The bill amends Section 5-19.1-36 of the General Laws concerning pharmacies, specifically regarding the prescribing and dispensing of hormonal contraceptives by pharmacists. It allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense all short-term, FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives, while requiring them to complete specific educational training, provide a self-screening risk assessment tool, and notify the patient's primary care provider about the prescription. Additionally, the bill mandates that pharmacies display information about the availability of contraceptives and that the Rhode Island state board of pharmacy track and report on the accessibility and use of these services.

Significantly, the bill removes the previous limitation that initial prescriptions could only be for a three-month supply and changes the consultation requirements for the state board of pharmacy, which will now only consult with the Rhode Island Department of Health rather than the Rhode Island medical board and the Rhode Island state board of nursing. Furthermore, it ensures that health plans cover hormonal contraceptives prescribed by pharmacists, aligning them with coverage provided for prescriptions from other healthcare providers. The act will take effect upon passage.