Legislators in California passed a law in 2013 that would allow pharmacists in the state to dispense birth control without a doctor’s prescription, but the implementation of the law has been held up for regulatory discussions.
But this past Friday, officials announced the plan is going forward as planned and California joins other states, such as Oregon and Washington, in providing almost over-the-counter birth control to women, according to the LA Times.
It’s a little more complicated than just selecting the products off the shelf, as some have proposed should be available. True over-the-counter drugs and medicines can only be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The women will need to complete a questionnaire about their general health and consult with the pharmacist before the medications can be dispensed.
The law, according to the Times, allows for dispensing self-administered birth control, including pills, patches, injections and vaginal rings, but devices such as arm implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) would still require a visit to a physician.
In a part of the provision that has some concerned, there is no age limit to receiving the medicine from the pharmacist. The patient can request a certain type of medication, or can ask the pharmacist to make a recommendation suitable for them.
During the consult, the pharmacist will take the patient’s blood pressure, and review the questionnaire with the requester, and will explain the possibility of side effects, how the medicine selected works to prevent conception, and remind the patient of the importance of cervical screenings and general health evaluations by a regular doctor. The pharmacist will also provide a fact sheet for reference.
If you are covered under a qualified insurance plan, it will likely pick up the cost of the medicine, but some pharmacists may charge a fee for the consulting and the evaluation of the questionnaire.
Washington state and Washington D.C. have been allowing birth control to be dispensed without a prescription for some time, and Oregon began a program earlier this year, with a limitation to females over 17. Several legislatures in other states are considering similar laws.