New York State To Cover Nonprescription Plan B Under Medicaid

New York state on Feb. 1 will begin covering Barr Laboratories' emergency contraceptive Plan B purchased without a prescription up to six times per year by women ages 18 and older who are Medicaid beneficiaries, the Albany Times Union reports (Benjamin, Albany Times Union, 1/25). FDA in August 2006 approved the Barr's application to allow nonprescription sales of Plan B to women ages 18 and older. The company in December 2006 announced that Plan B, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, is available for nonprescription sales at pharmacies across the country (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/8/06). Women under age 18 need a prescription to purchase Plan B, which costs between $25 and $95 and is unaffordable for many Medicaid beneficiaries in New York, according to the Times Union. Former Gov. George Pataki (R) in December 2006 changed state's Medicaid rules to allow Plan B coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries. Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) is carrying out the new rule. A Spitzer aide said that the cost of providing Plan B initially will be picked up by the state but added that New York plans to make arrangements with the federal government for reimbursement. Christina Tenuta, director of EC programs for NARAL Pro-Choice New York, said the new rule would prevent unintended pregnancies, adding, "It's unfair and not good health policy to block [Plan B] access for low-income women." Dennis Poust, a spokesperson for the New York State Catholic Conference, said the new rule would make it "too easy to abuse" the drug. New York is the third state, after Washington and Illinois, to provide EC coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries, according to Tenuta (Albany Times Union, 1/25).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.