Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes women to buy some types of birth control without prescriptions.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a pharmacist to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive to a patient at least 18 years old (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the pharmacist may dispense up to a 3-month supply at the initial dispensing of hormonal contraceptives (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the pharmacist may dispense up to a 12-month supply for subsequent dispensings of hormonal contraceptives (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the medical director of the Department of Public Health to establish a standing order which authorizes the dispensing of self-administered hormonal contraceptives by pharmacists who do all of the following (Sec. 2):

• Complies with the standing order; and

• Retains a record of each patient to whom a self-administered hormonal contraceptives is dispensed and submits the record to the Department.

• Specifies that the standing order shall require pharmacists who dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to do all of the following (Sec. 2):

• Complete a standardized training program and continuing education requirements related to prescribing hormonal contraceptives and include education regarding all methods of contraception;

• Obtain a completed self-screening risk assessment from each patient, verify the identity and age of each patient, and perform a blood pressure screening on each patient, prior to dispensing the hormonal contraceptive to the patient; and

• Provide the patient with written documentation regarding alternative contraceptive options, the patient’s self-screening risk assessment, and possible side effects of hormonal contraceptives.

• Specifies that self-administered hormonal contraception will be covered for Medicaid recipients (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text