Training Program Allowing Pharmacists To Prescribe Birth Control Now Available; Vending Machines Offering Plan B, Other Over-The-Counter Drugs Also Now Available

HARTFORD, CT - Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli today announced that a training program for licensed pharmacists who want to be able to prescribe contraception directly to customers is now available in Connecticut. In addition, they announced today that the state’s first vending machines providing access to emergency contraception and other over-the-counter medications are also now available in Connecticut.

The training program, developed by the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, received final approval this week from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The continuing education program is expected to take four hours to complete and is optional for all pharmacists. There are 671 licensed pharmacies and more than 6,500 licensed pharmacists in the state who are eligible to complete the course and begin offering this service.

“This is just one of the many ways we’re working to expand access to contraception and other important medications in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “Pharmacists have continued to play a growing role in our healthcare system, from administering vaccines to dispensing Narcan and other lifesaving medications, and now prescribing birth control. They are a critical part of the healthcare network.”

“There can be many barriers to going to a primary care provider for contraception – potential costs, needing to take time off work, or traveling long distances. That is why both patients and pharmacists overwhelmingly offered their support for this change,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Everyone should have safe and reliable access to contraceptives. Governor Lamont and I remain committed to ensuring that our state continues to be the best place for women and that every patient in Connecticut has access to the care they need.”

“Many people interact with their pharmacists more often than their doctors throughout the year, providing a critical resource for patients in every corner of our state,” Commissioner Cafferelli said. “Pharmacies are everywhere, from CVS and Walgreens to the independent pharmacies down the road, to the pharmacies in major retailers like Stop and Shop and Walmart, and they play a critical role in removing barriers to accessing safe and effective medication.”

“Allowing pharmacists to both prescribe and dispense hormonal birth control could help mitigate barriers and expand access to contraception for the citizens of our state,” UConn School of Pharmacy Dean Philip Hritcko said.

“The ability for pharmacists to directly prescribe hormonal and emergency contraception is a critical step forward in expanding access to essential healthcare,” Nathan Tinker, CEO of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association, said. “In Connecticut, this means that there could potentially be some 600 new points of access across the state for this important service. The Connecticut Pharmacists Association thanks Governor Lamont’s administration and the Department of Consumer Protection for recognizing that pharmacists are in a unique position to provide timely, convenient, and patient-centered care.”

“Access to contraceptives gives people the ability to control their own reproductive destinies and make personal decisions regarding if, when, or how to start their families,” Liz Gustafson, Connecticut state director of Reproductive Equity Now, said. “By eliminating the need for a visit to a healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for birth control and allowing people to receive the prescription directly from their local pharmacy, pharmacist prescribing will help increase access to contraception for those who face the greatest barriers to care. We’re also thrilled to see the first emergency contraception vending machine in Connecticut installed at UConn Storrs, and commend Dr. Smith, medical director of student health and wellness and his colleagues, for their work to bring this to fruition. As national attacks on birth control escalate, we must find every opportunity to protect and expand reproductive freedom, and this pharmacist training program and expanded access to emergency contraception are critically important steps.”

Pharmacists who want to prescribe contraception can register for the on-demand training program by visiting the UConn School of Pharmacy website. The cost to pharmacists is $40 for registration. Once a pharmacist completes the training, they will be able to prescribe contraception. The course counts toward the 15 hours of annual continuing education required for pharmacists.

Patients who are prescribed birth control by a pharmacist are advised to consult with a primary care or other physician for a follow-up consultation after receiving a prescription from a pharmacist, but a follow up appointment is not required.

Pharmacists who have questions can contact the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection via email at [email protected].