NC Medicaid to Cover Opill Oral Contraceptive at Pharmacies Statewide

CHAPEL HILL, NC (WWAY) — NC Medicaid will begin covering over-the-counter birth control at pharmacies across the state.

Beginning Thursday, August 1, 2024, the oral contraceptive Opill will be available at local and retail pharmacies without a prescription, free of charge to North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries.

Opill is the first over-the-counter oral contraceptive approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“North Carolina is working to expand access to health care, which includes the freedom to make family planning decisions,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Making birth control more accessible is an important goal, and I am pleased that North Carolina’s Medicaid program can take this step.”

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate contraception and reproductive services at the right time in their community,” said Kody H. Kinsley, North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services. “This new coverage is part of our ongoing work to invest in the well-being of children and families by improving access to health care and, ultimately, improving outcomes for mothers and infants.”

Medicaid recipients will be able to obtain Opill over the counter from Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies who can submit the reimbursement claim.

“We are so grateful to the pharmacies and pharmacists who are partnering with us in this critical work to expand access to contraception and reproductive health services,” said State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson. “This new coverage under NC Medicaid demonstrates our commitment to continuing to remove barriers to contraception and ensuring North Carolinians have access to the services they need to make the best decisions about their health and lives.”

A 2021 law gives pharmacists the authority to prescribe a variety of contraceptives under protocols approved by the NC Board of Pharmacy and the NC Medical Board. NC Medicaid began enrolling pharmacists in January 2024.

To date, more than 330 retail and commercial pharmacies in 92 counties offer contraceptive services. The department says it will continue to work to expand the level of access to contraceptive services in communities across the state.

More information about Opill coverage can be found in the North Carolina Medicaid Bulletin. To find a pharmacy offering pharmacy-initiated birth control services in North Carolina, visit ncpharmacyfinder.com.