Six Things Policymakers Should Do To Make the Most of the FDA's Decision on Plan B®

On August 24, 2006, after more than three years of delay, the Food and Drug Administration finally agreed to allow women to purchase the emergency contraceptive pill Plan B® (also called the "morning-after" pill) without a prescription. Now, individuals age 18 and older can buy the medication directly from a pharmacy.

The decision is a big step forward for women's reproductive health and privacy - but in order to realize emergency contraception's full potential to prevent unintended pregnancy, policymakers need to take several additional steps:

1. Protect Women From Pharmacists Who Oppose Birth Control - Now that Plan B® is available directly from a pharmacy, it's more important than ever to ensure that rogue pharmacists aren't allowed to stand between women and their medications. In 2008 alone, 10 states considered measures that would have allowed pharmacists or pharmacies to refuse to fill women's birth-control prescriptions. That's why Congress must pass the Access to Birth Control Act - a bill that would ensure that a woman receives Plan B® and other forms of birth control without harassment, lectures, or delay. And if Congress fails to act, state legislatures and governors should take the lead - as Illinois did, when Gov. Rod Blagojevich wrote a statewide policy that ensures pharmacies provide women with the birth-control medication they need.

2. and 3. Inform Rape Survivors About EC - Each year, approximately 25,000 women in the United States become pregnant as a result of sexual assault - but unbelievably, many hospitals fail (or refuse) to discuss emergency contraception with patients. Even though the drug is now available without a prescription, hospitals must inform patients about the medication - otherwise women may not know about it, or won't be able to get it in time. Policymakers can, and should, take two actions to improve this situation.

• The Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act would ensure that sexual-assault survivors learn about EC in hospital emergency rooms and are provided the medication upon request. And if Congress refuses to act, state "EC in the ER" laws could accomplish the same goal. To date, 13 states have already taken action to make emergency contraception or information about the medication available in hospital emergency rooms.
  
• In 2004 the Bush Department of Justice published a book of guidelines for hospital personnel, advising them on how to care for sexual-assault survivors. Incredibly, the guidelines make no mention of emergency contraception. In response, pro-choice lawmakers introduced the Best Help for Rape Victims Act; it would correct the Bush administration's gross oversight by requiring the attorney general to include in the guidelines a recommendation that rape survivors should be informed about and offered EC as part of their medical treatment.

4. Educate Women and Doctors About EC - Even though Plan B® is available now without a prescription, a major hurdle remains to its use: too few women (and even doctors!) know what it is, how it works, and how to use it correctly. The Emergency Contraception Education Act would fund public-education campaigns, like other major public-health education efforts, to inform women and health-care professionals that this medication is available, safe, and effective at preventing pregnancy. Similarly, states could fund outreach programs to doctors, pharmacists, and women to increase their awareness about this underutilized medication.

5. Make EC Available To U.S. Servicewomen - The number of military women who suffer sexual assault while on duty is shocking. Most women stateside will be able to get EC over the counter now, but women and health-care providers alike report that it's not automatically available to servicewomen at overseas bases. Consequently, rape survivors - or servicewomen who simply need to back-up their regular birth-control method - cannot always obtain the medication in time. The Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act would ensure that military health-care facilities stock EC so the medication is available to servicewomen and military dependents as part of the regular drug formulary on every base.

6. Make Real Efforts to Prevent Teen Pregnancy - "Abstinence-only" programs have only contributed to the growing teen-pregnancy crisis. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Responsibility, and Opportunity Act is a good place to start addressing the problem: it would fund programs that educate teens about their risk of pregnancy, teach young people about the significant responsibilities that come with parenthood, keep them on track in school, and help parents discuss tough topics - like sex - with their kids. Similarly, states can and should fund effective teen-pregnancy prevention programs; the investment will pay off in lower teen-pregnancy rates, lower rates of sexually transmitted disease, fewer dropouts from school, and healthier families overall.