California women will only have to make one trip a year to the pharmacy to pick up birth control under a new law.
Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a bill to allow pharmacists to dispense 12 months of hormonal contraceptives at one time. This will make it more convenient for women in the state, who previously, were only able to get a three months supply at a time.
The new law will also requires insurance companies to cover a year's supply of doctor-prescribed birth control.
The bill's author, Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills, and other supporters, said longer supplies will reduce skipped doses and prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions.
“Given the demands of work and family, women can’t always find time to run off to a drug store to refill an ongoing prescription,” Pavley said in a written statement. “Unlike with other medications, to go even a day or two without birth control can result in a serious consequence. This change will make women’s lives easier and dramatically reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.”