Alaska State Medical Board Proposes Regulation To Require Women To Undergo Exam, Receive Prescription To Obtain EC

The Alaska State Medical Board - which is composed of gubernatorial appointees with the authority to write regulations into law -- has proposed a rewritten regulation that would require women to undergo a physical exam and receive a prescription from a doctor in order to obtain emergency contraception, the... Juneau Empire reports. Currently, women can purchase EC without a prescription after a 10- to 20-minute interview with a pharmacist. The current system operates under a "collaborative practice agreement," in which a woman must meet specific criteria determined by a pharmacist and a local physician. Under the proposed regulation, pharmacists likely would not have cooperative agreements with several physicians, leaving women with little choice of which doctor to see. Currently, EC costs about $40. However, the exam required under the proposed regulation would cost an additional $200. A public comment period on the regulation runs through Monday, according to the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Occupational Licensing. Alaska is one of eight states that allow pharmacists to dispense nonprescription EC, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse (Petty, Juneau Empire, 7/7).


Alaska State Medical Board


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