New York has some of the strongest reproductive health laws in the country — but right now, too many New Yorkers still can’t easily get birth control. According to Power to Decide, currently 1.2 million people are living in contraceptive deserts across the state. Even though pharmacists are authorized to prescribe birth control, insurers are required to cover a full year’s supply, and over-the-counter options like Opill are supposed to be covered by some insurance without a prescription, implementation has lagged behind the law. Pharmacies may be unfamiliar with the updated requirements, insurers are slow in implementing them, and patients end up bearing the cost of care that should already be available at no charge.
Policies like extended supply, pharmacist- prescribed, and over the counter (OTC)-covered birth control help people across New York, saving them from stress due to running out of birth control pills before the next prescription or having to worry about affordability. Community pharmacies are also conveniently located and trusted by people to provide birth control, and other essential services, so it is crucial that pharmacists are provided with up-to-date information about current policies.
As more of women’s rights and autonomy are stripped away each day, New York must show what proactive leadership looks like. That means enforcing these existing laws, helping pharmacies stand up services for birth control prescribing, and ensuring insurers honor coverage requirements. We’ve already passed the policy — now it’s time to make it real for the people it was meant to serve.
– Eszter Bölcz, Associate Board Member NY Birth Control Access Project
