ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the availability of pharmacist prescribing of hormonal contraception in rural areas of two states. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Overall, 42% of pharmacies prescribed contraception (Oregon: 46% and New Mexico 19%). A similar proportion of rural pharmacies reported offering pharmacist prescription of 37 contraception as urban locations (39% vs 46%, pâ¯=â¯0.26). Nearly 53% of rural and 45% of urban pharmacies report billing women, rather than insurance, directly for the cost of the pharmacist consultation. Over 80% of pharmacists in both rural and urban locations did not know if Medicaid covered the cost. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists in rural areas are as willing as their urban counterparts to prescribe hormonal contraception. Financial barriers remain a concern.