Utah Women Benefit from Accessible Birth Control with New Pharmacist Prescription Program
Utah women now have easier access to birth control, thanks to a recent change in state law that allows registered pharmacists to prescribe and dispense basic hormonal contraceptives directly to adult women. This means that women no longer need to schedule appointments with doctors or advanced practice providers to obtain a prescription. However, many women in Utah are not aware of this increased accessibility to birth control.
The new law applies to basic hormonal contraceptives that can be self-administered at home, such as contraceptive pills, patches, or vaginal rings. This change is especially beneficial for women who desire faster access to contraceptives or do not have a primary care or women’s health provider.
To further enhance access to these forms of birth control, Intermountain Health has introduced a new program that combines mailed prescription pharmacy services with telehealth. This program aims to provide women in Utah with increased access to basic hormonal contraceptives.
Dr. Sean Esplin, senior medical director for women’s health at Intermountain Health, emphasized the specialized knowledge and expertise of pharmacists. He stated, Pharmacists complete six years of education and have a wealth of specialized knowledge about medication and its various uses, management and dosing, as well as how medications can interact with each other. Dr. Esplin believes that routine birth control prescriptions and refills for low-risk women can be handled by pharmacists, as they are well-qualified resources for patients. However, regular check-ups with women’s health providers are still recommended, and proof of a check-up is required every two years when using pharmacist-prescribed birth control.
One of the additional benefits of pharmacists prescribing birth control is that it could free up appointments for women’s health specialists such as obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, and nurse practitioners who treat various women’s health concerns.
The Intermountain pharmacist telehealth program offers virtual visits at a cost of only $20. Following the virtual visit, once a patient is approved, the medication can be shipped directly to their doorstep. Some insurance plans also cover the telehealth evaluation and prescription costs.
Carrie Dunford, chief pharmacy officer for Intermountain Health, aims to improve healthcare access for patients at a lower cost through this new program, making care more convenient and ensuring timely access for women across the state.
This new service is specifically designed for adult women in Utah who are at low risk for complications. Interested individuals can fill out an online form about their medical history, after which a pharmacist will conduct a virtual telephone visit to discuss the prescription. If the pharmacist has any concerns about the patient’s health history, they will refer the patient to a doctor or advanced practice provider for further evaluation and treatment options. Most patients who utilize the telehealth program will only require an appointment with the pharmacist, after which the prescription will be mailed to them.
Intermountain Health pharmacists work closely with women’s health providers to facilitate access to care and ensure that all providers involved in a patient’s care remain informed by documenting the care in the medical record.
For more information on the new pharmacy program and to register, interested individuals can visit the program’s website or call 801-284-2500 to learn more about the Intermountain Health Telehealth Pharmacy Birth Control Program.
