Global Courant 2023-05-03 05:53:18
New Yorkers won’t have to visit their doctor next year to get prescription contraceptives under a law Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law Tuesday as part of her administration’s effort to expand reproductive rights in the state.
Under the law that goes into effect in November 2024, trained pharmacists will be able to distribute self-administering hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptive pills, vaginal rings and the patch, to New Yorkers even if patients don’t have a prescription from their doctor. doctor or nurse specialist.
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The legislation is “part of a long journey to find more ways to protect the rights of women in New York State,” Hochul said. “We’re going to do everything we can to stop the decline while expanding reproductive rights here in our state.”
Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Tuesday allowing pharmacists to dispense prescription contraceptives. (AP Photo/Maysoon Khan)
Under the law, doctors and nurse specialists can send pharmacists prescriptions for such contraceptives that do not list the names of specific patients. After a patient completes a self-screening risk assessment questionnaire to help a pharmacist identify any risk factors and choose an appropriate contraceptive, the pharmacist enters the patient’s name on the relevant prescription.
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Indiana this week passed a law similar to New York’s. Oregon was the first state to allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control in 2016.
Under New York law, pharmacists will be required to undergo training that will be outlined by the state’s health commissioner. After dispensing the contraceptives, they should inform the patient’s GP, if the patient has one. Pharmacists are also allowed to refuse to provide contraception if they believe it will endanger a patient’s health.
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Hochul also signed a second bill that would require State University of New York and City University of New York schools to provide on-campus access to abortion medication or to refer students to someone who can prescribe such medication.
