Lawmakers, Medical Professionals Discuss Bill to Expand Birth Control Access

Each pharmacists and medical doctors stated they help expanded entry to contraception, assuming correct security measures in place.

“Not simply willy-nilly, don’t simply run in and go, ‘woo, I must have some contraception,’ no, no no, do it the correct method, however this can be a actually nice different to having to attend,” stated Christine Keenan of Groton.

Keenan is speaking a couple of new invoice transferring via the state legislature, proposed by State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich) and State Sen. Heather Somers (R-Groton) that may enable pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraception.

“I’m completely for that,” Keenan stated.

On Monday, lawmakers gathered in Groton to stipulate the invoice’s plan.

“Permitting pharmacists to dispense contraception is essential to ladies’s well being,” Somers stated. “It will increase accessibility, affordability, and high quality care for girls.”

If handed, educated pharmacists would be capable of prescribe and dispense hormonal contraception in capsule, patch or ring kind.

“To broaden entry to healthcare is a good suggestion, however we now have to do it in a significant and secure method,” stated Dr. Craig McKnight, obstetrician-gynecologist in Connecticut.

Pharmacists must perform a well being evaluation with the affected person earlier than shelling out the product.

“We’re actually on the entrance strains of healthcare care, and we achieve this far more than merely fill prescriptions. We’re extremely educated and educated healthcare professionals and we are able to and can present a broad spectrum of providers,” stated CVS pharmacist Janet Mattiucci.

Pharmacists would even be required to report the prescription to the girl’s main care doctor.

“There could be a longtime screening that pharmacists would undergo to ensure, taking a look at whether or not the individual smokes, what their historical past is, and so on.,” Somers stated.

McKnight stated understanding medical historical past is vital in a secure growth of entry, however added there’s no substitute for an annual check-up.

“We’ve got to ensure that we nonetheless do for these folks all these issues that we do after we prescribe it within the workplace,” McKnight stated.

Fazio stated this follow is presently allowed in 21 states, plus Washington D.C., and that the invoice has bipartisan help inside the state.

The invoice is anticipated to obtain a public listening to in entrance of the legislature’s Committee on Public Well being within the coming weeks.