Behind-the-counter status and availability of emergency contraception.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine whether the 2006 Food and Drug Administration approval of Plan B for behind-the-counter status increased availability.


METHODS
We conducted a survey in 2005 and 2007 of pharmacies listed in Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, and Philadelphia, PA. We measured ability to dispense Plan B within 24 hours. Also measured were reasons for lack of availability and cost of Plan B.


RESULTS
Pharmacists were interviewed at 1087 pharmacies (75% response rate) in 2005 and 795 pharmacies (82% response rate) in 2007. In 2007, 8% of pharmacies were unable to provide Plan B within 24 hours, compared with 23% of pharmacies in 2005 (P < .001). The total refusal rate in 2007 was half the rate of 2005 (2% vs 4%, P = .004). The average cost of Plan B was $43.


CONCLUSIONS
Availability of Plan B in Atlanta and Philadelphia increased after it was awarded behind-the-counter status.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, Philadelphia, PA, USA. rebe@mail.med.upenn.edu
Rebekah E
RE
Gee
Hannah E
HE
Shacter
Elinore J
EJ
Kaufman
Judith A
JA
Long
D001900:Boston; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000191:economics*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000191:economics*; D005845:Georgia; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000191:economics*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000191:economics*; D015143:Philadelphia; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D016912:Levonorgestrel