March 5 agenda: pharmacy-dispensed contraceptives & other pharma bills

Contraceptives are controversial, and changing the way they're prescribed is, too.

First, these bills allow pharmacist to prescribe. They do not make birth-control pills (BCP) over-the-counter (OTC). That's a different debate, and one worth having.

The debates center around the following topics:

1. If children are a blessing, is it moral to limit their number?
2. Do BCP really prevent conception? If they only prevent implantation after conception, they're actually a killing agent.
3. From the market perspective, prescriptions are a barrier to access, and insurance coverage actually raises prices. Assuming they are moral, is it really good policy to raise prices and reduce access to such a commonly-used drug? 

The American Association of Family Physicians has released the following statement on OTC status for BCP.

... Access and cost are commonly cited reasons why women have gaps in contraceptive use or do not use contraception.² While oral contraceptive pills are widely considered to be safe and effective medications, they continue to require a prescription for use, further restricting access. The AAFP recognizes that though contraindications to these medications do exist, women have been shown to correctly self-identify contraindications to use when using a standardized check-list.^3,4 Over 100 countries round the world currently provide oral contraceptive pills over the counter without a prescription.⁵ The AAFP supports over-the-counter access to oral contraception without a prescription. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, private insurance must cover all contraceptive methods approved by the FDA. The AAFP supports insurance coverage of oral contraceptives regardless of prescription status in all insurance plans.

NOTE: AAFP has planned website downtime March 2-3.
https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/otc-oral-contraceptives.html

If Michigan passes these bills, it will be approximately the 30th state to do so.
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/21-state-ags-led-by-rob-bonta-call-for-fda-to-approve-over-the-counter-birth-control/3025098/

This should be an interesting hearing.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024  
TIME: 2:00 PM or after committees are given leave by the House to meet, whichever time is later.

AGENDA:

HB 5435     (Rep. Young)
Insurance; health insurers; coverage for pharmacist prescribing hormonal contraceptives; require.

HB 5436     (Rep. Hope)
Health occupations; pharmacists; pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain contraceptives; allow.

HB 5013     (Rep. Rogers)
Insurance; health insurers; coverage for the dispensing of a 12-month supply of birth control; require.

HB 5077    (Rep. VanderWall)
Health; pharmaceuticals; distribution of naloxone under the administration of opioid antagonist act to any individual; provide for.

HB 5078     (Rep. Rheingans)
Health; pharmaceuticals; distribution of opioid antagonists by employees and agents of agencies under the administration of opioid antagonists act; provide for.

HB 5179     (Rep. Rheingans)
Controlled substances; drug paraphernalia; definition of drug paraphernalia; modify.

OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE