*October 24, 2024*



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Dear Friend,

Everyone, no matter how much money they make, deserves to make their own decisions about their own reproductive health and future.

I am proud to announce a new program, *Take Control of Your Birth Control* [ [link removed] ], to ensure Michiganders have access to free contraception, building on our work to protect reproductive freedom for all Michiganders. This new program will lower the cost of family planning, empower men and women to make their own decisions about their own bodies and lives, and keep people healthy.

By expanding access and providing free essential family planning tools, we are underscoring our commitment to ensuring Michigan families can make their own decisions about when, how, or if they want to expand their family.

This new initiative will provide greater access to free contraception including over-the-counter oral birth control pills, emergency contraception, condoms, and family planning educational resources through community partners and federally qualified health centers across the state during the month of November. It will also help connect Michiganders to health insurance so they can get the coverage and care they deserve.

We must keep fighting to protect the fundamental freedom of every person to make their own healthcare decisions about their own bodies. While other states have gone backward, banning abortion, going after birth control, and gutting vital health care, we are protecting your right to take control of your reproductive health.

The initiative kicks off Friday, November 1st, and will continue as long as supplies are available.

Sincerely,

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Gretchen Whitmer

Governor






*Take Control of Your Birth Control*

Take Control of Your Birth Control [ [link removed] ] will be administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) with the goal of ensuring individuals, regardless of their circumstances, have access to birth control and STI prevention supplies while raising awareness of how men and women can access contraception through their insurance provider, or sign up for insurance.

Beginning in November, organizations will distribute emergency contraception, condoms, and over-the-counter oral contraceptive, for free to the general public, regardless of insurance, and will continue as long as supplies are available.

This effort was made possible thanks to the work of the Michigan legislature, who secured $5.6 million in this year’s bipartisan budget to support MDHHS’s expansion of its family planning program.

take control

Alongside free supplies, Take Control of Your Birth Control will give Michiganders the information they need to continue to get vital supplies covered going forward by connecting eligible individuals to insurance coverage. This campaign reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to ensuring equitable access to reproductive health services. Beginning in November, Michigan families are encouraged to visit michigan.gov/takecontrol [ [link removed] ] to find an interactive map of organizations participating in the effort and learn more about how to access these essential resources.   

Along with free birth control, the initiative will also provide information on how to apply for coverage through Medicaid and the Plan First! [ [link removed] ] program, which offer health care coverage for a variety of family planning services, including birth control, STI testing and treatment, doctor’s office visits, and vaccinations among other services.

For other family planning resources, including information about low- or no-cost reproductive health services provided by the State of Michigan, including under the state’s Medicaid program, visit Family Planning [ [link removed] ].






*Our Progress to Protect Reproductive Freedom*

Over the last few years, we’ve made a lot of progress to protect every Michigander’s fundamental right to make their own decisions about their own bodies and your ability to decide when, how, or if you want to start a family in Michigan.

*☑ *In 2022, Michiganders voted overwhelmingly to enshrine abortion rights and IVF protections in our state constitution with Proposal 3.

*☑* Last April, with our new majority in the Michigan Legislature, we repealed an extreme 1931 law that banned abortions without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalized doctors and nurses for doing their jobs.

*☑* Last May, I signed a law prohibiting employers from discriminating against women because they’ve had an abortion.

*☑* Last November, I signed the Reproductive Health Act, repealing TRAP laws and enacting commonsense changes to protect reproductive health and freedom.

*☑* In April, I signed the Michigan Family Protection Act, a package of commonsense, long-overdue changes to repeal Michigan’s ban on surrogacy, protect families formed by IVF, and ensure LGBTQ+ parents are treated equally under the law.

*☑* In May, I directed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to issue a reminder to Michiganders to be cautious of data privacy laws after reports of law enforcement using personal health data to prosecute those seeking reproductive care.

We got this done thanks to our strong legislative leadership and the support of a majority of Michiganders across our state.

Meanwhile, extreme politicians in other states are putting government between private decisions that should be left to your family and your doctor, and in the years since the overturn of Roe V. Wade, they’ve gotten bolder. So far, 14 states have passed total abortion bans. In Texas, lawmakers banned abortions with zero exceptions for rape or incest. In Florida, a ban is now in effect for abortion after 6 weeks, before most people even know they are pregnant. In Georgia, a similar ban is forcing women to continue high-risk and nonviable pregnancies and has resulted in tragic outcomes.

In Michigan, we cannot let politicians get between you and your doctor when it comes to making the right decisions for your family, your health, and your body.

I will keep fighting like hell to protect reproductive freedom in Michigan and make our state the best place to start, raise, and grow your family.








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