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You can still access birth control in Missouri after abortion ban. Here’s what to know

Missouri’s trigger ban on abortions does not explicitly ban birth control.

After abortion was banned in Missouri following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, some readers have written to The Star with concerns about access to emergency contraception and other forms of birth control.

“Birth control and emergency contraception remain legal and accessible in MO,” said Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, in an email to The Star.

Doctors across the state can still prescribe birth control to patients who are interested in preventing pregnancy.

On Tuesday, one local system—Saint Luke’s—briefly stopped providing emergency contraceptives due to potential legal risk, but reversed its decision and continued providing Plan B again on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, state Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office said that Missouri law does not ban birth control.

“Missouri law does not prohibit the use or provision of Plan B, or contraception,” said Chris Nuelle, spokesperson for Schmitt.

Can I still get birth control in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri’s trigger ban outlaws nearly all abortion, but it doesn’t directly mention birth control or Plan B.

Clinics like Planned Parenthood are still providing birth control the same way they were before the ban was in place.

“Nothing has changed with our family planning services—we are still prescribing birth control. Patients seeking birth control can contact us by phone or make an appointment online,” Julie Lynn, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said in an emailed statement.

Emergency contraceptives like Plan B are also still available on shelves around Kansas City.

Also to note for those in Missouri around Kansas City and near the Kansas border: Health care providers in Kansas are not affected by Missouri’s trigger ban, and birth control is still available there as well.

Are other hospitals around Kansas City still prescribing birth control?

Yes. Here’s a list of hospitals and clinics around Kansas City that are, along with any statements they’ve provided about their birth control policies.

On Tuesday night, The Star confirmed that Saint Luke’s stopped providing Missouri patients with emergency contraceptives like Plan B after the state’s trigger ban was enacted, but the hospital system reversed its decision on Wednesday.

The Star has not confirmed any other health care providers around Kansas City that are choosing not to prescribe birth control for fear of being criminalized under the trigger ban.

We will continue to report on how the abortion ban is affecting medical providers and those seeking care. If you work at a hospital or clinic and have heard about changing policies around birth control or other services after the trigger ban, you can email kcq@kcstar.com to share more information from your experience.

Could Missouri ban birth control?

On Wednesday, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt—one of the key people in charge of enforcing the state’s abortion ban—affirmed that Missouri law does not ban birth control.

In theory, he or a local county prosecutor could at some point try to argue that some forms of family planning fall under the state’s trigger ban. This has not happened, and if it did, it would be controversial and would likely face legal challenges. Some lawyers have said they think the law could be interpreted to criminalize forms of birth control.

The state legislature could also in the future choose to pass more restrictive laws that directly target birth control options, including emergency contraception. The legislature is not in session right now, so it is too soon to tell.

And as of now, the U.S. Constitution protects a right to birth control because of a case called Griswold v. Connecticut, so any attempts to ban it would likely face legal challenges.

Where can I get birth control now?

You can talk to your health care provider about options. To make an appointment with Planned Parenthood in Kansas City online, visit here. To learn more about where you can get emergency contraception, like the Plan B pill, check out this guide here.

The Star’s Jonathan Shorman and Kacen Bayless contributed reporting.