DC law will let women get birth control without doctor's visit

In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law on January 31 a bill to give women access to birth control prescriptions at pharmacies. Insurers will be required to pay for contraceptives under the law, and pharmacists could start prescribing up to a 12-month supply of contraceptives to eligible patients as early as October. Women would be required to use a self-screening tool developed by the DC Board of Pharmacy to identify risk factors such as high blood pressure so pharmacists can determine if prescribing contraceptives would be safe. Patients facing serious risks will be referred to their primary care doctor or a nearby clinic. Not every pharmacist would be automatically eligible to prescribe contraceptives; however, every local pharmacy will be required to publicize in stores and online when women could come see a pharmacist licensed to prescribe contraception. As with every law in DC, Congress has an opportunity to review the legislation within 30 days.