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