Maryland Regulation|Section 10.34.40.03 - Requirements to Prescribe Contraceptives

                                                
 10.34.40.03. Requirements to Prescribe Contraceptives 
 
A. Board Responsibilities. The Board shall develop and adopt the following items, in consultation with stakeholders to be determined by the Board: 
 
(1) A self-screening risk assessment questionnaire that a patient shall complete before a pharmacist may prescribe contraceptives for a patient;
 
(2) A standard procedure contraceptive algorithm which the pharmacist shall use to perform a patient assessment for purposes of determining: 
 
(a) Whether to prescribe contraceptives; and
 
(b) Which contraceptive options to prescribe;
 
(3) A notification form to be submitted by a pharmacist before prescribing contraceptives; and
 
(4) Other forms and procedures for: 
 
(a) The prescription of contraceptives; and
 
(b) Referral to a primary care or reproductive health care practitioner for treatment.
 
B. Notification. 
 
(1) Except as provided in §B(2) of this regulation, at least 15 days before prescribing contraceptives, a pharmacist shall submit to the Board a notification form, which includes an attestation of completion of a Board-approved training program.
 
(2) A pharmacist who has undergone training for prescribing contraceptives as part of the pharmacist's formal educational program:
 
(a) Is exempt from completing a Board-approved training program; and
 
(b) At least 15 days before prescribing contraceptives, shall submit to the Board a notification form, which includes an attestation of the pharmacist's formal education program.
 
(3) A pharmacist may not prescribe contraceptives until the pharmacist receives a written confirmation from the Board accepting the pharmacist's notification form.
 
C. Pharmacist Responsibilities. 
 
(1) For each new patient requesting contraceptive services, and at a minimum of every 12 months for each returning patient, a participating pharmacist shall:
 
(a) Obtain the completed Board-approved self-screening risk assessment questionnaire from the patient; and
 
(b) Utilize and follow the Board-approved standard procedure contraceptive algorithm to: 
 
(i) Perform the patient assessment;
 
(ii) Determine whether to prescribe contraceptives; and 
 
(iii) Determine which contraceptive options to prescribe.
 
(2) Upon completion of all requirements established by the Board and after review of all relevant information, a pharmacist may prescribe contraceptives, if deemed clinically appropriate.
 
(3) If contraceptives are prescribed, the pharmacist shall:
 
(a) Refer the patient:
 
(i) For additional care to their primary care practitioner or reproductive health care practitioner; or
 
(ii) If the patient does not have a primary care practitioner or a reproductive health care practitioner, to a family planning provider or a licensed clinician who provides reproductive health care services;
 
(b) Provide the patient with a visit summary; and
 
(c) Document the encounter and maintain records pursuant to Regulation .05 of this chapter.
 
(4) Upon completion of all requirements established by the Board and after review of all relevant information, if the pharmacist does not prescribe contraceptives, the pharmacist will provide a visit summary to the patient which provides the basis for the decision not to prescribe contraceptives.
 
(5) A pharmacist may not prescribe contraceptives before January 1, 2019.
 (Regulation .03 adopted effective 45:13 Md. R. 668, eff. 7/2/2018)