Tenn. Senate OKs allowing druggists to prescribe The Pill

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee state Senate approved a bill Wednesday to provide easier access to birth control by allowing women 18 or older to obtain contraceptives directly from pharmacists.

Women seeking birth control in Tennessee and most other states have to obtain a prescription from a physician. But if state Senate Bill 1677 becomes law, a woman could obtain a prescription by going directly to a pharmacist who meets provisions outlined in a a bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Dickerson, a Nashville Republican.

Pharmacists in California and Oregon already are allowed to sell birth-control pills and patches to women who don't have a doctor's order because of legislation passed in those states last year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Legislators in Hawaii, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington also are considering bills this year on the topic.

In Tennessee, state Sen. Ferrell Haile, a Republican from Gallatin who is a pharmacist, pointed out that not every pharmacist would be able to write prescriptions for birth control if SB1677 were to become law. The House version of the bill was referred to a committee in January and has not been scheduled for discussion.

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Druggists interested in prescribing hormonal contraceptives would have to enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician, who would oversee a series of protocols for the pharmacist. Any pharmacist or a pharmacy would be allowed to charge an annual fee for providing services to women.

While explaining the need for the bill, Dickerson, who is a physician, said about half of all pregnancies are either unintended or mistimed. He pointed out that several medical organizations, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, support efforts to provide easier access to birth control.

"The science is very strongly behind this," he said.

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Because pharmacists still would need to write a prescription for a woman to obtain birth control, Dickerson said health insurance would cover the purchase.

After hearing some opposition from three Republicans, the chamber approved the legislation 24-4 vote. Five senators did not vote.

Sen. Joey Hensley, a Republican from Hohenwald, said women should have to undergo physical exams before obtaining contraception, adding that he worried about the varying degrees of strength for different products.

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"I really don't know how a pharmacist is going to determine what strength that woman needs and require that that woman does have follow up," he said. "I just think this is a bad precedent. It's not like flu shots."

Sen. Mae Beavers, a Mount Juliet Republican, said she worried about the risks of breast cancer from hormonal birth-control methods. Dickerson did not agree with her concerns and called his measure a more conservative approach than what has been done in other states.

"I think Senator Dickerson and I share a priority to make sure that there is expanded access to birth control," said Sen. Lee Harris, a Memphis Democrat.

Follow Joel Ebert on Twitter: @joelebert29