The recent focus on protecting access to birth control may offer little relief for women struggling to find affordable contraceptives in states with stringent abortion laws. Family planning clinics in places like Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas are facing significant challenges in providing affordable contraception, particularly to low-income women.

Clinics like WAWC Healthcare in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, rely heavily on providing free or low-cost birth control to their patients, most of whom are Black women living below the poverty line. However, the cost of stocking a variety of contraceptive options, from pills to implants, can reach $30,000 per month for a clinic serving 50-75 patients. This financial burden is exacerbated by limited funding, clinic closures, and restrictions on Medicaid coverage.

Although the FDA approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in 2023, access remains limited in rural areas. Lack of transportation, broadband internet, and mail delivery services make it difficult for women in these communities to obtain the pill.

The financial strain on family planning clinics is compounded by policy changes that have reduced funding for Title X family planning grants. In Texas, for instance, the elimination of Title X funding for clinics associated with abortion providers led to a quarter of family planning clinics closing by 2013.

Despite deep discounts offered by the 340B program, clinics still face significant financial risks in stocking birth control due to uncertain reimbursement rates from Medicaid and private insurers. This leaves many clinics with the difficult choice of paying full price for expensive implants, risking financial loss, or denying patients access to their preferred contraception.

Fortunately, some nonprofits have stepped in to help clinics bridge the gap. Organizations like Trust Her in Dallas and Plan A in Mississippi provide free or low-cost contraceptives to patients through donations and grants. However, these initiatives are limited in scope and cannot fully address the widespread need for affordable birth control in these states.

The challenges faced by family planning clinics in states with strict abortion laws highlight the urgent need for increased funding, expanded Medicaid coverage, and policy changes that support access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services.