OLYMPIA, Wash. – A group of Democratic lawmakers are placing their support behind a new birth control pill which will be available over-the-counter starting later this month.
In a post-Roe era in which the ideological battleground of reproductive healthcare has shifted, prominent national Democrats are placing support behind new efforts to make birth control pills more accessible.
Opill, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in July, will be available to consumers later in March. Its release will mark the first time that birth control is available to Americans without a prescription.
US Senator Patty Murray joined fellow Democratic senators Mazie Hirono and Catherine Cortez Masto in a joint statement celebrating Opill’s release as a major victory for reproductive healthcare access.
“The availability of Opill on shelves and for online order is a huge step forward that will make accessing birth control so much easier for so many women—especially women who live in rural areas, lack reliable transportation, or are uninsured,” the senators said.
The three senators have repeatedly advocated for a policy which would require insurance providers to cover over-the-counter birth control, but the legislation has not found broad support and is unlikely to pass a Republican controlled House.
