California bill would ease access to over-the-counter birth control pills

Low-income Californians would have an easier time purchasing hormonal birth control pills at their local pharmacy under a new bill.

The bill, which was recently introduced to the California State Assembly, would remove a self-screening requirement for recipients of Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, trying to access daily hormonal birth control pills without a prescription.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the U.S.'s first over-the-counter daily hormonal birth control pill, called Opill, last year, with boxes of the drug appearing on pharmacy shelves last spring.

Medi-Cal covers the cost of Opill but requires pharmacists to give members a self-screening patient intake before they can dispense the drug.

“If the pharmacist deems the selected medication appropriate, they will provide counseling including direction for self-administered usage, potential risks associated with the medications, and risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” according to the Medi-Cal Rx website.

Under the bill, pharmacists would be required to give the self-screen intake form only before dispensing a daily hormonal birth control pill that requires a prescription.

“Over-the-counter birth control is ensuring contraceptives are readily available to more people than ever,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D), who introduced the bill. “We should not stifle this progress by leaving Medi-Cal recipients behind and making low-income communities have to take more steps than their peers on private insurance to access medication.”

The new bill comes as many Americans brace for further restrictions on reproductive rights under a second Trump presidency, including potential regulations on contraception.

President-elect Trump said during the campaign that he was open to supporting regulations on contraception during an interview with a Pittsburgh television station. He then backtracked on his comments, saying they were misinterpreted.

Americans have been stockpiling birth control pills and emergency contraception in the weeks since Trump secured a victory in the 2024 presidential election. Searches for birth control doubled between Nov. 2 and two days after the election and groups like Aid Access, which connects people to mail-order abortion pills, experienced a 16-fold increase in requests the day following the election.

Topics

Bipartisan bill would study AI's impact on banking, housing

A new bill with bipartisan support would commission studies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the banking and housing sectors, where lawmakers have been sounding an alarm about ...
The Hill - 2d
Bill Belichick weighs in on Justin Tucker's struggles, explains why he would stick with Ravens All-Pro kicker

Belichick thinks Tucker is not being consistent enough with his mechanics
CBS Sports - 1d
French Government Faces No-Confidence Vote Over Budget Bill

Prime Minister Michel Barnier pushed a budget bill through the lower house of Parliament without a vote. A no-confidence vote this week could topple him and his cabinet.
The New York Times - 1d
GOP lawmakers already divided over sweeping Trump policy bill

John Thune wants a two-step strategy that addresses immigration and energy first, and then taxes later. Key House Republicans aren’t on board that plan.
Politico - 1h
LPGA, USGA add female-at-birth clause for golfers

Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for women under new gender ...
ESPN - 1h
East Coast to See More Freezing Temperatures as Lake-Effect Snow Eases

Snow has been piling up for days around the Great Lakes as temperatures remain bitterly cold in the eastern United States. Another storm system brings the threat of more.
The New York Times - 1d
NFL Week 13 grades: Broncos get 'B-' for wild Monday night win over Browns, Bills earn 'A+' for routing 49ers

Here are the grades for every team that played in Week 13
CBS Sports - 1d