NM Medicaid now covers over-the-counter birth control, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception

Mar. 27—Pain relievers, allergy medicines and cough suppressants. All are available over the counter.

Now, birth control is, too — and for New Mexicans on Medicaid, it's free.

Medicaid covers almost half of the state's population. The New Mexico Human Services Department announced Wednesday that the over-the-counter daily birth control pill Opill, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception are now included in the state's Medicaid coverage.

New Mexico is one of several states that cover Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control, including New York and North Carolina, said NMHSD spokesperson Marina Piña in an email to the Journal.

"The coverage of Opill is a step forward in empowering people with more choices in their reproductive health care — we encourage our customers and pharmacists to familiarize themselves with this new coverage option," Alanna Dancis, chief medical officer for the New Mexico Medicaid program, said in a statement.

How to get it

Opill is just one of the over-the-counter medications, alongside Narcan, eyedrops, prenatal vitamins and more, that is covered by New Mexico Medicaid. Customers don't need to go to a provider for a prescription due to a standing order from the state Department of Health, but they also can't just walk up to the checkout.

"Medications need a prescription, even over-the-counter medications, to be reimbursed by Medicaid," Piña said.

That means, to take advantage of the no-cost birth control and pregnancy tests, customers need to bring their products to the pharmacy counter.

Not all pharmacies stock Opill, Piña said. The department called several pharmacies and found that some Walgreens locations in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos stock Opill and others do not.