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Throughout November, federally qualified health centers across Michigan will be providing free, over-the-counter oral birth control pills, condoms, emergency contraception and family planning educational resources, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday.
Funding for the Take Control of your Birth Control program comes from the $5.6 million allocation in the state budget to support the state health department expanding its family planning program.
All Michigan residents ought to be able to affordably access family planning tools as an essential branch of public health, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said in a news release.
“We want to make sure that individuals who need and want these tools can easily obtain them, and we are committed to helping people take control of their reproductive health in a way that is both empowered and informed,” Bagdasarian said.
The goal of the program is to get Michiganders in the door at family planning centers and provide them with free birth control and sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention supplies for the month of November and then connect those in need of affordable care with appropriate resources and education.
Michigan is working towards protecting reproductive freedom for all, Whitmer said in a news release and the Take Control of your Birth Control program is one area of that work.
“Everyone, no matter how much money they make, deserves to make their own decisions about their own reproductive health and future,” Whitmer said. “By expanding access to essential family planning tools, we are underscoring our commitment to ensuring Michiganders, along with their families and trusted health care providers, can make their own decisions about their own bodies and lives.”
Those interested in participating in the program to get free resources can also access information about the application process for coverage through Medicaid and the Plan First program, which can offer coverage for family planning services like contraceptives, cancer screenings and STI testing and treatment.
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