Implementing Pharmacist Prescribing Programs for Female Contraceptives

With a staggering 65% of women ages 15 to 49 using contraceptives, rapidly changing brand names, and varying adverse effects, contraceptive dispensing requires plenty of pharmacist attention.¹ In addition, the FDA approved OPill as an oral OTC contraceptive in July 2023, altering the landscape of pharmacist involvement in pregnancy prevention.² Now, further changes to pharmacist responsibilities include contraceptive prescribing, currently allowed in more than half of the United States.³ Monitoring OTC sales, dispensing contraceptives, and prescribing birth controls drives a need in policy changes to adapt to increases in pharmacist workload.

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In March 2024, researchers published interviews from 5 pharmacists who adopted successful contraceptive prescribing services in their independent, chain, or health system pharmacies. Although most pharmacists in the United States can prescribe contraceptives, researchers believe that many pharmacists cannot sustain successful and efficient services. Challenges include financial justification and lack of resources.⁴

The interviewees also described solutions to overcoming challenges of developing contraceptive prescribing systems. Researchers learned that implementing policies and procedures to integrate contraceptive prescribing into regular workflow prevents interruption to daily tasks. Other clinical services, such as immunizations or point-of-care testing that pharmacies already provide, act as guides for creating these new policies. For example, using online appointment scheduling allows pharmacists to optimally manage time, make visits more efficient, and maintains documentation for future follow-up.⁴

Other keys to sustaining a proper program are incorporating pharmacy technicians and pharmacy staff. Pharmacy technicians alleviate administrative burden on pharmacists by handling and distributing intake paperwork and forms. Additionally, technicians who conduct follow-up phone calls will ensure that patients are achieving positive clinical outcomes with minimal adverse effects. If a patient requires a treatment change, technicians will document the conversation and pass them to the pharmacist for assessment. Streamlining patient visits with pharmacy staff will save time for the pharmacist and the patient.⁴

Along with integrating new policies and other pharmacy staff, marketing clinical services to the community is vital. With innovations in social media, informing the community about health care services is easier than ever. To target individuals in the birth control demographic (women between ages 15 and 49) and increase awareness, pharmacies can notify local women's health organizations and other public health organizations about their initiatives and services.⁴

Investigators said the 5 interviewees can act as a reference for implementing and sustaining new contraceptive prescribing programs. By integrating services into daily workflow, incorporating pharmacy staff, and marketing the program to target demographics, pharmacist prescribing services become more viable.⁴

References

1. Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15–49: United States, 2017–2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 2020. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db388-H.pdf

2. FDA Approves First Nonprescription Daily Oral Contraceptive. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 13, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-daily-oral-contraceptive

3. Pharmacist Prescribing: Hormonal Contraceptives. National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. September 1, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://naspa.us/blog/resource/contraceptives/

4. Campi J, Rafie S, Newlon J, Meredith A. Implementation of pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services: A case series of early adopters. April 20, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japhpi.2024.100011