2022 -- S 2330

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LC004185

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Anderson, Mack, Calkin, Miller, Acosta, Valverde, Quezada,
and Kallman

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 5-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Pharmacies" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-19.1-36. Pharmacists -- Contraceptives -- Prescribing.

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     (a) In accordance with chapter 19.1 of title 5 and adopted by the state board of pharmacy,

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a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense all short-term, FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives.

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     (b) The state board of pharmacy shall adopt rules to establish, in consultation with the

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Rhode Island medical board, the Rhode Island state board of nursing and the Rhode Island

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department of health, and in consideration of guidelines established by the American College of

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Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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     (c) A pharmacist shall be required to:

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     (1) Complete a training program approved by the state board of pharmacy that is related to

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prescribing hormonal contraceptives. This training program shall include training on counseling on

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all methods of FDA-approved contraceptives, including those the pharmacist is not able to

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prescribe;

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     (2) Provide a self-screening risk assessment tool, based on the current version of the U.S.

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Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use developed by the Federal Centers for Disease

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Control and Prevention, that the patient must complete prior to the pharmacist's prescribing the

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hormonal contraceptive;

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     (3) Refer the patient to the patient's primary care practitioner or women's health care

 

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practitioner upon prescribing and dispensing the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered

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oral hormonal contraceptive;

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     (4) Provide the patient with a written record of the hormonal contraceptive prescribed and

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dispensed and advise the patient to consult with a primary care practitioner or women's health care

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practitioner; and

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     (5) Dispense the contraceptives to the patient as soon as practicable after the pharmacist

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issues the prescription.

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     (d) All state and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs,

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devices, products and services shall apply to contraceptives prescribed by a pharmacist under this

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section.

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     (e) Any individual health plan or group health plan and any health coverage through

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Medicaid or any equivalent state-sponsored Medicaid program shall cover hormonal contraceptives

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that are prescribed and dispensed by a pharmacist, including contraceptive counseling, if those

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contraceptives would otherwise be covered if prescribed by another type of health care provider.

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Contraceptives prescribed and dispensed pursuant to this section, including contraceptive

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counseling, shall be covered if provided by an out-of-network pharmacist.

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     (f) The Rhode Island state pharmacy board should track and report on accessibility and use,

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including the number and geographic locations of participating pharmacy stores; number of

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pharmacists that have successfully completed the training protocol; and whether contraceptives are

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adequately stocked in stores.

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     (g) Pharmacies should display signs in stores and on websites indicating on-site, behind-

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the-counter availability of contraceptives.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

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     This act would authorize a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptives,

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provided that the pharmacist has completed a training program approved by the state board of

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pharmacy.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004185

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