Calif. pharmacists now furnishing Rx birth control to patients

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Regulations that allow pharmacists to directly provide prescription contraceptives to patients took effect April 8. Besides allowing pharmacists to provide hormonal contraceptives, the legislation also allows them to furnish prescription smoking cessation services, travel medications, an expanded list of immunizations. The legislation also create an Advanced Practice Pharmacist license. 

 

“Today is a wonderful day for women's healthcare in California,” California Pharmacists Association CEO Jon Roth said. “We thank the California State Board of Pharmacy for completing the contraception regulations and are pleased that pharmacists can now provide direct access to birth control for women.”

 

Pharmacists are authorized to furnish oral, transdermal, vaginal and Depo injection forms of prescription birth control. The have to follow a statewide protocol outlining the clinical considerations for furnishing the prescriptions, pharmacist training and reporting requirements to a patient’s primary care provider. The regulations follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive use. 

 

“California's 6,500 community pharmacies are the face of neighborhood healthcare in this state,” Roth said. “Community pharmacies are open beyond normal business hours and patients do not need an appointment to see their pharmacist. That means these regulations will go a long way to expanding women's access to birth control.”