New law is an extension of existing practices that allow pharmacists to administer vaccines, other services.
Over the next few months pharmacists in California and Oregon will be authorized to prescribe birth control, making it easier for women to access contraception.
According to Time, women will be able to obtain contraceptives, such as birth control pills and rings, from pharmacists within months. Women seeking hormonal birth control will be required to fill out a medical history questionnaire, as well as undergo a short screening with the pharmacist, says The Seattle Times.
The laws are an extension of an existing practice that authorizes pharmacists to administer health services, such as vaccines. In Oregon, patients under 18 will still be required to have a prescription from a doctor to obtain hormonal birth control.
Support for the law is crossing party lines. Knute Buehler, an Oregon State Representative and Republican, said that he feels that, “this is what is best for women’s health in the 21st century.” Buehler acknowledged the economic benefits of the law, stating that it will “have repercussions for decreasing poverty,” citing unwanted pregnancy as a key topic in combating poverty among women.
Estimates say that approximately 6.6 million pregnancies in the United States are considered “unwanted pregnancies.” Many groups support the idea of birth control without a prescription, with some, like The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pushing for over-the-counter availability for hormonal contraceptives.
Some argue that making contraceptives so easily available will discourage women from going to the doctor for routine reproductive health screenings. However, a study of Texas women, who obtained over-the-counter birth control in Mexico, showed that the majority still went to a doctor for a routine Pap smear. Previously, Pap smears were recommended annually. Today, women are recommended to have a Pap smear once every three years, after reaching 21 years of age.
It is not yet known how insurers will handle the pharmacist consultations. Pharmacists may charge around $25 for the services, causing a financial barrier for some women seeking birth control.
