Dear Ariana,

I hope you’re having a relaxing summer! I’d like to share with you some community updates and take a minute to get excited about another win for the reproductive justice movement. But first, if you’d like to stay connected with me on social media, I’d encourage you to follow me on Instagram and Threads @SenatorArianaKelly. Here you can find D-16 news, updates on my legislative work, and community shout-outs. With no guesses as to the future of X (the new name for Twitter), I’ll be upping my activity on these platforms so I can continue to best serve you.

The approval of Opill, a progesterone-only birth control pill, as an over-the-counter medication by the FDA on July 13th was a huge win for reproductive health care access. In 2016, Senator Delores Kelley and I passed the Contraceptive Equity Act, making Maryland the first in the nation to mandate insurance coverage of all FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptive medications. At the time of its passage, this law primarily applied to emergency contraceptives such as Plan B, but Senator Kelley and I fought for language to specifically account for future FDA approval of an over-the-counter hormonal contraceptive pill. The law also mandates that any copayments for over-the-counter contraceptives be commensurate with copayments for the same medication with a prescription, ensuring that insurance companies can’t unduly gouge copayments to avoid true coverage. Now that the FDA has approved Opill for over-the-counter sale, Maryland insurers will be required to cover Opill purchases. Thanks, Contraceptive Equity Act!

Making birth control accessible without a prescription eliminates barriers that prevent women from receiving affordable contraceptives. For many patients, however, birth control is made affordable through insurance coverage, and eliminating the need for a prescription may mean that insurance companies could refuse coverage of Opill or charge exorbitant co-pays for the medication. While the Affordable Care Act required insurers to cover prescription birth control without copayments, there are no such protections for over-the-counter birth control at the federal level. 



I’m optimistic that other states will follow Maryland’s lead and protect the accessibility of birth control no matter how a person gets it. We must continue to advocate for the affordability of Opill and all contraceptive options in the wake of terrifying legislative attempts to control our most basic reproductive freedoms.

Best, 

Ariana

Tasneem Alim is a rising junior at the University of Maryland where she is double majoring in Public Policy and American Studies. She is a member of UMD's Honors Humanities program, where she recently completed a Keystone project by producing her own music album. She's passionate about harnessing public policy as a tool to heal social inequities and would like to pursue a career working for the public good.

Emil A. Sandberg is a rising sophomore at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, where he will earn a B.A. in Liberal Arts. He is passionate about other cultures, speaks Italian and French, and studied Chinese and Ancient Greek. He plans to focus on international business, connect Americans and people abroad, and promote mutual understanding. This summer, Emil spent time in a winery in Switzerland and gained insight into the company’s operations. He is eager to meld a grounding in literature, philosophy, and the natural sciences with commercial expertise and to serve as a business ‘ambassador’ for our country.

Bethesda Outdoor Movie Series: August 11th

Don’t miss Bethesda’s free outdoor movie series screening blockbuster hits on August 11th. Movies start at 9 pm at Woodmont Triangle at the intersection of Norfolk and Auburn Avenue. Beat the heat with an evening event for the whole family! Check out Bethesda Urban Partnership for a whole lineup of events taking place in August.

Artists & Makers Studios: "The Coming of Middle Age"

From now until August 23rd, the Artists & Maker's Studios in Rockville will host a free exhibition of Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell's work. Her solo exhibition "The Coming of Middle Age" explores themes of black womanhood and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Viewing hours are 10:00 am - 4:00 pm from Monday-Saturday.

Back To School Fair: August 26

The MCPS Back-To-School Fair will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton. Alongside free music and entertainment, there will be a free immunization clinic to conveniently receive your back-to-school shots! MCPS will offer free shuttles from Montgomery Blair, Paint Branch, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery High Schools.

Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo: September 2-4

The 5th Annual Labor Day Art Show will take place at Glen Echo Park from Saturday, September 2nd to Monday, September 4th. The show will feature over 200 artists from a range of mediums and is still accepting applications!

Montgomery College Housing Clinic: September 6

Housing counselors from the Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) will offer free consultations at Montgomery College on September 6th with appointments from 2-5 PM. HIP can help you with finding affordable housing, homebuying, and more! Register here and see more of their incredible resources here.

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By Authority - Friends of Ariana Kelly.  Rosalyn Levy Jonas, Chair.  Jennifer R. Kefer, Treasurer.