The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle | Hormonal Contraceptives Authorized for Pharmacist Prescription in FY24 Budget
Story Originally Appeared in The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle
BOSTON — Last week, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), reconciling differences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and Senate earlier this year. The conference committee included in the final budget an amendment allowing pharmacists to evaluate patients and prescribe and dispense hormonal birth control, an initiative spearheaded by Senator Michael Moore and Representatives Christine Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa. Previously, patients seeking hormonal birth control could obtain it only with a prescription from their primary care provider or reproductive health care practitioner.
If signed into law by Governor Maura Healey, the policy within the FY24 budget will direct the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, the Board of Registration in Pharmacy, and the Division of Medical Assistance, and in consideration American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines, to develop procedures to allow trained pharmacists to evaluate patients and prescribe and dispense hormonal birth control pills and patches – no appointment necessary. Patients will not be required to have a previous prescription for hormonal birth control from a primary care provider or reproductive health care practitioner.
The amendment authorizing this policy change was introduced by Senator Michael Moore during May’s Senate FY24 budget debate and was adopted by senators through a unanimous vote.
“Hormonal birth control is one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent unplanned pregnancy and support family planning, but many women find this critical medication difficult to obtain here in Massachusetts. With the passage of the FY24 Budget, it will be easier than ever before to access this critical medication,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The passage of this amendment will allow local pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives when appropriate – something 27 states and D.C. already allow in some form. I am so grateful for the partnership of Representatives Lindsay Sabadosa and Christine Barber in getting this legislation to Governor Healey’s desk, as well as for the countless organizations and advocates that have tirelessly worked to bring awareness to this issue. We are taking a big step toward lowering barriers that prevent women from getting the birth control they need and addressing disparities in contraceptive access for those in historically underserved areas.”
“I am thrilled at the inclusion of access to hormonal contraception in the conference committee budget,” said Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville). Allowing pharmacists to prescribe hormonal birth control significantly increases access and further establishes MA as a haven for reproductive health care.”
“As some states restrict and diminish access to reproductive healthcare, I am proud that we are not only protecting but expanding access to hormonal birth control in the Commonwealth. Contraception is basic, necessary healthcare,” said Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton).
Legislation to expand access to hormonal contraceptives through pharmacies has been introduced previously by Senator Michael Moore (S.1430) and by Representatives Christine Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa (H.2133). Several advocacy organizations have also strongly supported this policy for several years, most notably including Reproductive Equity Now, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU of Massachusetts.
“As we navigate ongoing threats to reproductive health care, it’s never been more critical to protect and expand access to contraception in order to ensure every person has the autonomy to make decisions about if, when, and how they become a parent. By eliminating the need for a visit to a health care provider and allowing people to receive a prescription for birth control directly from their pharmacist, we will help increase access to contraception for those who face the greatest barriers to care,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “We are incredibly grateful to Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, Representative Christine Barber and Senator Michael Moore for their tireless work to get this legislation over the finish line, and to Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Chairmen Aaron Michlewitz and Michael Rodrigues for their continued commitment to reproductive equity and removing barriers to care in our Commonwealth.”
“The national erosion of reproductive rights and access to abortion has made improving access to contraception even more urgent,” said Sheila Ramirez, Director of Health Policy and Government Relations for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. “We’re so proud to see the Massachusetts legislature continue its commitment to reproductive rights and health care by investing even more money into reproductive health providers and family planning services, and by passing a measure to allow pharmacists to proscribe hormonal birth control. Thank you to Reps. Barber and Sabadosa for championing this amendment which further removes unnecessary barriers to birth control.”
The ACLU of Massachusetts added that “access to contraception empowers people to decide whether and when to become pregnant, determining their health and supporting their bodily autonomy. The ACLU is thrilled that the Legislature is taking another step to increase reproductive freedom.”
Patients who receive hormonal birth control through a pharmacist prescription will be referred to a primary care provider or reproductive health care practitioner for a follow-up appointment required during a yet-to-be-defined window of time. Pharmacists will be prohibited from prescribing and dispensing additional hormonal birth control if a patient has not had a clinical visit with a doctor during this period of time.
Having been passed in the House and the Senate, the FY24 budget now goes to Governor Maura Healey’s desk for further consideration. Governor Healey holds the power to exercise a line-item veto, allowing her the ability to strike specific policies from the budget.