Women’s Health Becomes Top Legislative Priority
The span of six years can seem like an eternity under the Gold Dome. Legislative turnover regularly ushers in new crops of lawmakers and policy priorities shift dramatically alongside ephemeral news cycles. So much can change in a few short years that issues—which once met fierce opposition—can suddenly become en vogue.
The current Georgia General Assembly in some ways is a microcosm of this maxim. At a recent press conference, House of Representatives leadership unveiled a tranche of bills coined as the “Georgia Families First” legislative initiative. “Today, the Georgia House reaffirmed our longstanding commitment to advancing family-focused priorities that expand opportunity and support women and families as they work to provide a safe, healthy and brighter future for their children,” Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones exclaimed.
Within the package are a host of bills to address maternity leave, childcare for needy families and investing in a visiting nurse program for expectant mothers, but the policy that grabbed my attention the most was House Bill 1138, sponsored by Rep. Beth Camp, R-Concord. If passed, it would authorize pharmacists to dispense birth control without a doctor’s prescription. Passing a bill like this is long overdue.
About six years ago, there was a burgeoning effort to make a policy like this Georgia law. Despite enjoying ample Republican support behind the scenes, some well-positioned officials and advocates effectively put the kibosh on it, and the nascent movement disintegrated—harming women in the process.
Fast forward several years to the present date, and it is clear that the political environment and legislative makeup has changed. Now not only does the Legislature appear to have the courage to tackle this issue, but it is one of House leadership’s top policy priorities. That doesn’t mean that it will effortlessly cruise to the governor’s desk. It will certainly face plenty of challenges, but its outlook appears better than ever. It’s easy to see why.
Under Georgia’s current system, women must meet with a doctor to obtain a birth control prescription and then have it filled at a pharmacy, with the exception of Opill, which is an over-the-counter birth control pill. However, there are several drawbacks to the Peach State’s paradigm. Doctor’s appointments can be expensive, especially for those without health insurance, and there’s an acute physician shortage, particularly in rural Georgia.
The result of Georgia’s ongoing policy is manifest: Many women go without birth control, and as a result, the Peach State’s unintended pregnancy rate is through the roof, which weighs on women and costs taxpayers many millions of dollars. Meanwhile, Georgia is grappling with above average maternal and infant mortality rates.
Georgia must do better, and Camp has an answer for this. Her legislation “would make it so pharmacists acting in good faith and who are employed in Georgia can dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives or administer injectable versions, so long as the patient is at least 18 years old or has proof of a previous prescription if younger than 18,” reports WSB-TV.
Under this bill, pharmacists would not be required to participate. It would be entirely voluntary. If they choose to do so, then they must undergo contraception-specific training to bolster patient safety, and HB 1138 also imposes safeguards to protect women, by requiring a risk assessment to check for any concerning contraindications. In addition to this, Camp’s proposal would allow women to pick up a 12-month supply of their birth control per visit—limiting unnecessary trips to the pharmacy.
These should be uncontroversial policies that would promote women’s health and reduce unplanned pregnancies and the associated tax burden. In fact, at least 35 states—including red states like Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas—have passed legislation permitting pharmacists to prescribe birth control to great effect. Georgia could be next, and has some strong advocates.
“From strengthening access to affordable childcare, championing healthcare for women and children, increasing paid maternal leave for birth mothers and prioritizing the safety of our communities—the House is committed to addressing the most pressing issues our neighbors are facing and putting families first every step of the way,” Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns recently said. With support like this, the General Assembly seems better positioned than ever before to overcome the barriers that regrettably killed these endeavors in the past.
Let’s hope the proposal carries and women aren’t forced to wait another six years for a chance at relief.