How Pharmacy Students Can Advocate for Pharmacist Prescribing of Hormonal Contraception – Birth Control Pharmacist

Mumsy Pop February 17, 2023

0 1 3 minutes read

Can pharmacy students advocate for pharmacists prescribing hormonal contraceptives? YES, it’s like that Wilson Pacea graduate of the University of Utah College of Pharmacy made. When Wilson heard about the barriers and costs women face when accessing contraceptives. Her perseverance and dedication to advocacy as a pharmacy student allowed her to act in her leadership class. Wilson drafted a “dream bill” that became Bill 184 in Utah. Bill 184 was passed in 2019 and allowed women in Utah to receive prescriptions for birth control from their pharmacist.

Fast forward to 2022; we now have 26 states + DC with either statewide protocols or collaborative practice agreements that allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control. But as pharmacy students we can do more! Starting in early 2022, the map below shows where pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

As future pharmacists, we know that pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers (9 out of 10 Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy). Benefits that pharmaceuticals can offer women seeking hormonal contraceptives include accessibility, limiting barriers as well as reduced costs.

Here are three easy ways pharmacy students can advocate for pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives if their state has not yet passed legislation:

Research to see if any bills have been introduced in your state. If a bill hasn’t been introduced yet you can help advocate for one to get started or start one yourself!
Please contact policy makers and advocate for them to support enabling bills. You can also find your policy makers here:
Speak up and educate others by using your voice on social media like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Share why it’s important to you that pharmacists provide access to contraceptives. To help spread your message to a larger audience use hashtags such as #advocacy #pharmacystudents #birthcontrol #birthcontrolpharmacies

What if you currently live in a state that allows pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives, can you still have an effect? The answer is yes! Even if your state allows pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives you can still promote 3 ways you can help:

Check The Map of Birth Control Pharmacies to see if your pharmacy is listed. If your state allows pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives, encourage your pharmacist to fill out this form. This will help women find a pharmacy near them.

https://www.birthcontrolpharmacies.com/addpharmacy

Teach yourself by taking a free Birth Control Pharmacist home study course to learn how to provide contraceptive care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. It’s important to stay current on the ways you facilitate access to over-the-counter and prescription contraceptives.
Promote think of ways your pharmacy can promote contraceptive services. Maybe it’s by creating a private area for counseling or coming up with ideas on how you can promote birth control services at your pharmacy.

I was interested in learning more about pharmacists who prescribe hormonal contraceptives so I contacted Dr. Rafie who allowed me to complete a rotation with him at the Birth Control Pharmacist. I learned a lot about law and advocacy during my 4 weeks on rotation. I was even able to discuss upcoming legislation affecting pharmacists in South Carolina with the Dean of my school. Acting as a student is a great way to impact the future of pharmacy.

There are many ways pharmacy students can advocate for increased access to contraceptive services. As pharmacy students we have the power to advocate for legislation like Wilson Pace and make an impact. Whether it’s helping change an entire state’s contraception laws or helping a woman find a local pharmacy that provides contraceptive services, it’s important that we support everyone’s reproductive health and choices!