OTC Contraceptive Issue Stirs Political, Policy Discord
Some GOP candidates continue to embrace this concept, as do some medical organizations, but certain women's health advocates see it as a charged issue that could cause women to pay more for birth control and put their health at risk.
The Wall Street Journal: New Discord Brews On Over-the-Counter Contraceptives
Some major medical groups support the idea of making contraceptive drugs available without a prescription -- a proposal raised in some political races -- despite objections from women's health advocates that it could make women pay more for birth control and carry health risks. The idea has been pushed by Republican Senate candidates in North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia and Minnesota, a move widely seen as an attempt to deflect Democratic criticism about GOP stances on women's health and birth control. Some women's health groups say the push isn't really about expanding access to birth control but instead an attempt to undermine a piece of the Affordable Care Act (Burton and Andrews, 9/10).
The Wall Street Journal: The Short Answer: Why Some Republicans Back Over-The-Counter Contraceptives
The number of Republicans calling for oral contraceptives to be available over-the-counter is on the rise, with North Carolina Senate candidate Thom Tillis and Colorado Senate candidate Rep. Cory Gardner bringing it up recently (9/10).