“A growing body of evidence suggests that women could safely use oral contraceptives if they were available over the counter and that contraceptive uptake and continuation might increase if this method were available directly in a pharmacy. However, concerns about the financial impact on Medicaid beneficiaries, who might lose coverage for an OTC product, make some question the utility of an OTC switch. It is critical that insurance coverage policies not obstruct advances that otherwise might benefit the nation’s public health.”
