The Headline
Why some GOP lawmakers support OTC birth control
The Grind
In addition to free healthcare and free college tuition, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants to give Americans access to birth control without a prescription.
“Psst! Birth control should be over-the-counter, pass it on,” she tweeted.
Perhaps even more shocking than AOC’s suggestion was the response from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who suggested the two work together on a “clean bill making birth control available over the counter.”
Cruz and AOC are already working together on a bill that would ban former Congressmen from lobbying.
The Details
Cruz’s response is surprising considering his stance on abortion and reproductive care. Cruz, a Baptist, wants to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and believes abortion should only allowed when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life. His coalition “Pro-Lifers for Cruz” is chaired by an activist who once said the government should execute abortion doctors.
Here’s the catch: if birth control is available OTC, insurance companies could stop covering it. And employers could escape the controversial coverage requirements in the Affordable Care Act.
Putting birth control on the shelves is also likely to drive up the price, which defeats the purpose of increasing its accessibility.
“You cannot have real access if you can’t afford it,” says Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
The Takeaway
Suspecting the Republican motive, Murray and a handful of Democrats introduced a bill that would require all private insurance plans to cover birth control without cost-sharing even if the FDA approves birth control pills for OTC use.
The bill might make it past the House, but has no chance of succeeding in the Senate.
“This is an opportunity for Republicans to join us,” says Murray. “I’m hoping they do, but I’m also a realist and know that they likely won’t.”