Committee advances AB 50 to expand Medi‑Cal access to over‑the‑counter birth control
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Summary
AB 50, the Equity in Birth Control Act by Assemblywoman Rob Bonta, would allow pharmacists to furnish over‑the‑counter contraceptives to Medi‑Cal enrollees without following prescription-only protocols; committee voted the bill out to the appropriations committee.
Assemblywoman Rob Bonta told the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee on June 9 that AB 50 would align Medi‑Cal reimbursement with private insurance by allowing coverage of FDA‑approved over‑the‑counter contraceptives without requiring a prescription.
Bonta said the change would remove administrative hurdles that effectively block Medi‑Cal enrollees from accessing products approved for over‑the‑counter sale, noting pharmacists in California are already authorized to furnish self‑administered hormonal contraceptives but must currently follow procedures intended for prescription drugs.
Shannon Olivieri Hovis of Essential Access Health, a bill sponsor, said private insurance covers over‑the‑counter contraceptives without cost sharing as a result of the Contraceptive Equity Act of 2022, but Medi‑Cal enrollees remain subject to prescription rules that create delays and limit access. Dr. Emma Choo Murphy, an OB‑GYN at San Francisco General Hospital, told the committee that over‑the‑counter access reduces barriers for patients who cannot take unpaid time off work or travel to a clinic.
Sen. Strickland moved the bill. The committee recorded a roll-call and advanced AB 50 out of the committee to the Senate Appropriations Committee; the hearing record shows the item carried with seven recorded yes votes and no recorded nos. The chair said the item will remain “on call” pending any additional members, consistent with the committee's roll-call practice.
Bonta closed by saying AB 50 is a “smart, make‑sense bill that will save California money in the long run” and asked for an aye vote.
The committee’s transcript shows supportive testimony from advocate organizations including Planned Parenthood affiliates, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX, and legal and poverty‑rights groups.
