Existing law requires a pharmacist to dispense up to a 12-month supply or an amount equivalent to the balance of the plan year if the patient is covered by a health care plan, whichever is less, of a contraceptive or its therapeutic equivalent pursuant to a valid prescription or order if certain conditions are met. (NRS 639.28075) Section 2.5 of this bill requires the State Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations that establish a protocol to allow a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive to any patient. Section 3 of this bill authorizes a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under the protocol established pursuant to section 2.5 and establishes the procedures the pharmacist must follow to dispense such a contraceptive. Section 3 requires such a pharmacist to: (1) provide a risk assessment questionnaire prescribed by the Board pursuant to section 2.5 to the patient before the pharmacist dispenses the self-administered hormonal contraceptive; (2) create a record concerning the dispensing of the self-administered hormonal contraceptive; (3) provide the patient with a written record of the request and the self-administered hormonal contraceptive dispensed and certain additional information; and (4) comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to section 2.5 and any guidelines recommended by the manufacturer. Section 3 requires the Board to post on an Internet website a list of pharmacies that dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives under the protocol established pursuant to section 2.5. Section 8.5 of this bill makes a conforming change to account for the provisions of sections 2.5 and 3 authorizing a pharmacist to dispense a drug that has not been prescribed by a practitioner. Existing law defines the term “practice of pharmacy” for the purpose of determining which activities require a person to be registered and regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacist. (NRS 639.0124) Section 5 of this bill provides that the practice of pharmacy includes the dispensing of self-administered hormonal contraceptives by a pharmacist in accordance with section 3 and, thus, requires persons engaged in the dispensing of such contraceptives to be registered and regulated as pharmacists. Existing law authorizes the State Board of Pharmacy to suspend or revoke any certificate to practice as a registered pharmacist if the holder of or applicant for such a certificate commits certain acts. (NRS 639.210) Section 6 of this bill authorizes the Board to suspend or revoke any certificate to practice as a registered pharmacist if the holder or applicant has dispensed a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under the protocol established pursuant to section 2.5 without complying with the provisions of section 3. Existing law requires public and private policies of insurance regulated under Nevada law to include coverage for certain contraceptive drugs and devices, including: (1) up to a 12-month supply of contraceptives; and (2) certain devices for contraception. (NRS 287.010, 287.04335, 689A.0418, 689B.0378, 689C.1676, 695A.1865, 695B.1919, 695C.1696, 695G.1715) Existing law also requires employers to provide certain benefits to employees, including the coverage required for health insurers, if the employer provides health benefits for its employees. (NRS 608.1555) Sections 7 and 9-15 of this bill require that certain public and private policies of insurance and health care plans provide coverage for self-administered hormonal contraceptives dispensed by a pharmacist in accordance with section 3.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 639.001, 639.0124, 639.210, 422.27172, 689A.0418, 689B.0378, 689C.1676, 695A.1865, 695B.1919, 695C.1696, 695G.1715
Reprint 1: 639.001, 639.0124, 639.210, 422.27172, 689A.0418, 689B.0378, 689C.1676, 695A.1865, 695B.1919, 695C.1696, 695G.1715
Reprint 2: 639.001, 639.0124, 639.210, 422.27172, 683A.179, 689A.0418, 689B.0378, 689C.1676, 695A.1865, 695B.1919, 695C.1696, 695G.1715
As Enrolled: 639.001, 639.0124, 639.210, 422.27172, 683A.179, 689A.0418, 689B.0378, 689C.1676, 695A.1865, 695B.1919, 695C.1696, 695G.1715