Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain contraceptives in Michigan.

Highlights:

• Authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain contraceptives in Michigan to individuals regardless of age or evidence of previous contraception prescriptions, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• A hormonal contraceptive patch;

• A self-administered hormonal contraceptive;

• An emergency contraceptive; or

• A vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive.

• Requires the following standards and rules for administering contraception to be issued no later than 18 months after the passage of this bill, and prohibits pharmacists from authorizing prescriptions unless each standard is met, including (Sec. 1):

• Complete a training program that is approved by the board for issuing a prescription for a hormonal contraceptive patch, a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, an emergency contraceptive, or a vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive;

• Provide the self-screening risk assessment tool to an individual before issuing a prescription for a hormonal contraceptive patch, a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, an emergency contraceptive, or a vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive to the individual;

• Upon issuing a prescription for the hormonal contraceptive patch self-administered hormonal contraceptive, emergency contraceptive, or vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive to an individual, refer them to the individual's primary care physician, or if the individual does not have a primary care physician, to another licensed health professional that the pharmacist considers appropriate;

• Provide an individual with a written record of the hormonal contraceptive patch, self-administered hormonal contraceptive, emergency contraceptive, or vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive for which the individual is issued the prescription and advise the individual to consult with a physician or other licensed health professional;

• If an individual has not had a physical examination in the previous 12 months, refer the individual to the individual's primary care provider for a physical examination after issuing a prescription for the hormonal contraceptive patch, self-administered hormonal contraceptive, emergency contraceptive, or vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive to the individual; and

• Dispense the hormonal contraceptive patch, self-administered hormonal contraceptive, emergency contraceptive, or vaginal ring hormonal contraceptive to an individual as soon as practicable after issuing or transmitting the prescription to another pharmacy of the individual's choice if authorized.

• Defines "Emergency contraceptive" in this bill to mean a drug approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy as soon as possible following unprotected sexual intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (Sec. 1).

• Defines "Hormonal contraceptive patch" to mean a transdermal patch applied to the skin of an individual that releases a drug composed of a combination of hormones that is approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy (Sec. 1).

• Defines “Self-administered hormonal contraceptive” as a drug composed of a single hormone or combination of hormones that are approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy and that the individual to whom the drug is prescribed may take orally, inject, or otherwise self-administer (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall not take effect until passage and approval by the Governor and until H.B 5435 is passed and signed into law as well (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text