Low-income women, minorities, women without health insurance, and even women with health insurance that cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs all have limited access to birth control.

2019 Wisconsin Assembly Bill 290 will allow pharmacists to prescribe, administer, and dispense contraceptives increasing women's access to birth control.  Women will not need to make an appointment to see a pharmacist and will not be required to show proof of a doctor's visit for three years from the original pharmacist prescription (A.B 290, 2019).  Women will simply be able to walk into a pharmacy, get a prescription for contraceptives, and walk out with contraceptives.

Tell your representatives that you support Wisconsin's 2019 Assembly Bill 290!

18 million women in the United States who choose to use contraceptives rely on public funds due to living with income 250% below the federal poverty line or are under the age of 20.  Unintended pregnancy and abortion rates are higher in the United States than most other developed countries.  Currently 49% of pregnancies are unintended.  In 2008, unintended pregnancies resulted in approximately $12.5 billion in government expenditures. In 2010, federal and state governments saved an estimated $7.6 billion because of contraceptive services provided at publicly funded centers (ACOG, 2015).

"The benefits of contraception, named as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are widely recognized and include improved health and well-being, reduced global maternal mortality, health benefits of pregnancy spacing for maternal and child health, female engagement in the work force, and economic self-sufficiency for women" (ACOG, 2015).

Bill 290 intends to increase access to contraceptives by permitting pharmacists to prescribe, administer, and dispense contraceptives.  It also intends to establish standard procedures and limitations for pharmacists when prescribing, administering, or dispensing contraceptives (A.B. 290, 2019).  This bill will increase access to contraceptives for women, granting them greater control of their own reproductive and family planning rights.

Currently, this bill includes removing the duty of pharmacists, stating they "may." Tell your legislators to maintain the title of “duty” within the current WI statute 450.095, outlining the expectations of pharmacists to dispense contraceptives. This policy is not intended to protect the right for a pharmacist to refuse to prescribe, administer, or dispense contraceptives based on personal beliefs or values.  It is intended to promote the rights of women to access contraceptive services. 

Sign this petition to show your support for 2019 Wisconsin Assembly Bill 290 and share your story to let Wisconsin Women's voices be heard.

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See the bill here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/related/proposals/ab290

Find your Wisconsin Legislator here: https://legis.wisconsin.gov

More information here: https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Health-Care-for-Underserved-Women/Access-to-Contraception?IsMobileSet=false

References:

A.B. 290, 2019-2020 Regular Session. (2019, June 13). Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved June 24, 2019, from https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/related/proposals/ab290 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2015). Access to contraception: Committee opinion number 615. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 125, 250-255.