Abstract
Pharmacist contraception services are growing across the United States. Several states have authorized pharmacists to prescribe contraception, and the interest in other states continues to grow. Opposition to these practices exists and centers on discussions related to safety, training, cost, and fragmentation of care. We review these arguments and provide evidence refuting these concerns. Pharmacist-prescribed contraception increases access to care, and patients express interest in utilizing this service at the pharmacy. Pharmacists follow evidence-based recommendations. Counseling on preventative services and referral to other providers is part of contraception care by pharmacists. Training programs have been developed to equip both pharmacy students and pharmacists with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to successfully provide these services. This article can serve as a guide for pharmacists and advocates when discussing pharmacist-prescribed contraception with policymakers, patients, and other healthcare professionals.
Highlights
Since 2013, 13 states and jurisdictions in the United States (U.S.) have been successful in passing legislation allowing for pharmacist-prescribed contraception, known as pharmacy access to contraception
One argument against pharmacist-prescribed contraception is the safety of the process, as hormonal contraception can lead to adverse effects
California addressed this through successful legislation in 2016, which requires the state Medicaid program to pay for pharmacist contraception services [50]
Summary
Since 2013, 13 states and jurisdictions in the United States (U.S.) have been successful in passing legislation allowing for pharmacist-prescribed contraception, known as pharmacy access to contraception. These include California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. We advocate for evidence-based policies to expand patient access to contraception services In this commentary, we will lay out commonly encountered opposition arguments from states that have worked on pharmacist-prescribed contraception efforts, many of which often lack evidence to support their argument. (8) over-the-counter access, and (9) the support of other healthcare providers For these commonly encountered opposition arguments, we will provide evidence and rationale that pharmacists and other patient advocates can utilize to alleviate these concerns
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