On Jan. 25, 2025, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed sixteen bills aimed at expanding reproductive freedom, including House Bill 5436, which allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control.
Sponsored by State Representative Cara Hope, the bill permits Michigan pharmacists to prescribe various forms of hormonal birth control, such as patches, rings, pills, and emergency contraceptives. This legislation applies to all Michiganders, regardless of age or prior use of birth control.
In a statement, Hope said, “This legislation is essential to protecting reproductive freedoms here in Michigan. Safely expanding who can prescribe and dispense contraception prescriptions ensures that people across the state can easily access this vital tool for family planning and hormonal regulation. I want to express my gratitude to my colleagues in the Senate for their determination to get these bills passed.”
Michigan is now the 31st state to allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control. To implement the bill, pharmacists must complete a certification course. When patients visit, they will complete a self-screening assessment to determine the appropriate contraceptive, with pharmacists offering referrals to primary care physicians when necessary.
"Right now, if you want to get most birth control pills, you have to make an appointment with your doctor, maybe take time off work or find child care to go into the office, pay your copay and after all that, you still have to go to a pharmacy to actually pick up your medication. Let's call it what it is: unnecessary government red tape that slows down busy Michiganders who are just trying to get through their to-do list," Whitmer said in a video on social media.
This new legislation also mandates that insurance providers who cover prescription drugs must include coverage for birth control obtained at pharmacies, a change set to take effect in April.
A major driving force behind these bills is Michigan's shortage of women's health specialists. A press release from Whitmer's office revealed that a third of Michigan's 83 counties lack OB/GYN specialists, making it difficult, if not impossible, for some residents to access necessary care.
"This shortage has negatively affected thousands of Michiganders, making it harder for them to access hormonal birth control. These bills increase access to safe, affordable birth control and recognize pharmacists as important members of a woman's health care team," Whitmer said.
Organizations like the Michigan Pharmacists Association, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have supported the bills, while opponents included the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
College students, especially those in need of affordable and convenient contraception, will also benefit from the new law.
Student Daira Lloyd is a strong advocate for accessible birth control on and off campus.
“This [bill] is really important, because for people who don’t have health insurance, it can be very expensive, and it takes a lot of time to go to the doctor," Lloyd said. "People shouldn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars or even $10 meeting with a doctor to get birth control prescribed when it can happen right at the pharmacy.”
Lloyd is president of Eastern's Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter. Through the organization, students can access free birth control, including emergency contraception, by messaging the group’s text line or social media.
House Bill 5436 represents a significant step toward improving access to reproductive health care in Michigan. By allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, this legislation removes barriers that often make obtaining contraception time-consuming and difficult, particularly for those who face challenges accessing medical professionals.
The new law addresses the shortage of OB/GYN specialists and the burden of navigating healthcare bureaucracy, benefiting not only individuals in rural areas but also college students and those without health insurance.
