Women's Rights & Issues
Related: About this forumGOP SENATORS CALL FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER BIRTH CONTROL: help or ploy?
The Hill
GOP SENATORS CALL FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER BIRTH CONTROL
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) is leading a new push to allow women to buy birth control without a prescription, hoping to deliver on one of the biggest promises of his freshman Senate campaign last year.
A half-dozen Senate Republicans have signed onto Gardner's bill, which would require drug companies that sell contraceptives to file an application to sell their products over the counter.
"Most other drugs with such a long history of safe and routine use are available for purchase over the counter, and contraception should join them," Gardner wrote in a statement. He said his bill would benefit women in rural and underserved areas, while also saving people money and time by "increasing competition and availability."
The Colorado Republican's push to make birth control available over-the-counter is not winning him more allies among women's reproductive health groups, however.
Groups like Planned Parenthood have opposed the idea, which they argue could drive up contraception prices.
The group has pointed to ObamaCare's contraception mandate -- requiring insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved forms of birth control -- and said that insurers may no longer cover the medication if it's not prescribed by a doctor.
Read more here.
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lSSHJ9ydH9LG2u8zvNpMEwjvjJzcSnjWo3GGG1FprS1fRmpA1U0OOJb5gfXd7F014w_EBeQtRnLAET0J2DufvEV3qLJlZA3_C3rnCx0KKjJ7a9Ng9UgDP9xzH7j5h8uPJpMHW2P5miWKbFXmu2d4rqhCJnfMAoyfnjkfcQWi3a0emmxRrFvY3BYYTvdwW70Db32cVxH8esPetG_aEN-eW4YOnCWZjAIGSP5hdsKQGuS-UbRSkFAetEXzGjYtMDSTu6yi8mz8ELtCn9BOLBsTWXnuQxlZVeNE&c=DF9Bce-Rp79W34c1Gj6WfMP0R9FIWWZtGlg09AOcbYZd4e6wnOatbw==&ch=XAgygnUp8-XDsrc1ipgFrfWXq6RMlEG7F55YAmdnv6n8PpWNL4yJqw==
On the surface it seems a great benefit to have ready-access to conteaceptives. But there's big catches in this maneuver: low income women are still stuck with the cost and it does nothing for those who choose IUDs and work for repressive theocrats who deny birth control (per disasterously wrong Hobby Lobby decision). One can't help wondering if the bill is merely a political ploy to win votes (worked f/ one already).
onecaliberal
(32,991 posts)covering your medication. Republicans do NOT care about women, and they never will.
still_one
(92,502 posts)jump on board also.
In addition, some medical insurance does cover OTC products such as allergy etc.
onecaliberal
(32,991 posts)This IS a ploy by republicans to remove the mandate in Obamacare for covering BC. Nothing more! It's more bullshit from the bullshit party
still_one
(92,502 posts)reduced price that the Rx version costs, and I can name numerous examples.
As for your speculation to remove ACA coverage of birth control, perhaps that is valid, and that is why organizations such as planned parenthood are so important to provide birth control at low cost to those with or without insurance
Regardless, I would be very surprised if the FDA would approve the OTC for birth control pills, because of potential side-effects involved
onecaliberal
(32,991 posts)Women on BC should be followed by their physician. There is ONE reason only republicans want this legislation.
still_one
(92,502 posts)should go OTC
They are the ones who prevented Viagra from being OTC because of potential side effects
onecaliberal
(32,991 posts)Novara
(5,870 posts)However, this type of law isn't likely to pass, and the president will veto it.
The FDA will object mightily - hormonal medication isn't something they'd ever agree should be OTC. And I think that even in this political climate, enough congressmembers would be cautious to rule against the FDA because it would be politically stupid, especially on medication (medical devices and food labeling rules are another thing entirely). And you know they value their political hides above all else.
still_one
(92,502 posts)fizzgig
(24,146 posts)i CANNOT believe my state dumped mark udall for that smarmy, sleazy puke.
still_one
(92,502 posts)fizzgig
(24,146 posts)stemming from the gun control laws passed after the aurora shooting.
gardner is a koch whore and all sorts of dark money was pumped into that race.
still_one
(92,502 posts)still_one
(92,502 posts)have also been associated with an increase in blood pressure, benign liver tumors, and a slight increase in the risk of developing cervical cancer.
It is a form of hormonal contraception that is extremely effective, but I believe it should require a prescription, the same as that require for other hormonal treatments such as testosterone because of potential issues
Novara
(5,870 posts)The GOP thinks women are dumb enough to think this is a good thing. What it does, is open up an entire slew of cans of worms for keeping birth control out of the hands of women. Plus, as was mentioned, other forms of BC other than the pill won't be covered. Some of these are more effective than the pill.
Can you imagine the small pharmacies that will sue because they don't want to carry any BC? You know it'll happen, setting another precedent for women not to get the care they are entitled to.
still_one
(92,502 posts)individual who has issues with filling certain prescriptions, the pharmacy should be required to have a pharmacist on duty who doesn't NOT have any issues with filling any prescriptions
Novara
(5,870 posts)<snip>
It was to treat a woman after she miscarried but the principle is the same - if they have a "moral" objection they will refuse to fill the prescription.
still_one
(92,502 posts)pharmacies or alternatives, but in my view any public company whose employee refuses to fill a prescription that the company sells, that person should be fired
The justice department should really get involved in this
In fact the Constitutionality of this Georgia law should really be challenged. This could apply to other prescription drugs also.
Novara
(5,870 posts)....with "religious freedom" laws and the like. Don't forget the SCOTUS sided with Hobby Lobby and their objections to the ACA's mandate for birth control. To me, this is a violation of the Establishment Clause - the employer is forcing their employees to abide by their religious beliefs. Private companies have no business forcing their religious beliefs on their employees. But we all know how that turned out.
niyad
(113,860 posts)that as its basis.
. . . .
Have you seen our newest ad? Colorado women lay out the truth about Congressman Gardner's 8-year crusade to deny a woman's right to make her own choices. Even though Coloradans twice rejected the radically anti-choice Personhood ballot initiatives, Congressman Gardner continues to push for a nationwide Personhood law in Congress, which would outlaw abortion even in the case of rape and incest and ban common forms of birth control. He even sponsored a bill to make abortion a Class 3 felony. Seriously? It's 2014!
. . .
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Cory_Gardner_Abortion.htm