Planned Parenthood offers telehealth services for birth control, UTIs

Like many health care providers during the COVID-19 crisis, Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) is now offering telehealth services, including access to birth control and urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment. 

“We know that sexual and reproductive health care can’t wait. Everyone is facing challenges and new stresses right now – getting your birth control or treatment for a UTI doesn’t have to be one of them,” said Lori Carpentier, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan. “We’re doing everything we can to make it safe and easy for Michiganders to get the care they need.”

Through the Planned Parenthood Direct app, Michiganders can access care from clinicians to get birth control or treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) without having to leave their homes. 

App users answer a few questions related to their health history and a  Planned Parenthood medical provider reviews the information according to established evidence-based protocols. 

The app also offers information about the benefits, side effects and efficacy of other methods.

Patients must be at least 14 years old for birth control and 18 years old for UTI service. 

Based on the user’s health history, if the user is eligible to receive care online, the provider writes the prescription within one business day and can be picked up from a nearby pharmacy or delivered. Patients who opt to pick up their prescription at a pharmacy may use insurance coverage, but pills delivered by mail cannot be covered by insurance.