Behind the counter: A national look at access to and availability of Plan B OTC in pharmacies

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) August 2006 decision to make Plan B emergency contraception (EC) available without a prescription for consumers 18 and older has dramatically changed the landscape for EC access nationwide. While consumers age 18 and over (with proof of age) can obtain Plan B over the counter (OTC) without a prescription, women under 18 still require a prescription to obtain EC. Men age 18 and over can also purchase Plan B OTC. This policy change has impacted the pharmacy community, and enhances pharmacists' role in providing EC services and information, among other reproductive health services. Pharmacy Access Partnership spearheaded a collaborative research effort to identify pharmacists' experiences supplying Plan B in the new OTC environment. Following the FDA Plan B decision, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in all 50 states were invited to participate in an online survey to share experiences and perspectives on providing EC under the new FDA guidelines. The survey addressed pharmacists' attitudes toward providing EC to women, men, and teens; barriers to access; cost of Plan B; pharmacists' understanding of the EC mechanism of action; and pharmacists' interest in the pharmacy access model for EC and other types of hormonal contraception. Survey results inform recommendations to improve access and training efforts for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and students, to explore interest in a third-class of drugs, and to help set the policy agenda to improve future access to EC.