South Carolina lawmakers to consider whether women can get birth control without a prescription

[TexasTowelie]

COLUMBIA — Women in South Carolina could have easier access to some forms of birth control if a bill moves forward in a subcommittee of the House of Representatives this week.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, would change state law to make contraceptive patches and oral birth control pills available to women at least 18 years old without a prescription from a physician. It would also give women under the age of 18 access to those forms of contraception as long as they had a previous prescription from a physician.

The intention of the bill is to make it easier and cheaper for women to obtain their birth control. Rutherford said women — especially those who don't have access to affordable health insurance — shouldn't have to pay for a doctor's visit to obtain birth control.

"This is about the government getting out of the way of a woman's access to health care," Rutherford said.

Read more: http://www.postandcourier.com/politics/south-carolina-lawmakers-to-consider-whether-women-can-get-birth/article_cd0d0cce-029b-11e7-b067-eb87984775aa.html

[Ilsa]

1. I'm not sure I like how this is written.

I'd rather have my doctor help me select the better contraception for my needs. I'm not certain that a woman, at least for the first prescription, should do this on her own without personal medical screening and then patient teaching. Oral contraception may not be the best choice to prevent pregnancy or other health problems.

I'm frustrated by legislators trying to play ob/gyn at state and federal levels. I'd rather see the state fund PP instead.

[HoneyBadger]

2. Sounds good to me

Why should you need a doctor to eye you for 30 seconds and write a prescription for something that you both know that you are getting.