Emergency Contraception

PHARMACY ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (EC)

Washington explicity allows pharmacists to provide emergency contraception (EC) directly to women without a prescription.  A pharmacist may dispense EC to a woman under written guidelines or protocols established and approved by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs.

Wash. Admin. Code § 246-863-100; Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 18.64.011 (Enacted 1963; Last Amended 1997).

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (EC) FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS

Washington law ensures that sexual assault victims receive access to emergency contraception (EC) in hospital emergency rooms.  As part of the minimum standards for the examination and treatment of a sexual assault victim, a physician or other health care provider must provide a sexual assault victim with medically and factually accurate information about EC, offer her EC, and dispense EC to her upon request.

The Secretary of Health, in collaboration with sexual assault programs and other relevant entities, must develop, prepare, and produce informational materials about EC for distribution to and use in all hospital emergency rooms in the state. The Secretary may also approve such materials from other sources.

Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 70.41.020, .350, .360 (Enacted 2002).

MEDICAID COVERAGE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (EC)

Washington provides Medicaid coverage of emergency contraception without a prescription.

NARAL Pro-Choice America Survey of State Medicaid Offices