Stambaugh bill to help Washingtonians seek health care options at local pharmacies passes House
Building on her efforts two years ago to help women gain better access to pharmacy-prescribed birth control, Rep. Melanie Stambaugh, R-Puyallup, has introduced a bill aimed at helping Washingtonians seek out and receive care at their local pharmacies.
While Washington state already allows pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives and vaccines through Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreements, not all pharmacies provide the same medication or services.
House Bill 2570 would require the Department of Health (DOH) to create — if one is not already established by July 2020 — a searchable, online database of pharmacies with pharmacists on staff who could legally prescribe vaccines or self-administered hormonal contraceptives. This would enable individuals to know which pharmacies are equipped to provide the health care services they need.
Stambaugh says the Washington State Pharmacy Association is beginning to work on its own searchable database, which she hopes is completed well before the deadline in House Bill 2570. She says the deadline in the bill simply adds an extra layer of accountability.
“This online tool would help increase access to contraceptives for women, as well as access to vaccinations for families,” said Stambaugh. “That’s important, because we should be doing everything we can to help Washingtonians seek out the best health care options for their needs.”
House Bill 2570 was approved 86-12, and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.