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H.R. 8659

BillFederalHouseIn Committee
Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 17, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Congress
118th (2023–2025)
Introduced
June 7, 2024
Cosponsors (6)
0D 6R
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Summary

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This bill aims to make birth control pills more accessible by streamlining the approval process for oral contraceptives to be sold over-the-counter without a prescription. The legislation directs the FDA to prioritize and expedite review of applications from drug manufacturers seeking to switch existing birth control pills from prescription-only to over-the-counter status for adults 18 and older, while waiving the standard application fees to reduce barriers for manufacturers. The bill specifies that emergency contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs are excluded from this expedited process, and that contraceptives for individuals under 18 would still require a prescription. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on federal spending on contraception over the past 15 years across programs including Medicare, Medicaid, military health coverage, and other federal health initiatives, with the report due within one year of enactment.

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