I couldn't agree more, finally a politician throws something out that is common sense.


Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican and a potential 2016 presidential candidate, has a solution for the GOP's birth control problem: Make it over the counter.

"The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced its support last month for selling oral contraceptives over the counter without a prescription in the United States," Jindal writes in Friday's Wall Street Journal opinion section. "I agree with this opinion, which if embraced by the federal government would take contraception out of the political arena." Jindal also writes that prescription birth control drives up costs with unnecessary doctors' visits.

"Democrats have wrongly accused Republicans of being against birth control and against allowing people to use it. That's hogwash," Jindal wrote. "But Republicans do want to protect those who have religious beliefs that are opposed to contraception."

Democrats used Republicans' objections to the mandatory birth control coverage portion of Obama's health care law as a way to turn women voters against conservative candidates this election season. Their objections, Democrats argued, were part of a larger "war on women" fought by Republican lawmakers. (A "war" that worsened when conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh called law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" for testifying that she believes contraception should be covered by insurance plans.)

Republicans said they were simply worried that some employers' religious freedom would be infringed upon if their health care plans had to include contraception.

...

Makes perfect sense, not on a political basis, but on a healthcare basis.

An interesting aspect would be that if it was OTC then contraceptives might not be covered by health insurance. My insurance doesn't pay for some of the meds my doctor has prescribed as they are OTC.

it is not a bad idea to make it a non-issue for electoral politics and it makes "excorcism" Bobby look like a moderate.

the problem is that birth control is prescribed for non-sexual medical issues and the problem remains is that religious institutions and republican politicians want to get in between a patient and their doctor when it comes to medical decisions. so much for less government intrusion.

the problem is that republicans consistently stick their feet in their mouths when it comes to talking about these issues. they sound like neanderthals and are creepy to many women when discussing rape, abortion, and sex.

when the republicans can push these christian extremists out of their mainstream, they might be able to win back some of the demographics they desperately need to win national elections. the louder they remain in the party the more people who believe in the modern world will recoil from the venom they spew.

If the GOP wants less government intrusion this would be a great place to start.


Fishy

Making it OTC may still keep it as a political issue because now one would have to pay full price. That will be a political issue with many folks.

Getting government out of personal decisions is a great idea, just suggesting that the left will now have opposition, or look for subsidies (from Government) for those who can't afford full price since abstinence is not an option.

Seems to me that a physician could still prescribe the pills if the primary need was non-contraceptive. Which would probably get us back to square one with most pills being prescribed for non-birth control; which would then just be an acceptable side-effect.

If you couldn't afford it OTC wouldn't it be a fair guess to say that probably your income level is at a point were you are getting your medical care free or at a greatly reduced rate? If so I would think that would take that argument off the table.

What do you do about the patient education aspect of BC? Maybe it is not a big question/deal but I know in the clinic that I work in that patients that are receiving BC (at least for their initial RX) get educated by the provider or Nurse prior to leaving the clinic. Then again you don't get educated for any other OTC so maybe it doesn't matter.

I'm not a Doctor, but I agree with the concept. There may be individual differences that only a doctor can address? (It's a question.....I don't know the answer) So if that is true, perhaps an over the counter solution would be inappropriate?

Hell you can get all the rubbers you want for nothing at the county health department........what's the difference? OTC is dandy, if healthful.

What's the difference between condoms and birth control pills?

Seriously?



IMO, the pill is more serious medicine than we should be dealing OTC. It's not an aspirin or a acid reflux pill.

it's much cheaper for the poor to have their children on assistance than to cover their birth control.

Try swallowing the former and get back to us.

And reefer is the guy that hides behind a computer screen!

Which doesn't surprise me being that's what pussies do!

If they swallow what's the point of birth control...

Way to be tough behind a computer screen!!

Say it to my face and if you can back up your words you win...