New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Tuesday signed a standing order that allows women in the state of New York to buy birth control without a prescription.
“Starting today, any woman walking into a New York State pharmacy will be able to purchase birth control — the best birth control method that meets her needs,” Hochul said.
The governor emphasized the importance of increasing the availability of contraception, particularly for women in rural and low-income areas where they have less access to medical care.
“That's especially for women in areas where there aren't as many practitioners available to them: our rural communities, low income populations, which oftentimes are medical deserts are those that are least likely to have access to a doctor,” Hochul said. “So it's a new era for New York State, for the women of our state to deal with whatever health care needs that would be met by access to contraception.”
Hochul hailed the new law, while highlighting a nationwide effort to reverse reproductive rights “from Washington to state houses across our great country.”
