MI Pharmacists Can Prescribe Birth Control Directly To Women: Whitmer

MICHIGAN — Michigan women can now pick up birth control directly from a pharmacist, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday.

Under the new order, Michigan pharmacists can now partner with doctors to directly prescribe self-administered hormonal birth control, such as the pill, an oral contraceptive, the patch or the ring.

The move to expand birth control is critical because nearly 30 percent of women in the U.S. say they face barriers trying to access birth control, Chief Medical Executive of the State of Michigan Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said.

"Expanding access to birth control for women across Michigan means they can plan their own future on their own terms," Whitmer said.

While Michigan becomes one of 20 other states that allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control, not all pharmacists are required to prescribe the contraceptives under the new order. Only pharmacists that opt-in and gain a partnership with a doctor will be allowed to sell the contraceptives.