N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39-14.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:39-14.4 - Procedures for hormonal contraceptive screening and selection

(a) When an individual requests a pharmacist to furnish a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, the pharmacist shall:

1. Have the patient complete the Health Screening Questionnaire prepared by the New Jersey Department of Health. Upon request and whenever possible, the Health Screening Questionnaire shall be provided in the recipient's primary spoken language. If the patient does not complete the Health Screening Questionnaire, the pharmacist shall not furnish a self-administered hormonal contraceptive pursuant to the Protocol;

2. Review the Health Screening Questionnaire with the patient and clarify responses, if needed;

3. Measure and record the patient's seated blood pressure, unless progestin-only oral contraceptive pills are requested by the patient. Seated blood pressure may be retaken if the first reading exceeds the level for eligibility according to the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (USMEC) prepared by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the pharmacist uses a device other than a stethoscope and manual blood pressure cuff to measure seated blood pressure, the device shall be kept behind the pharmacy counter and be used only by pharmacy staff; and

4. Complete the Algorithm for Self-Administered Hormonal Contraceptive Pills, Patches, and Rings set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:39-14 Appendix B or, if an injectable hormonal contraceptive is under consideration, the Algorithm for Self-Administered Injectable Hormonal Contraceptives set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:39-14 Appendix C. As part of that process, the pharmacist must assess the health and history of the patient using the latest version of the USMEC. Pharmacists may use the Summary Chart of the USMEC, which is color-coded to match the Health Screening Questionnaire.

(b) The pharmacist must provide patient privacy during health screening and counseling consistent with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164, Subparts A and E, and other applicable law.

(c) The pharmacist must make clinical decisions that are free from any financial influence imposed by insurance providers, contraceptive product manufacturers, and other parties having a financial interest in the disbursement or non-disbursement of self-administered hormonal contraceptives.

(d) A pharmacist may furnish a self-administered hormonal contraceptive pursuant to the Protocol only if the patient's intended use is contraception and only if the patient has begun menstruating.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39-14.4

Adopted by 56 N.J.R. 906(a) effective 5/20/2024