As part of a NYS Department of Health order signed on Tuesday, March 19th, by the state’s health commissioner, New Yorkers will now be able to get birth control over the counter, without a prescription, in NY pharmacies. The order was passed last year (2023) by the State Legislature and signed by NY Governor Kathy Hochul.
The order allows pharmacists to provide a year’s supply of three different types of hormonal birth control–pills, vaginal rings, and contraceptive patches–to not only just New York residents, but also those visiting from out of state. Beyond providing the birth control, pharmacists will also offer counseling and information about the contraceptives and the risks of HIV and other STDs.
Those looking to receive the birth control will have to show their insurance and complete an assessment questionnaire before receiving the contraception. No copayments will be required.
According to officials, the order aims to make access to contraception easier while supporting reproductive freedoms.
Governor Kathy Hochul stated:
You now have access, easy access, to the contraception that you choose to fit your own personal health care needs because it is your body and it is your choice.
New York isn’t the first state to allow pharmacists to distribute birth control–over two dozen other states already practice some version of this order.
This year in her proposed budget, Hochul called for $100 million to support reproductive health care providers, noting in a Tuesday press conference how the new birth control order is “part of a larger commitment to women’s autonomy and reproductive rights,” says the New York Times.
State Health Commissioner James McDonald stated:
This is about access to care, it’s about the individual autonomy, it’s about health equity. But it’s also about protecting reproductive rights, which are all very core to the mission of the New York State Department of Health.
The new order is officially in effect, though it may take a few weeks for birth control to start hitting pharmacy shelves. According to state officials, about 85% of New York pharmacies are planning to participate.