Skip to main content
HR 5138 114th Congress House

Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016

Official title: To allow women greater access to safe and effective contraception.

Introduced: April 29, 2016 See on congress.gov
Health Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationEmployee benefits and pensionsFamily planning and birth controlHealth care costs and insurance
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Prescription drugsUser charges and fees
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 12, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 6, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 29, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 29, 2016
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 12, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016

This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize review of supplemental drug applications (applications to modify the approved use of a drug) for contraceptive drugs intended for routine use that would be available to individuals aged 18 and older without a prescription. The FDA must waive user fees for such supplemental drug applications. Any drug that is eligible for this priority review must be a prescription drug for individuals under age 18.

This bill repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to allow health savings accounts and health flexible spending accounts (HFSAs) to be used to pay for medicine without a prescription and to remove the limit on salary reduction contributions to a HFSA under a cafeteria plan, effective as if the provisions had never been enacted.
 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1438 Related bill Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 1
Comstock, Barbara
· Apr 29, 2016
 R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Apr 29, 2016
McSally, Martha
· Apr 29, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5138: Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5138/
MLA
"H.R. 5138: Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5138/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5138, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5138/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5138: Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5138/)
Report a problem