New Hampshire Senate HHS Committee Considers Legislation to Expand Access to Emergency Contraceptive Pills
CONCORD – Today the New Hampshire Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony regarding SB 30, a bill that would establish a collaborative practice for Emergency Contraception (EC). The collaborative practice would enable pharmacists to voluntarily partner with licensed prescribers to dispense EC directly from the participating pharmacy. A similar bill, SB 484, passed both the NH House and Senate in 2004, but was vetoed by Governor Benson. NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire Political Director Liza Dube anticipates success for the legislation this year, “collaborative therapy agreements have been very successful in expanding access to emergency contraception in other states. We are hopeful that legislators will recognize the promise of emergency contraception to reduce unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion and will vote to expand access to this important contraceptive option”.
In 1997, Washington State became the first state to adopt a collaborative therapy program, and in the first ten months, over seven thousand women obtained EC. In the wake of Washington State’s success, five other states, including Maine have adopted similar programs. Used since the 1970’s, EC utilizes the same hormones found in ordinary birth control pills to keep an egg from being released, fertilized, or implanted in a woman’s uterus. EC is currently available with a prescription and can be taken in the case of contraceptive failure, unprotected sex, or sexual assault to prevent unintended pregnancy. EC should not be confused with RU-486 or mifepristone, an early abortion option. Dube concluded, “Because EC is most effective when taken within 24 hours of intercourse, it is imperative to remove barriers to access. Medical offices may be closed on weekends, and women in rural areas may have to travel great distances to the nearest health care provider. SB 30 is great way for New Hampshire to expand women’s access to EC and help prevent unintended pregnancy. Reducing unintended pregnancy and abortion is a goal that is shared by people on both sides of the abortion debate and one that we should all work together to achieve”.
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