Emergency Contraception: An Update for Pharmacists

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Table 1. State EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION POLICIES
STATE EXPANDING ACCESS RESTRICTING ACCESS
EMERGENCY ROOMS REQUIRED TO: PHARMACIST MAY DISPENSE EC WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION UNDER: MUST FILL VALID PRESCRIPTIONS STATE LAW EXCLUDES EC FROM: STATE LAW ALLOWS REFUSAL TO DISPENSE EC BY: REQUIRES PRESCRIPTION
Provide information About EC Dispense EC upon Request Collaborative Practice Agreement State- Approved Protocol Pharmacy Pharmacist Medicaid Family Planning Expansion Contraceptive Coverage Mandate Pharmacist Pharmacy 16 and Younger
Arizona                 X X  
Arkansas X             X X †  
California X X X X   X          
Colorado X               † †  
Connecticut X‡ X‡                  
District of Columbia X X                  
Florida                 †    
Georgia                 X    
Hawaii X X X                
Idaho                 X    
Illinois X       X       † X  
Maine       X         † †  
Massachusetts X X X                
Minnesota X X                  
Mississippi                 X X  
New Hampshire     X                
New Jersey X X     X            
New Mexico X X   X              
New York X X                  
North Carolina               X      
Ohio Ω Ω                  
Oklahoma                     ▼
Oregon X X                  
Pennsylvania X Ψ                  
South Carolina   X                  
South Dakota                 X    
Tennessee                 † †  
Texas X           X        
Utah X X                  
Washington X X X   X            
Wisconsin X X     X            
TOTAL 17+DC 13+DC 6 3 4 1 1 2 6 3  

▼ Permanently enjoined; law not in effect.
*  Pharmacists may dispense any prescription drug, including emergency contraception.
†  A broadly worded refusal policy may apply to pharmacists or pharmacies, but does not specifically include them.
‡  A hospital may contract with an independent medical professional in order to provide the emergency contraception services.
Φ The law explicitly excludes emergency contraception in Texas.
Ω Policy does not include an enforcement mechanism.
Ψ A hospital may refuse based on religious or moral beliefs to provide emergency contraception when requested by a woman who has been sexually assaulted. However, a refusing hospital is then required to immediately transport the woman to the closest medical facility that will provide her with the medication.

Abbreviation used: DC = District of Columbia; EC = emergency contraception