Modeling the cost and outcomes of pharmacist-prescribed emergency contraception.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect on the risk and cost of unintended pregnancies of emergency contraceptive pills obtained directly from a pharmacist.


METHODS
We used a decision model to compare outcomes for private and public payers following unprotected intercourse from.


RESULTS
Obtaining emergency contraceptive pills from a pharmacy, compared with obtaining them from a physician or clinic, resulted in a $158 (95% confidence interval (CI) =$76, $269) reduction in costs for private payers and a $48 (95% CI = $16, $93) reduction for public payers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that under varied assumptions, obtaining emergency contraceptive pills directly from a pharmacist reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and is cost saving.
Marciante
K D
KD
Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA. marciant@u.washington.edu
Gardner
J S
JS
Veenstra
D L
DL
Sullivan
S D
SD
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014861:Washington
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital