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NM Medicaid now covers over-the-counter birth control, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception
This photo provided by Perrigo Co. shows Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill.
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Pain relievers, allergy medicines and cough suppressants. All are available over the counter.
Now, birth control is, too 鈥� and for New Mexicans on Medicaid, it鈥檚 free.
Medicaid covers almost half of the state鈥檚 population. The New Mexico Human Services Department announced Wednesday that the over-the-counter daily birth control pill Opill, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception are now included in the state鈥檚 Medicaid coverage.
New Mexico is one of several states that cover Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control, including New York and North Carolina, said NMHSD spokesperson Marina Pi帽a in an email to the Journal.
鈥淭he coverage of Opill is a step forward in empowering people with more choices in their reproductive health care 鈥� we encourage our customers and pharmacists to familiarize themselves with this new coverage option,鈥� Alanna Dancis, chief medical officer for the New Mexico Medicaid program, said in a statement.
How to get it
Opill is just one of the over-the-counter medications, alongside Narcan, eyedrops, prenatal vitamins and more, that is covered by New Mexico Medicaid. Customers don鈥檛 need to go to a provider for a prescription due to a standing order from the state Department of Health, but they also can鈥檛 just walk up to the checkout.
鈥淢edications need a prescription, even over-the-counter medications, to be reimbursed by Medicaid,鈥� Pi帽a said.
That means, to take advantage of the no-cost birth control and pregnancy tests, customers need to bring their products to the pharmacy counter.
Not all pharmacies stock Opill, Pi帽a said. The department called several pharmacies and found that some Walgreens locations in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos stock Opill and others do not.
