Contraceptives.

Assembly Member Boerner's contraceptive access legislation expands pharmacists' authority to furnish both hormonal and FDA-approved nonhormonal contraceptives under standardized protocols developed jointly by the California State Board of Pharmacy and Medical Board of California. The measure modifies existing self-screening procedures to encompass all contraceptive types while maintaining requirements for patient risk assessment and consultation with medical organizations.

The bill authorizes pharmacists to dispense up to 12 months of contraceptives at a patient's request, removing previous supply limitations. For each contraceptive provided, pharmacists must furnish recipients with a standardized fact sheet containing usage guidelines, contraindications, and follow-up care information developed in consultation with the State Department of Public Health and professional medical associations. The legislation also eliminates existing consultation fee restrictions and price disclosure requirements for emergency contraception that becomes available over-the-counter.

Healthcare practitioners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses, retain their existing authority to prescribe contraceptives using patient self-screening tools that collect health information such as blood pressure, weight, and medical history. The boards maintain enforcement authority over their respective licensees, while standardized protocols require pharmacists to refer patients to primary care providers or nearby clinics when contraceptive use is not recommended based on screening results.