§ 5-19.1-36. Pharmacists — Contraceptives — Prescribing. [Effective January 1, 2024.]
(a) In accordance with this chapter and adopted by the state board of pharmacy, a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense all short-term, FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives.
(b) The state board of pharmacy shall adopt rules to establish, in consultation with the Rhode Island medical board, the Rhode Island state board of nursing, and the Rhode Island department of health, and in consideration of guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
(c) A pharmacist shall be required to:
(1) Complete educational training approved by the state board of pharmacy that is related to prescribing hormonal contraceptives. This training shall include training on counseling on all methods of FDA-approved contraceptives, including those the pharmacist is not able to prescribe;
(2) Provide a self-screening risk assessment tool, based on the current version of the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use developed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that the patient must complete prior to the pharmacist’s prescribing the hormonal contraceptive;
(3) Provide the patient with a written record of the hormonal contraceptive prescribed and dispensed and advise the patient to consult with a primary care practitioner or women’s healthcare practitioner;
(4) Notify the patient’s primary care provider that the pharmacist prescribed and/or dispensed a short-term, FDA-approved hormonal contraceptive. If the patient does not have a primary care provider, or refuses consent to notify the patient’s primary care provider, the pharmacist shall provide the patient a list of physicians, clinics, or other healthcare providers to contact regarding follow-up care; and
(5) Dispense the contraceptives to the patient as soon as practicable after the pharmacist issues the prescription.
(d) All state and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs, devices, products, and services shall apply to contraceptives prescribed by a pharmacist under this section; provided, however, an initial prescription issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be limited to up to a three-month (3) supply.
(e) Any individual health plan or group health plan and any health coverage through any commercial health plan shall cover hormonal contraceptives that are prescribed and dispensed by a pharmacist, including contraceptive counseling, if those contraceptives would otherwise be covered if prescribed by another type of healthcare provider.
(f) The Rhode Island state board of pharmacy should track and report on accessibility and use, including the number and geographic locations of participating pharmacy stores; and number of pharmacists that are eligible to prescribe.
(g) Pharmacies should display signs in stores and on websites indicating on-site, behind-the-counter availability of contraceptives.
History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 234, § 1, effective January 1, 2024.