Birth control can be sold over the counter now in NJ, but not all pharmacies are prepared
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Pharmacists in New Jersey can begin giving birth control pills, patches, rings and injectable contraceptives without a prescription, marking a major shift in women's health care, state officials announced.
But most pharmacists are not able to do so right away.
Under new rules that were adopted by regulators Monday, pharmacists must first complete a four-hour training program before they are allowed to give "self-administered hormonal contraceptives" to patients.
After the Board of Pharmacy voted at its April meeting to adopt the proposed rule, all pharmacists were notified about how to participate, including a link to accredited training, said Lisa Coryell, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Consumer Affairs.
"At this time, at least five pharmacists have submitted documentation of training and a list of participating pharmacy locations will be shared once available," she said in a statement.
"Today marks an important step forward in our efforts to expand access to reproductive health care as we make birth control more accessible across the state," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.
Birth control pills and other hormonal devices have long required a prescription from a doctor or other health care provider. New Jersey joins a growing list of states that have begun to bypass a prescription including New York, which made the change in March.
The change has been a long time coming. Murphy signed legislation in January 2023 to remove the prescription requirement. Then came more than a year of rule-making and other procedural steps by the state Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy.
Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston said the change will expand access to birth control and provide "broader, more equitable access while putting in place the necessary safeguards that protect patient health, safety and privacy."
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Over the counter birth control arrives in NJ, but there's a catch
