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| Helping pharmacy & health communities improve access to Emergency Contraception (EC) |
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EC PHARMACY UPDATEIn January 2006, Representative David Miller (D) introduced legislation HB 4413, similar to bills that were introduced in the past 2 years that would allow pharmacists to dispense EC directly to women after completing specific training and under collaboration with a physician on health care service plan. In 2005, Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D) introduced legislation, HB 2535, allowing pharmacists to dispense EC directly to women. The bill requires pharmacists to work under a protocol with a physician and obtain special training. A mandated fact sheet, to be developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Illinois Pharmacists Association and other organizations, will also be required. View a fact sheet about HB 2535 (DOC-44K). A similar bill, HB 6577, was introduced in 2004, but failed although the bill was voted out of the House Health Care Availability and Access Committee. The Director of the Illinois Pharmacy Association testified in support of the bill at the committee hearing, stating that pharmacists were under no additional liability beyond what they have for filling prescriptions. IPhA brought Don Downing, pharmacist trainer from Washington to speak at their annual meeting on EC. In addition, IPhA will be forming a committee called the Illinois Health care Policy Coalition to address EC pharmacy access and other health care issues. Several key legislators will be involved as the committee seeks solutions to collaborative practice, issues related to smoking, immunizations and more. The Illinois Title X agency supports EC access in all state Title X clinics. A rural community opposed this access, and EC provision was made optional in this area. After a period of initial support, the Illinois Department of Public Health revised its position on EC and left it up to delegate agencies as to whether to provide EC. EC usage is tracked and is increasing in the state. In 2001, EC was given 5,262 times. In 2002, EC was given 8,991 times. One state-funded agency is distributing it prophylactically; the rest of the agencies are providing it on an as needed basis. To help make EC more accessible, Planned Parenthood nurses are available by phone to phone in prescriptions that can be filled at a local pharmacy. Contraceptive equity passed in the House and Senate. EC in the ER legislation (PDF-40K) also passed July 25, 2001. The political climate is favorable as of the 2003 election. Hospitals in the state are required to notify rape victims about the availability of EC, and a recent survey of hospitals showed that almost all had EC in stock. For press coverage in this state, click here. Please Note: This state has an optimal environment for EC protocols between pharmacists and physicians. To learn more click here.
CONTACTSJ. Michael Patton Jeffrey Maurus, MD, MPH Pam Sutherland
USEFUL LINKSIllinois Board of Pharmacy Illinois Pharmacists Association Illinois General Assembly Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois Illinois Department of Human Services Planned Parenthood Chicago Area Planned Parenthood Heart of Illinois Illinois Planned Parenthood Council
PROTOCOL ENVIRONMENTOptimal Environment: No Revision to Authority Necessary Existing statutes and regulations would accommodate pharmacists’ initiation of emergency contraception, generally under a collaborative practice agreement (protocol) with a prescriber. Statutory/regulatory authorization for a collaborative practice agreement does not require Board review/approval for new activity, but confirmation and/or approval from the Board of Pharmacy is recommended. Pharmacist initiation of EC requires would require development of a protocol and securing prescriber authorization.
PHARMACY PRACTICE ACTPharmacy Practice Act Regulatory and Statutory Authority Note: The text presented below has been prepared by the American Pharmacists Association for the Pharmacy Access Partnership and reflects legislation or regulation promulgated as of June 15, 2003. ILLINOIS Under a surprisingly short statutory passage with no implementing regulations, pharmacists in any practice setting may implement drug therapy management under a generalized authority provided through the statutory definitions of “practice of pharmacy” and “pharmaceutical care.” Pharmacy practice covers the delivery of pharmaceutical care in areas “which include, but are not limited to” --
“Pharmaceutical care,” in turn, is likewise broadly defined to “include, but is not limited to, the act of monitoring drug use and other patient care services intended to achieve outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life . . .” The pharmacist’s scope of practice is determined by the prescriber’s protocol without any statutory restrictions. The protocol provides authority to initiate therapy and administer the product. Statutory authority: Provided in the definitions of “practice of pharmacy” and “Pharmaceutical care,” 225 Ill Comp. Stat.85/3 Regulatory authority: N/A
ILLINOIS STATUTES Illinois Compiled Statutes (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2008) Sec. 3. Definitions. For the purpose of this Act, except where otherwise limited therein: …. (d) “Practice of pharmacy” means the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients as determined by the pharmacist's professional judgment in the following areas, which may include but are not limited to (1) patient counseling, (2) interpretation and assisting in the monitoring of appropriate drug use and prospective drug utilization review, (3) providing information on the therapeutic values, reactions, drug interactions, side effects, uses, selection of medications and medical devices, and outcome of drug therapy, (4) participation in drug selection, drug monitoring, drug utilization review, evaluation, administration, interpretation, application of pharmacokinetic and laboratory data to design safe and effective drug regimens, (5) drug research (clinical and scientific), and (6) compounding and dispensing of drugs and medical devices. … (t) “Pharmaceutical care” includes, but is not limited to, the act of monitoring drug use and other patient care services intended to achieve outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life but shall not include the sale of over-the-counter drugs by a seller of goods and services who does not dispense prescription drugs.
ILLINOIS REGULATIONS Not specifically addressed
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