Press Releases
02/14/2023
LT. GOVERNOR BYSIEWICZ, STATE LEGISLATORS, CT PHARMACISTS, HIGHLIGHT PROPOSAL TO ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO PRESCRIBE CONTRACEPTIVES
Proposal would increase access and reduce barriers to birth control
(Stamford, CT) – Today, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz was joined by the Connecticut Pharmacists Association, State Senator Ryan Fazio, and State Senator Ceci Maher to highlight proposed legislation that would allow pharmacists to prescribe certain types of birth control without patients first needing to visit their doctor.
There are currently twenty states that allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control. If enacted, this legislation would improve access to birth control, especially in rural and underserved areas, where access to reproductive healthcare is limited. A pharmacist may only prescribe a hormonal contraceptive and emergency contraceptive if they have completed an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited educational training program related to the prescribing of hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraception by a pharmacist.
“This measure would dramatically increase access to birth control especially in rural and underserved areas. There are so many barriers that women face to get access to contraception, it can be very expensive, and it can be very time consuming,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “Governor Lamont and I will continue to be at the forefront of making sure that women have access to reproductive freedom and to affordable and effective quality healthcare.”
“Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare provider; 95% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy and they visit their local drug store 20 to 30 times per year,” said Nathan Tinker, CEO of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association. “At the Connecticut Pharmacists Association, we envision a world in which health and well-being are accessible and equitable. Giving women the freedom to decide where they want to get their contraception is one further step in realizing that mission.”
“Senator Heather Somers and I have introduced SB171 this term which would empower pharmacists to prescribe birth control for women in the state if Connecticut,” said State Senator Ryan Fazio. “It increases access, it reduces costs, it gives more options, it doesn’t require people do something in a certain way, it simply gives them the choice to do it.”
“We saw during the pandemic that the pharmacists were on the frontline of providing healthcare for all residents in the way of boosters and vaccines; this is just one extension of that work that they’ve already been doing,” said State Senator Ceci Maher. Creating access for women to be able to get birth control when needed is incredibly important and I completely support this bill.”
Contact: Britt Foulds