Missouri AG says state abortion ban does not prohibit Plan B or contraception

After at least one hospital system in Missouri stopped providing emergency contraception because of ambiguity in the state’s abortion ban, Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office clarified Wednesday that contraception is not prohibited under state law.

“Missouri law does not prohibit the use or provision of Plan B, or contraception,” said Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Schmitt.

The Kansas City Star first reported late Tuesday night that Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City was no longer providing emergency contraception, citing the “ambiguous” nature of Missouri’s trigger ban.

A spokesperson for Saint Luke’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the hospital system would be reversing its decision in the light of Schmitt’s stance.

Other hospital systems have not followed Saint Luke’s lead.

University Health, Kansas City’s safety net hospital and the teaching hospital associated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, will keep offering IUDs and emergency contraceptives, like the Plan B pill, the system’s spokeswoman, Leslie Carto, said in a statement before Schmitt’s office’s announcement.