A survey of women in New York found that about three-quarters are comfortable with receiving a prescription for contraceptives from a pharmacist.
Two studies published in American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2022 Interim Clinical Conference We are confirming the patient’s desire to obtain hormonal contraceptives from the pharmacy.
Pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal contraceptives in 20 states, according to a press release. In 2013, California became the first state to pass such a law, and South Carolina became the latest state to enact it in May 2022. A further 10 states have similar legislation underway.1
“Pharmacists are a vital and underutilized resource for so many Americans, especially those who live far from other health care providers or whose access is otherwise limited.” , JD’s Tom Kraus, ASHP’s vice president of government relations, said in a press release. release.1
One study presented at ASHP reviewed various state regulations regarding the provision of hormonal contraceptives by pharmacists. Due to the rapid growth of these services, there is no consensus on the regulation of pharmacist prescribing, so this study aimed to clarify the situation of pharmacist prescribing rights.2
Researchers systematically searched publicly available information and evaluated state laws regarding pharmacist-prescribed contraceptives. States were classified as red, yellow, or green based on their legislative status or current lack of legislation.
A state classified as a red state has no pending legal evidence, a law prohibiting pharmacists from prescribing contraceptives, a mandatory communal practice agreement without pending legal evidence, or has failed to proceed. was one of the laws. Yellow states have proposed legislation, with or without defined protocols, and green states have pharmacists prescribing contraceptives, with or without state boards of pharmacy-defined protocols. There was a law or standing order that allowed you to do so.2
A literature search on PubMed yielded 66 results, including assessments of laws, studies on the awareness of such laws, training protocols, and laws and regulations. The state with the most extensive literature was California, which had 21 articles, but he had 0 PubMed search results for him in 24 states.2
According to the survey results, 40% of states were classified as red, 20% as yellow, and 40% as green. Among the 20 leafy states, pharmacists used hormonal contraception through statewide protocols (n=11, 55%), standing orders (n=8, 40%), or other means (n=1, 5%). I could prescribe medicine.2
Investigators also established a timeline for relevant legislation in green states. His first two states to pass legislation were California and Oregon, with the latest being South Carolina.2
Based on these findings, the assessment identified several legislative inconsistencies and provided a simple timeline path for states that would allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. Despite progress in pharmacy practice since the first law was passed in , there is a lack of legislation, regulation and training. The current findings are a potential fulfillment for further study of state-specific protocols, pharmacist education requirements, practice in community or outpatient settings, and state-to-state differences in enabling pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. Suggests no need.2
Soumya Jairam, a pharmacy doctoral candidate at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University and lead author of the analysis, said in a press release: “The scope of our practice is expanding, and it’s important to be aware of what the rules look like in other states.”1
Another study, also reported in ASHP, surveyed 500 women in New York state and established perceptions of pharmacists’ authority to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. New York pharmacists do not have prescribing authority, but the survey found that nearly three-quarters of respondents would be comfortable with receiving a prescription for contraceptives from a pharmacist. Many women noted that they live closer to pharmacies than to health care providers, but only one in four of her respondents said that in many states, pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraceptives. I knew1
Survey results indicated that most respondents said pharmacists had the knowledge and skills to prescribe contraception in a pharmacy setting. A woman receives contraception in a doctor’s office because of the distance to the provider, long wait times, and difficulty in scheduling an appointment, especially because she needs one to two visits a year to renew her prescription. has been shown to be the main barrier for1
Jennifer Fiscus, PhD Candidate in Pharmacy at Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and lead author of the study, said in a press release: “With that decision closing family planning clinics in many areas, contraceptive prescribing stands out as a great opportunity for pharmacists to step in and take on a health care role. This is especially true in emergencies where we run out of restocks over the weekend or we don’t have access to a provider for weeks or months.”1
References
- Pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal contraceptives in 20 states. news release. December 5, 2022. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.ashp.org/news/2022/12/05/pharmacists-can-now-prescribe-hormonal-birth-control-in-20-states
- Jairam, S. Review of state regulations for pharmacists prescribing hormonal contraceptives. Presented at: ASHP 2022 Mid-Term Clinical Conference.
