(California) Governor signs bill allowing women to obtain birth control without seeing a doctor

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AB 2348, the Access to Birth Control Bill, also would authorize RNs in community clinics to dispense hormonal birth control under a standardized procedure. Allowing RNs to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives like the pill, patch, ring and shot makes sense given the proven safety of birth control and its wide use throughout the world.

An essential component of comprehensive reproductive health care for women, hormonal contraceptives are among the safest and widely studied medications available today. Many leading medical institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), have developed evidence-based guidelines for use of hormonal contraceptives which are based on patient assessment, medical history, blood pressure, history of smoking and other basic elements that are well within the skills and training of RNs. These guidelines maintain that hormonal contraception can safely be provided and used by women without requiring a pelvic examination first, which can create barriers for women in need of birth control and add unnecessary costs to the health care system.

In addition, the standardized procedures mandated in AB 2348 will clearly specify requirements for education, training to competency, supervision, contraindications and a specific formulary and protocols for complex or high risk patients. The standardized procedure must be developed collaboratively by the nurses, physicians and community clinic administrators. Because of this interdisciplinary collaboration, there is accountability on several levels for the activities performed by RNs.