JEFFERSON CITY — As some Missouri lawmakers seek to tighten abortion restrictions and confusion lingers about the legality of contraception, a bipartisan group of legislators wants to ease access to birth control.
The proposal would allow pharmacies or clinics in Missouri to dispense an annual supply of contraception at one time, instead of just one or three months’ worth.
“It’s important to allow for women to have access to their entire annual supply of birth control because it can reduce unintended pregnancy by 30%,” said Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette. “You want to make it easier for women to have access to their prescription.”
McCreery, a Democrat, is working with Sen. Elaine Gannon, a De Soto Republican, to sponsor bills in the Senate.
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The measure appears to be getting support already in the House, as a hearing before the House Healthcare Reform committee is scheduled for next Tuesday, a sign of favor by leadership.
“This is definitely bipartisan,” said House bill sponsor Tara Peters, a Rolla Republican. She said that in talking with committee members, both Republicans and Democrats seem to be supportive.
Because Missouri is a non-abortion state, Peters said, women should be provided every possible tool to avoid unintended pregnancies.
After the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, Missouri implemented a law that bans nearly all abortions, with exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest.
Shortly after the decision, confusion arose in Missouri about whether contraception was still legal, though then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt issued a statement saying that emergency contraception and other forms of birth control were legal.
As recently as last summer, a survey of Missourians showed that the confusion persists, with some respondents indicating that they didn’t know if birth control pills or emergency contraception were legal.
McCreery said that some conservative lawmakers are realizing that Missouri’s abortion ban is a step too far, and now an effort is being made to reduce unintended pregnancies and mitigate a perception of being anti-women’s health.
“Support of this bill would send a message,” she said.
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