House Bills 5436 and 5435 pave the way for 'over-the-counter' sales of Perrigo's Opill birth control pill in Michigan:
Michigan House panel OKs bills allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control
By Katie O'Brien Kelley - April 19, 2024Bills that would allow trained pharmacists to prescribe birth control were approved Thursday by the Michigan House Health Policy Committee.
House Bills 5436 and 5435 would allow pharmacists to issue prescriptions for certain hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills or hormonal contraceptive patches. The bills would also require health insurance policies to cover prescriptions for these contraceptives.
Under the bills, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would have to develop rules to establish a standard procedure for this process. This would include a self-screening assessment for patients and a special training for pharmacists before birth control can be prescribed.
House Bill 5013 would require insurance companies to cover 12 months worth of a prescription at once, rather than having to fill it once a month.
On March 6, pharmacists and other members of the medical community spoke at a House Health Policy Committee meeting in support of the bills. On Thursday, a few changes to the bills were discussed before they were referred to the House floor.
House Bill 5435 now clarifies that health insurance policies are required to cover a contraceptive prescribed and dispensed by a pharmacist at an in-network pharmacy. House Bill 5436 was updated to authorize pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception.
“This substitute incorporates feedback from members and stakeholders. I think it’s a good compromise and I look forward to the committee’s support,” said state Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit), one of the sponsors for the bills.
If passed into law, the bills would take effect Dec. 31, 2025, to allow enough time for them to be implemented, Young said.
The bills build on LARA’s interpretation of a 2022 executive directive from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer instructing state agencies to find ways to increase reproductive health care access. LARA advised pharmacists and physicians that physicians could delegate the ability to pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives under most circumstances.......
Sign Up for MHF Insights to keep up on the latest in Michigan Health Policy
