Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers made good on one of his promises from his State of the State Address earlier this year, announcing on Tuesday that BadgerCare Plus members can access the new daily over-the-counter contraception pill with no out-of-pocket cost. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug known as Opill last summer, making it the first daily oral contraceptive pill for use without a prescription. Online sales of the birth control drug went live on Monday, but Evers’ standing order will make it accessible to those under the state’s BadgerCare Plus program.
“As we see continued attacks on women’s reproductive freedoms here in Wisconsin and across our country, our work to ensure Wisconsinites can access the reproductive healthcare they need when they need it has never been more important,” said Gov. Evers. “Having the new Opill on the shelves across Wisconsin will expand access to more contraception options while also making it easier for folks to get the contraception they need when it works for them. And, through the standing order, I’m directing today, we’re making sure BadgerCare Plus members can access this new reproductive care at no out-of-pocket cost to them, too—that’s a big deal, folks.” “Streamlining access to contraception for BadgerCare Plus members helps them to make their own choices about their future,” said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “We appreciate the strong partnership of our pharmacy providers to help support the health needs of their communities.”
Pro-life groups like Pro-Life Wisconsin opposed the FDA’s approval of the drug, saying last July that hormonal birth control is not just dangerous to the newly formed baby but also the mother. “Just as hormonal birth control deceives a woman’s body by disrupting her natural hormonal cycle and filling her with synthetic hormones, the FDA is deceiving women across the United States into thinking this dangerous drug is safe and effective.”
Wisconsin lawmakers had been working on a bill that would have allowed pharmacists to prescribe birth control before Opill’s approval. Known as Assembly Bill 176/Senate Bill 211, it is awaiting scheduling by the Wisconsin State Senate.
