OTC contraceptives now free in Washington state

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beautifulrobot

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Over-the-Counter Contraceptives Are Now Free for Washingtonians With Insurance

As of January 1, 2019, all Washingtonians with state-regulated insurance can now pick up over-the-counter contraceptives for free at their in-network pharmacies, according to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Those contraceptives include "condoms, spermicides, emergency contraceptives, and sponges."

So—if you're not on Medicaid, and if you don't work for a mega-company that self-insures—then you can just stroll into a Walgreens (or a Rite Aid, or whatever pharmacy is in your network), walk up to the pharmacy counter, and ask for some Plan B, some condoms, or whatever a "sponge" is, and they'll give it to you for freeeeeee at point of service.

Any Washingtonian pharmacists try to run a claim for OTC contraceptives yet? What are the limitations? Like, how many condoms can one person get at a time?

Members don't see this ad.
 
Probably stuck with Rugby latex condoms. No polyisoprene, polyurethane, or sheepskin variants covered.

The part about "free" vasectomies... interesting...
 
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Members don't see this ad :)
Seeing I’m mandated to get my intern license in both Washington and Oregon in a few months, I’ll be curious what the claims and limitations will be as well and how many changes (if any) this may go through over the next few years.
 
If birth control is free. I will gladly open a mail order birth control pharmacy and send away and get rich billing.
 
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If birth control is free. I will gladly open a mail order birth control pharmacy and send away and get rich billing.

Imagine what's going to happen when CVS figures this out. PCQ call for birth control for every female between the ages of 14-45. They'll throw it into the prompt tree at the register. "Does the patient want FREE birth control with her order?" lmfao. Merlo gonna buy a new yacht.
 
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Seeing I’m mandated to get my intern license in both Washington and Oregon in a few months, I’ll be curious what the claims and limitations will be as well and how many changes (if any) this may go through over the next few years.

Please report back to us once you do find out! I am actually curious how billing for this works (or doesn't work).
 
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does this include plan-B? I feel like it's going to make people more reckless

I have a patient that can get "free" plan-B and get it once every 2 months or so... she's always late in picking up her birth control even though we call her all the time and she promises to pick it up
 
does this include plan-B? I feel like it's going to make people more reckless

I have a patient that can get "free" plan-B and get it once every 2 months or so... she's always late in picking up her birth control even though we call her all the time and she promises to pick it up

Have you asked her why she is always late in picking up her BC? Does she know that taking her BC consistently is more effective then taking "on-demand" plan B, and is that something that matters to her? Do you know for certain the Plan B is for herself and not for a friend, or stockpiling in case she loses her insurance?

Also, make people more reckless in what way?
 
I can see how this will impact pharmacy. I can see CVS hiring interns to go door to door or go on a university campus and have a birth control clinic the same way they have flu clinics on campus.
 
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Have you asked her why she is always late in picking up her BC? Does she know that taking her BC consistently is more effective then taking "on-demand" plan B, and is that something that matters to her? Do you know for certain the Plan B is for herself and not for a friend, or stockpiling in case she loses her insurance?

Also, make people more reckless in what way?

she knows
and it's pretty self explanatory people will engage in riskier behavior if they think there are no consequences or the risks are low... not using birth control if they know they can just get a pack of plan-b for free
 
she knows
and it's pretty self explanatory people will engage in riskier behavior if they think there are no consequences or the risks are low... not using birth control if they know they can just get a pack of plan-b for free

That might hold if prescription BC wasn't free as well - is that the case? My impression is that this law makes it that all forms of contraception - Rx or OTC - are free, so I am not exactly sure how this encourages riskier behavior. Also, I don't consider getting plan b as being reckless... it's still a form of effective contraception.
 
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That might hold if prescription BC wasn't free as well - is that the case? My impression is that this law makes it that all forms of contraception - Rx or OTC - are free, so I am not exactly sure how this encourages riskier behavior. Also, I don't consider getting plan b as being reckless... it's still a form of effective contraception.

which one is easier and could promote unprotected sex?
regular birth control - have to get a prescription and have to take it everyday
or
Plan B - OTC, one pill and can just grab it anytime you want
 
Yet people can't get free blood pressure medications or free cancer treatment. This country is so backwards.
Like with free maintenance medications that people literally need to live, perhaps?

It's not about keeping people alive, it's about keeping costs down. It's cheaper to pay or someone's BCP, then to pay for the L/D. And it's waaaaay cheaper than paying for the child for 18 years. And realistically, the government is going to pick up a huge segment of women's L/D and children's medical coverage through Medicaid. On the other hand, keeping people alive, that isn't a cost savings, in fact it increases costs for every year past retirement that the government has to pay for someone's medical care. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with this, I'm just saying from the government perspective it makes perfect sense.
 
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Give 10k for every confirmed vasectomy or tubal ligation. Think of the future savings from reduced expenditures on TANF, SNAP, Medicaid and reduced EITC handouts

Cash-for-Sterilization Plan Draws Addicts and Critics

I don't believe in unfettered reproductive autonomy in today's world but I'm not making policy decisions. Basically this guy:

''I don't care what they do -- as long as they get their tubes tied,'' said Frank Peard, a 70-year-old retiree who helped arrange for Crack billboards to be put up in Fort Pierce, Fla., and has contributed $400 to the cause. ''As far as I'm concerned they could buy a gun and shoot themselves with it. That's the least of the evils. The evil is producing these children when they don't plan to take care of them.''
 
Give 10k for every confirmed vasectomy or tubal ligation. Think of the future savings from reduced expenditures on TANF, SNAP, Medicaid and reduced EITC handouts

Cash-for-Sterilization Plan Draws Addicts and Critics

I don't believe in unfettered reproductive autonomy in today's world but I'm not making policy decisions. Basically this guy:

Messing with reproductive autonomy gets tricky really quick. I think the more ethical thing in those situations is to provide more incentives for addiction prevention and treatment. It seems more empowering and humane then to reward certain "undesirable" or "unworthy" people for giving up the ability to reproduce.

Or maybe have both going on in tandem - incentives for long-term birth control to prevent the acute tragedy of children being born to people who are unable to take care of them, as well as better incentives for addiction treatment and more investment in prevention programs?
 
Messing with reproductive autonomy gets tricky really quick. I think the more ethical thing in those situations is to provide more incentives for addiction prevention and treatment. It seems more empowering and humane then to reward certain "undesirable" or "unworthy" people for giving up the ability to reproduce.

Or maybe have both going on in tandem - incentives for long-term birth control to prevent the acute tragedy of children being born to people who are unable to take care of them, as well as better incentives for addiction treatment and more investment in prevention programs?

I think the dangerous part here is claiming to incentivize the “undesirable” and “unworthy” only. I’m in favor of the incentive being made available to everyone, regardless of outside factors (job, income, etc). I don’t care how it’s handled (direct payment, tax breaks, insurance breaks), but I would love to reward anyone in the general public who undergoes a permanent birth control procedure.
 
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