Sec. 5. (a) The state health commissioner or designated public health authority shall issue a standing order that concerns standard procedures for the prescribing of hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered hormonal contraceptives by pharmacists and that is effective until the board adopts rules under this chapter.

     (b) Before issuing a standing order under subsection (a), the state health commissioner or designated public health authority shall:

(1) consult with appropriate medical experts; and

(2) receive approval of the medical licensing board of Indiana.

     (c) The standing order issued under this section must require a pharmacist who elects to prescribe hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered hormonal contraceptives to do the following:

(1) Complete a training program approved by the board that is related to prescribing hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered hormonal contraceptives. The board may adopt a training program developed by another state.

(2) Provide a self-screening risk assessment tool that the woman must use before the pharmacist’s prescribing of the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered hormonal contraceptive.

(3) Refer the woman to a primary care practitioner or the women’s health care practitioner upon prescribing and dispensing the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered hormonal contraceptive.

(4) Provide the woman with a written record of the hormonal contraceptive patch or the self-administered hormonal contraceptive prescribed and dispensed and advise the woman to consult with a primary care practitioner or women’s health care practitioner.

(5) If the pharmacist works at a site which, in the regular course of business, has a provider who is a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant who is available to deliver patient care and who is capable of prescribing the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered hormonal contraceptive, suggest that the woman see the provider.

(6) Administer the screening protocols before issuing each prescription for a hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered hormonal contraceptive.

(7) Provide that a prescription for a contraceptive patch or self-administered hormonal contraceptive may not be for more than a six (6) month period and that the pharmacist may not issue a prescription to the woman after twelve (12) months unless the woman has been seen by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant in the previous twelve (12) month period.

As added by P.L.154-2023, SEC.3.