TRENTON, NJ – Today, the Senate Health Committee advanced legislation aimed at ensuring broader and more affordable access to birth control. The bill proposes to amend existing laws to explicitly include insurance coverage for both prescription and over-the-counter contraceptive products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or their therapeutic equivalents.
Specifically, the legislation mandates coverage for FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptives and those dispensed by pharmacists under a standing order, extending to Medicaid as well. Senator Joseph Vitale of Middlesex, who chairs the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee, emphasized the importance of making these contraceptive options readily available and accessible.
Senator Vitale highlighted that contraceptives like birth control pills play a vital role in reproductive healthcare and family planning, advocating for continued efforts to enhance access in New Jersey. The bill stipulates that over-the-counter contraceptives must be available at point-of-sale without cost-sharing or medical management restrictions.
In July of last year, the FDA approved Opill, marking it as the first daily oral contraceptive in the U.S. that can be obtained without a prescription. This development supports the bill’s provisions for easier access to contraceptives.
The bill, identified as S-3434, received unanimous support from the committee, passing with an 8-0 vote.