Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) has proposed a new policy that would allow women to receive birth control pills over the counter at pharmacies, according to The Hill.
Ms. Reynolds said that abolishing the prescription requirement for female contraception could help increase access to family-planning resources, particularly in underserved areas such as rural communities.
"I think this is the direction we should go," Ms. Reynolds told The Des Moines Register. "I think by eliminating some of the barriers and making it available through a pharmacist, it will help reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions."
Under the plan, women would be required to complete a form acknowledging the potential risk of taking birth control and agree to meet with a physician every two years. Ms. Reynolds modeled the plan after similar initiatives in Oregon and Utah.