INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – State lawmakers are considering expanding access to contraception in Indiana as the state’s near-total abortion ban remains on hold.
The House Public Health committee took testimony on Tuesday on a bill to let pharmacists prescribe birth control pills and patches instead of a doctor.
The measure failed to pass during a special session last year by one vote.
Patients would need to be at least 18 and have a follow-up visit for side effects.
The author of the bill, State Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) offered the following response:
“In a state where nearly 50% of pregnancies are unplanned and women’s reproductive freedom is tightly restricted, this is a necessary step forward. This gives women another tool in the toolbox to plan their own families, build their careers, and live the lives they want in our state. I am thankful for the support and will continue my efforts to expand Hoosiers’ access to health and medical freedom.”
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