CVS Pharmacy® launches birth control prescribing in Massachusetts

Rhea-AI Summary

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) has announced that CVS Pharmacy locations in Massachusetts are now offering hormonal contraceptive prescribing services. This initiative aims to address the issue of contraceptive deserts and improve access to birth control. Patients aged 18 and older can visit any Massachusetts CVS Pharmacy for a consultation, which includes a health screening and blood pressure check. If eligible, pharmacists can prescribe various types of hormonal contraception.

The service costs $39 for the consultation, regardless of whether medication is prescribed. This new offering is part of a broader effort to increase access to reproductive health care and follows similar services already available in several other states. The move is supported by Massachusetts legislators and is seen as a step towards addressing disparities in contraceptive access.

Positive

• Expansion of CVS Pharmacy services to include birth control prescribing in Massachusetts
• Potential increase in customer base and revenue from consultation fees and prescriptions
• Alignment with state legislation and support from local politicians
• Addressing a significant healthcare gap, potentially improving CVS's market position and public image

Negative

• to patients 18 and older, potentially restricting the target market
• Consultation fee of $39 may deter some customers, especially if not covered by insurance

Insights

Healthcare Policy Analyst

CVS Pharmacy's launch of birth control prescribing services in Massachusetts marks a significant step in improving women's healthcare access. This initiative addresses the critical issue of contraceptive deserts, potentially benefiting millions of women who struggle to obtain birth control prescriptions. The $39 consultation fee and the option to use HSA or FSA funds make this service relatively affordable.

From a policy perspective, this move aligns with a growing trend across 27 states and D.C., positioning Massachusetts at the forefront of healthcare innovation. The bipartisan support for this initiative, as evidenced by the co-sponsorship from both Democratic and Republican state legislators, suggests a favorable regulatory environment for similar healthcare accessibility measures in the future.

Pharmacy Industry Expert

This development represents a strategic expansion of pharmacists' roles in primary care, potentially increasing foot traffic and revenue for CVS Pharmacy locations. By offering birth control prescriptions, CVS is diversifying its service portfolio and positioning itself as a one-stop healthcare destination.

The move could lead to increased customer loyalty and more frequent visits, potentially boosting sales of other pharmacy and retail products. However, it's important to monitor how this service affects pharmacists' workload and whether it might necessitate additional staffing or training costs. The $39 consultation fee provides a new revenue stream, but its impact on overall profitability will depend on the service's uptake and operational costs.

Women's Health Advocate

This initiative is a significant win for women's reproductive rights and healthcare accessibility. By empowering pharmacists to prescribe birth control, CVS is helping to reduce barriers to contraception, particularly for women in underserved areas or those facing difficulties accessing traditional healthcare providers.

The service's convenience could lead to more consistent use of contraception, potentially reducing unintended pregnancies. However, it's important to ensure that this doesn't replace regular gynecological check-ups. The pharmacist's role in encouraging patients to visit physicians for preventive care is crucial. This model could serve as a blueprint for expanding access to other essential women's health services in the future.

CVS pharmacists can now evaluate patients and prescribe hormonal contraceptives

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) today announced that CVS Pharmacy® locations in Massachusetts are now offering hormonal contraceptive prescribing services. Patients interested in receiving a birth control prescription can be evaluated by a CVS pharmacist and, if clinically eligible, receive a prescription for birth control.

Millions of women in the United States live in contraceptive deserts¹ — areas with insufficient access to birth control methods — and one in three women say they have trouble getting prescriptions for birth control.² The new birth control prescribing service at CVS Pharmacy will help to close this gap and provide Massachusetts patients with convenient and affordable access to care when and where they need it.

"Pharmacists are trusted and accessible health care providers who do much more than fill prescriptions," said Jinali Desai, PharmD, MBA, MPH, Vice President, Pharmacy Health Services for CVS Health. "They have years of education and experience, and have the clinical ability to provide chronic, acute and preventive services for their patients. We're pleased to introduce this new service in Massachusetts to help increase access to birth control and further support women's unique health care needs."

