Bill Overview
Title: Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act
Description: This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to prioritize review of supplemental applications for over-the counter oral contraceptives that are intended for routine use.
Sponsors: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Women of childbearing age
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill aims to increase access to contraceptives by potentially allowing certain contraceptives to be sold over-the-counter.
- Globally, there are billions of women of reproductive age who could potentially be affected by increased access to contraceptives.
- Increased contraceptive access can lead to better family planning and reduced unintended pregnancies, impacting societal healthcare systems globally.
- Access to contraceptives is a key component in reproductive health rights, affecting both women directly and society as a whole through various socio-economic benefits.
- If contraceptives are made more accessible globally, this can lead to empowerment of women by giving them more control over their reproductive health and life choices.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects women of childbearing age, an estimated 60 million in the US.
- The budget restricts the ability to impact all women directly and may focus on areas with higher need or lower current access to prescription contraceptives.
- Many women may already have some form of access to prescription contraceptives, reducing the incremental improvement of OTC availability.
- The policy may have greater impact in rural or underserved areas where access to healthcare providers is more limited.
- Impact will also depend on the cost and distribution of the contraceptives once available OTC.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse practitioner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great because not everyone can easily get a prescription, especially if they're in rural areas.
- It won't change much for me personally since I already have access, but I support it for others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College student (Rural Kansas)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it will make it much easier for me and my friends to get contraceptives.
- Having OTC access means we don't have to schedule doctor visits just for a prescription.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Marketing executive (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good initiative, but personally, I prefer long-term solutions like IUDs.
- It might help young women who are starting out with contraceptives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Stay-at-home mom (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could reduce some of the hassle and stigma around getting contraceptives.
- For mothers who don't have time to visit the doctor, it's a big help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
University professor (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I won't personally benefit, I believe this can empower younger women.
- I'm an advocate for policies that support women's health and autonomy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retail worker (Santa Fe, NM)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- OTC contraceptives would mean I don't have to ask my parents for help.
- This policy makes it easier and less awkward for young women like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Freelance artist (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy will help with my budgeting for health needs.
- Easier access means less stress about obtaining contraceptives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Software engineer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will make a slight improvement in convenience but won't change much for me.
- It's a positive step nonetheless for inclusive healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Barista (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- OTC options mean fewer trips to clinics and possibly free up some time and money.
- It could relieve some of the stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Real estate agent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes it simpler for women in tricky situations to take control.
- I'm supportive of anything that makes our lives easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- The FDA's capacity to handle increased volume of priority applications needs assessment; might require budget reassessment or policy alignment for expedited reviews.
- Anticipated socio-economic benefits depend heavily on adoption rates and the extent of contraceptive access improvement.
- Potential resistance from groups opposed to over-the-counter contraceptive access might affect implementation timeline.