COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow adults to obtain certain oral contraceptives directly from participating pharmacists without first receiving a prescription from another health care provider.
House Bill 1004 was introduced Sept. 8 by Republican Reps. Adam Bird of New Richmond and Marilyn John of Richland County. The bill has not yet been assigned to a House committee.
Under the proposal, the State Board of Pharmacy would establish a statewide protocol allowing authorized pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription to people 18 and older.
Pharmacists would be required to complete an accredited or state-approved training course and follow the protocol. The protocol would identify which oral contraceptives could be dispensed and establish requirements for patient screening, treatment, referrals, notifications, documentation and recordkeeping.
The State Medical Board would have 60 days to review and comment on a draft protocol. The Pharmacy Board could decline to incorporate the Medical Board’s comments but would have to explain its reasoning before finalizing the protocol.
The bill would apply only to oral contraceptives and would not include contraceptive patches, rings, injections or implants. It also would not change existing pharmacy authority involving over-the-counter birth control.
The proposal would also change Ohio’s requirements for pharmacists dispensing nicotine replacement therapy. Current law allows trained pharmacists to dispense nicotine replacement products without a prescription under protocols established by physicians or certain advanced practice nurses.
HB 1004 would replace those prescriber-established protocols with a statewide protocol developed by the State Board of Pharmacy. The bill also would broaden the statutory definition of nicotine replacement therapy to include drugs approved for tobacco or smoking cessation.
The legislation is part of a broader effort in the General Assembly to expand pharmacists’ authority to provide certain health care services. HB 1004 remains in the introductory stage, with no committee hearings or legislative votes recorded as of Sept. 23.
Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by AVC News
