Birth control would be made available through pharmacist if bill passes

Intro:	Members of the Missouri House of Emerging Issues Committee heared a bill that would make birth control available without a prescription from their doctor.
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Wrap: The bill would allow pharmacists to provide contraception patches and oral pills without a doctors prescription.

The sponsor is Jackson County Republican Sheila Solon:

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Description: This legislation is meant to eliminate barriers to accessing birth control which include having to make several trips to the pharmacy.

But if a women is under the age of 18 they must have evidence of a previous subscription from their health care provider to receive the pill.

One committee member expressed concerns that easier access to birth control would make it less likely a woman would have an annual medical exam.

From the State Capitol, I'm Stephanie Sandoval.

Intro:	Women could get birth control medication without a doctor's prescription under a measure presented to the House Emerging Issues Committee Wednesday.
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Wrap: If passed, pharmacist prescribing birth control pills would have to voluntarily undergo training to be able to speak to women about risk factors.

The bill's sponsor is Jackson County Republican Sheila Solon:

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Description: A lot of times the doctor will put you on it for health reasons and in this case if you're under 18 years of age you would have to of shown proof of a doctors prescription.

The measure would require training of pharmacists and that a woman see a women's health clinic every three years to keep getting the patches or pills.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Stephanie Sandoval.

Intro:	Women would have an easier time to get birth-control pills or patches under a measure presented to the House Emerging Issues Committee Wednesday.
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Wrap: Among those testifying in support of the bill was a representative for the state's Planned Parenthood - M'Evie Mead:

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Description: It is part of our mission to increase access to birth control because the evidence shows that it improves people's lives and at the core what Planned Parenthood and I think what the sponsor and many of you want is exactly that to increase the health and well-being of Missourians.

But St. Peters Republican Ron Hicks suggested that women might skip over Planned Parenthood and go directly to a pharmacy for birth control instead.

The bill does require a woman to see a women's health clinic every three years to keep getting the contraception medication without a prescription.

From the State Capitol, I'm Stephanie Sandoval.