Gov. Tony Evers in his 2024 State of the State address announced that he is directing the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to issue a standing order that will remove barriers for over-the-counter contraception, including emergency contraception, for BadgerCare Plus members.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last summer approved the first daily, oral contraceptive pill for use without a prescription, which is expected to be available online and in stores later this year. BadgerCare Plus currently covers over-the-counter emergency contraception and daily contraception with a prescription from a provider. Once this contraception is available on shelves, with the governor’s action, BadgerCare Plus members will be able to go to any pharmacy carrying it, and the pharmacist will use DHS’s standing order to serve as the prescription to cover over-the-counter contraception, including emergency contraception, allowing the patient to receive the medication with no out-of-pocket costs.
Evers also urged Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature to take action on Senate Bill (SB) 110 before the end of the legislative session. A bipartisan bill, SB 110 would direct DHS to seek approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand eligibility for postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. This expansion of postpartum coverage is critical for preventing maternal deaths.
Additional details from Evers’ 2024 State of the State address are available here.
