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Are Missouri Republicans Trying to Outlaw Birth Control?
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Are Missouri Republicans Trying to Outlaw Birth Control?

No.

Alec Dent
Jun 25, 2021
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(Photograph by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, former Sen. Claire McCaskill claimed that Missouri Republicans were attempting to “outlaw birth control.”

Twitter avatar for @clairecmcClaire McCaskill @clairecmc
Update: crazy Republicans in MO are getting ready to have a special session to outlaw birth control. You seriously can’t make this stuff up.

June 23rd 2021

10,874 Retweets35,633 Likes

The Missouri state legislature met for a special session starting Wednesday to discuss Medicaid funding. The central issue the legislators are debating is the renewal of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, a tax that helps fund Medicaid in Missouri. Some Republicans in the Missouri legislature blocked the renewal on the grounds that it allows for state funds to go to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood and to reimburse the purchase of certain types of contraceptives, including including Plan B and IUDs. Now, Republicans are preparing for another special session sometime next week in order to discuss this specific issue—whether Medicaid should fund such expenses—more in depth.

Contrary to what McCaskill claims in her tweet, even if the bill drafted by Republican Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Dan Hegeman is passed, birth control would not be outlawed. Hegeman’s bill would prevent Medicaid participants from using their insurance coverage to pay for certain types of contraceptives. The bill would not prevent Medicaid users from paying for those contraceptives out of pocket, nor would it prevent private insurance companies from including them in their coverage.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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Barb
Jun 25, 2021Liked by Declan Garvey

McCaskill: You seriously can’t make this stuff up.

Dent: You just did.

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rlritt
Writes Dispatch ·Jun 25, 2021

So stupid. If you hate abortion, give away birth control for free. Do you know they now have a small implant that can be inserted painlessly that prevents conception for 3 years!! No excuse for unwanted pregnancy and abortion. That should be a Republican platform. They would instantly win over most women of child bearing age.

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