States Prepping for OTC Birth Control Seek Federal Input

The Biden administration must update requirements for insurer contraceptive coverage to help states better prepare for the first daily over-the-counter oral birth control pill expected to soon hit US retail shelves, reproductive health groups and policy analysts say.

Opill, which the Food and Drug Administration in July approved to be offered without a prescription, will be available in stores and online nationwide in “early 2024,” according to Perrigo Co., the drug’s manufacturer. Reproductive health analysts say the OTC status has the potential to be a game changer in widening access to contraception as states impose abortion bans and other ...