Availability of pharmacist prescription of contraception in rural areas of Oregon and New Mexico.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the availability of pharmacist prescribing of hormonal contraception in rural areas of two states.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

Overall, 42% of pharmacies prescribed contraception (Oregon: 46% and New Mexico 19%). A similar proportion of rural pharmacies reported offering pharmacist prescription of 37 contraception as urban locations (39% vs 46%, p = 0.26). Nearly 53% of rural and 45% of urban pharmacies report billing women, rather than insurance, directly for the cost of the pharmacist consultation. Over 80% of pharmacists in both rural and urban locations did not know if Medicaid covered the cost.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists in rural areas are as willing as their urban counterparts to prescribe hormonal contraception. Financial barriers remain a concern.