ASHP Seeks Clarification on Federal Guidance for Pharmacies on Reproductive Health

ASHP today warned the White House that language included in the Biden administration's new guidance for pharmacies on access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services may have the unintended effect of limiting pharmacists' authority and clinical decision-making, to the detriment of patients.

In a letter to President Biden, ASHP Chief Executive Officer Paul W. Abramowitz noted that the guidance prohibits discrimination involving the making of determinations about the suitability of prescribed medications or advising patients how to take medications. The letter asks the Department of Health and Human Services to clarify that the guidance is not intended to limit the pharmacist–patient relationship or pharmacists' clinical decision-making. The letter also seeks guidance on the interaction of state and federal laws regarding reproductive health.