Hormonal contraceptive prescribing was authorized as part of the Massachusetts 2024 State Budget, which was signed in August 2023 and was co-sponsored by State Senator Michael Moore and State Representatives Christine Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa.

"Hormonal birth control is one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent unplanned pregnancy and support family planning, but many women find this critical medication difficult to obtain here in Massachusetts" said Senator Michael Moore of Millbury. "Allowing local pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives when appropriate is something 27 states and D.C. already allow in some form – it's about time the Commonwealth joins them. I am so grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature for getting this provision signed into law, for our partners at pharmacies across Massachusetts, and the countless organizations and advocates that have tirelessly worked to bring awareness to this issue. We are taking a big step toward lowering barriers that prevent women from getting the birth control they need and addressing disparities in contraceptive access for those in historically underserved areas."

"Enabling pharmacists to prescribe hormonal birth control is an important step to address disparities in access to basic, necessary reproductive health care. I am proud that the legislature passed this important law to continue the Commonwealth's commitment to health equity and reproductive justice," said Representative Christine Barber of Somerville.

"Patients deserve real access to reproductive health care, and the provision of birth control by pharmacists will allow patients to quickly consult with their pharmacists and get a birth control prescription that same day. With the addition of pharmacist-prescribed contraception in Massachusetts, we are putting choice back in the patients' hands and giving them options in how, where, and when they get their contraception" said Representative Lindsay Sabadosa of Northampton.

Birth control prescribing at CVS Pharmacy: How it works

Patients interested in birth control can visit any Massachusetts CVS Pharmacy location and ask for a birth control consultation with a pharmacist. The pharmacist will ask the patient to complete a short health screening form and check their blood pressure. Next, the pharmacist will discuss the results of the health screening with the patient and determine if the patient is eligible to receive birth control at the pharmacy. If so, the pharmacist will review different birth control options available and determine an appropriate therapy for the patient.

In Massachusetts, patients who are 18 and older are eligible for a consultation with a CVS pharmacist, but only certain patients will be eligible to receive a prescription. Pharmacists can prescribe different types of hormonal contraception depending on a patient's health screening evaluation and lifestyle, such as the pill and the transdermal patch. The consultation will cost $39, regardless of whether medication is prescribed. Patients may use HSA or FSA funds to cover the assessment fee. Any cost or copay for the birth control is dependent on the patient's prescription insurance coverage. The pharmacist will also encourage the patient to visit their physician for future preventive care visits and can provide area providers for patients who do not have one.

All the nearly 400 CVS Pharmacy locations in Massachusetts are offering birth control prescribing. The service is also offered at CVS Pharmacy locations in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. For more information, visit CVS.com.

About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues — including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health — whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system — and their personal health care — by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

Media contact
Amy Thibault
401-318-2865
Amy.Thibault@CVSHealth.com 

¹ Power to Decide, "Contraceptive Deserts." https://powertodecide.org/what-we-do/access/contraceptive-deserts.

² Guttmacher Institute, "Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the 2020 Guttmacher Survey of Reproductive Health Experiences." https://www.guttmacher.org/report/early-impacts-covid-19-pandemic-findings-2020-guttmacher-survey-reproductive-health

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SOURCE CVS Health

FAQ

What new service is CVS Pharmacy offering in Massachusetts as of September 12, 2024?

CVS Pharmacy is now offering hormonal contraceptive prescribing services in Massachusetts, allowing pharmacists to evaluate patients and prescribe birth control if clinically eligible.

How much does the birth control consultation cost at CVS Pharmacy in Massachusetts?

The consultation for birth control prescribing at CVS Pharmacy in Massachusetts costs $39, regardless of whether medication is prescribed.

What age group is eligible for birth control prescribing at CVS Pharmacy in Massachusetts?

Patients who are 18 years and older are eligible for a birth control consultation with a CVS pharmacist in Massachusetts.

In which other states does CVS Pharmacy (CVS) offer birth control prescribing services?

As of September 2024, CVS Pharmacy offers birth control prescribing services in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin, in addition to Massachusetts.