Session: Birth Control at the Drug store: Behind the Counter, on the Shelves, and at the Cash Register. What are Women's Experiences?


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4166.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Oral

Birth Control at the Drug store: Behind the Counter, on the Shelves, and at the Cash Register. What are Women's Experiences?

Over-the-counter access to emergency contraception has become a rallying cry for many in family planning and the women's rights community. This perspective has intensified as the FDA's committee appointments and delaying tactics appear to be influenced by a political agenda rather than the scientific merits of the shift from prescription to non-prescription status. Political attacks by anti-choice and pro-abstinence forces, however, have clouded the fact that a comprehensive examination of all the implications of over-the-counter and other forms of expanded access is badly needed. This session will include presentations from four leaders in the reproductive health community examining various issues related to expanded access to emergency contraception and other hormonal contraceptives.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, the participant will be able to (1) describe multiple possible barriers to access, including but not limited to prescription status; (2) learn the barriers that Medicaid recipients face when attempting to access emergency contraception; (3) identify elements of cultural competency relevant to pharmacy access to emergency contraception; and (4) describe regulatory requirements for non-prescription status.

Moderator(s):

Cynthia Pearson

12:30 PM

Accessing emergency contraception through Medicaid: Existing barriers and future prospects