Governor’s over-the-counter birth control bill advances

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal allowing over-the-counter birth control advanced through subcommittee Monday despite pushback from some conservative advocates.

The three-member legislative panel unanimously voted to move forward with House Study Bill 642. The bill would authorize the state medical director to establish a standing order, allowing pharmacists to distribute self-administered hormonal contraceptives without a prescription. The order would cover oral birth control, vaginal rings and patches, but would not include drugs intended to induce abortion.

At the subcommittee meeting, Reynolds’ legislative liaison Molly Severn said that the bill would allow Iowa to join 28 states and the District of Columbia in allowing over-the-counter birth control and provide benefits to the state.

“Allowing access for Iowa women will reduce unintended pregnancies and reduce reliance on government assistance,” Severn said.

The governor has long called for expanding birth control access in Iowa, arguing it will help prevent abortions. But her proposals to allow over-the-counter access to contraceptives have not advanced in recent legislative sessions, with some conservative lawmakers opposing the measure.

Maggie DeWitte with Pulse Life Advocates spoke in opposition to the legislation, saying birth control is dangerous for women. She cited studies that link the use of contraceptives to some increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots and other health problems. DeWitte also said birth control use can give a “false sense of security” to women, as it does not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and can still result in unintended pregnancies.

She also warned that over-the-counter contraceptives not intended to induce abortions can still be used to terminate a pregnancy. Some hormonal birth controls thin the uterine wall, which could prevent a fertilized egg from implanting and developing an embryo. Many anti-abortion advocates argue that life begins at conception — when an egg is fertilized — which would mean the use of birth control in these cases should be considered abortion.

“Over-the-counter birth control will not reduce abortions,” DeWitte said. “More contraception leads to more abortions, not less.”

Lobbyists with health care organizations including the Iowa Medical Society and  spoke in support of the measure. Seth Brown with the Iowa Pharmacy Association said pharmacists are “absolutely trained, educated and fully capable” of providing birth control to patients as outlined by the legislation.

Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market, said lawmakers will continue to talk about birth control, applauding the bill for allowing people to access contraception through pharmacists, who they “know and trust,” in addition to talking with doctors.

“I think this is a phenomenal option for women to take into consideration when they’re choosing how to obtain medication,” Wood said.