provide emergency contraception.

The bill would extend that to "any drug or device that interferes with the development o an embryo after fertilization," which would include birth-control pills and other methods such as hormone injections.

It also includes a "conscience clause" that would allow businesses and insurance providers to avoid paying for contraception if it was against their "religious beliefs or moral convictions."

"They should have the discretion to decide what's covered," he said.

He said he did not have much hope that his bill would pass, though he thinks there's an outside chance it may get a hearing.

Harris Teeter says it is company policy to stock Plan B.

Jennifer Panetta, a spokeswoman for the Matthews-based grocery chain, said that all of its stores are supposed to carry emergency contraception, though they may only have one pill in stock.

If a store runs out, pharmacists are supposed to recommend a nearby Harris Teeter and order another pill on the next truck, which could come in one or two days, depending on the location.

When taken within 72 hours of intercourse, the pill can prevent a pregnancy. A survey by NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina found that three Harris Teeter stores did not have the pill in stock despite corporate policy on multiple occasions.

Panetta said the stores have been contacted and they now have the pill in stock.

More after the jump.

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Forty percent of Harris Teeter pharmacies in North Carolina were not stocking emergency contraception this spring, despite a company policy in favor of it.

According to a May 22 letter from NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina to the Matthews-based chain, 33 of the grocery store chain's 82 pharmacies did not have Plan B in stock.

For the survey, NARAL volunteers called each of the stores at least three times and asked about the pill, a concentrated dose of hormones that can prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of intercourse. In some cases, they also visited the stores.

In a follow-up letter on June 29, NARAL noted that the number of Harris Teeter pharmacies not stocking the over-the-counter pill was down to 11.

But after a second follow-up, it found three stores were still not in compliance: The Oak Landing Shopping Center in Wilmington, the Providence Commons in Charlotte and Cloverdale in Winston-Salem.

NARAL plans to encourage women who live nearby to ask the pharmacist about Plan B.

"We want to let them know that the public wants it," said statewide organizer Amy Woodell.

A state pro-choice group is fighting for the morning-after pill.

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina is targeting three pharmacies in Forsyth, Mecklenburg and New Hanover counties that do not stock emergency contraception.

The pill, a heavy dose of hormones, can prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of intercourse.

Some pro-life groups oppose the drug, arguing it is a form of abortion. According to a survey by NARAL, 20 percent of hospitals and 40 percent of pharmacies in North Carolina do not provide the pill.

"We find that kind of outrageous," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, at a fundraiser in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood today.

The group is targeting pharmacies at Harris Teeter grocery stores, which are supposed to stock the pill under corporate policy, according to NARAL organizers. Its campaign includes sending letters to pro-choice women who live near the pharmacies.

Among 60 guests at the fundraiser were Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Schools Superintendent June Atkinson, state Sen. Janet Cowell and Reps. Grier Martin and Deborah Ross.