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July 19, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 21 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? too much junk? CLEAN OUT THAT GARAGE List your items in Desert Messenger CLASSIFIEDS Email Editor@DesertMessenger.com or CALL RAIN @ 928-916-4235 Access to birth control improves in Arizona Improving access to birth control for Arizona patients: Making contraceptives available without a prescription at your local pharmacy Celia Nabor, Assistant Director for Prevention Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) - Earlier this month, rules were approved to allow Arizona pa- tients 18 years old and older to ac- cess contraceptives at their local pharmacy without a doctor's pre- scription. A standing order allows pharmacists to provide patients with needed birth control including hor- monal contraceptive patches, vagi- nal rings, and oral contraceptives. Arizona joins more than 20 oth- er states that have implemented statutes or regulations allowing li- censed and trained pharmacists to dispense United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ap- proved self-administered hormonal contraceptives to patients without an individualized prescription. During the 2021 Legislative Ses- sion, Senate Bill 1082 was passed into law and signed by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. The Board of Pharmacy proposed rules just approved by the Governor's Regula- tory Review Council to guide imple- mentation of the program through- out Arizona. ADHS has issued a statewide stand- ing order for self-administered hor- monal birth control to aid imple- mentation of the statute, enabling patients to visit pharmacies in their community to obtain the contracep- tives, a critical factor for expanding access and services. This order was written with the collaborative input of the Arizona section of American College of Obstetricians and Gy- necologists, the Arizona Board of Pharmacy and the Arizona Pharma- cy Association. Expansion of access to contracep- tion is in line with the Healthy Peo- ple 2030 objectives related to pre- venting unintended pregnancy and increasing contraceptive use. The ADHS Standing Order (Order) goes into effect immediately. How- ever, implementing this new statute may take some time for pharma- cies and their staff, and they are not required to participate. Mem- bers of the public can call ahead to their pharmacy to confi rm they will be able to have their contraceptive dispensed at that location. Of note under the statute, other licensed prescribers may issue a standing prescription drug order authoriz- ing pharmacists to dispense self- administered hormonal contra- ceptives without a patient-specifi c prescription. Members of the public who have questions can contact the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. Contraceptive dispensing process Patients seeking to leverage the Order will be required to complete a nationally-recognized screening tool prior to a pharmacist dispens- ing hormonal contraception and to have their blood pressure mea- sured. Patients are fi nancially re- sponsible for the service and may provide proof of insurance or out- of-pocket payment. • Determine patient eligibility – The pharmacist shall determine that the patient is 18 years old or older. Patients who are pregnant or under the age of 18 are not eligible to receive hormonal contraceptives under the Order. • Use a nationally recognized self- screening risk assessment – The patient is required to complete a questionnaire including health in- formation and attestation of their request for contraception during their initial request and annually thereafter. • Obtain information about health and medication history – The phar- macist will identify any clinical fac- tors that would make dispensing hormonal contraception without medical supervision unsafe for the patient. If the questionnaire indi- cates the patient's preferred method is unsafe without medical supervi- sion, the medication will not be dis- pensed. Patients will be referred to a physician or other applicable health provider for additional care or guid- ance on contraceptive methods. • Measure blood pressure – The pharmacist or technician will mea- sure the patient's blood pressure to ensure safe dispensing of a hor- monal contraceptive. • Determine type of FDA-approved self-administered hormonal contra- ceptive to dispense – The pharma- cist will take into account the Stan- dard Procedures Algorithm in the Order and the patient's preference to determine the appropriate self- administered hormonal contracep- tive to dispense. To review ADHS' Standing Order for Self-Administered Hormonal Contraception and Title V Repro- ductive Health/Family Planning Services visit ADHS' website at www.azdhs.gov

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