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* The Med Society is having a good session, as usual…
Illinois lawmakers showed little support for a plan that would allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptive patch and oral contraception to thousands of women although the proposal might be revived later.
Schaumberg Democratic Rep. Michelle Mussman wants to expand who can prescribe contraception beyond doctors to pharmacists saying the plan would give low-income women who can’t afford to go to a doctor greater access to contraception. Similar legislation has been approved in California and Oregon.
The House Health Care Licenses Committee overwhelmingly opposed Mussman’s plan on Tuesday after hearing testimony from a pharmacist, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Medical Society. […]
There are about 130,000 unintended pregnancies a year statewide according to Nirav Shah, director of the state’s Public Health agency and supporter of Mussman’s plan. Shah said by allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraception, the state could decrease the number of unintended pregnancies by nearly 25 percent. He said lawmakers shouldn’t withhold access to contraception to force women to see a doctor. […]
However Jacksonville Republican Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer said the plan could decrease the likelihood a woman would regularly see her physician if she could simply go to a pharmacist instead.
Um, yeah, CD, isn’t that the whole point?
* Other bills…
* Illinois legislators consider bills on policing social media: Lawmakers are considering a series of new bills aimed at giving police more power to investigate online crimes and also to tap into technology to hold people accountable for posting video of crimes. One measure would ban juveniles charged with a crime from having access to their social media accounts. In addition, those individuals would be required to turn over access to their accounts to police.
* Illinois lawmakers are to debate legalizing daily fantasy sports betting as they rush to try to meet a Friday deadline to advance dozens of bills out of committees: A House judiciary committee is scheduled to hear a bill Wednesday that would set regulations for daily fantasy sports contests, which the Illinois attorney general has deemed illegal. Illinois is among several states with pending legislation on the issue this year. The same committee is also set to consider legislation to ease access to police videos under the Freedom of Information Act.
* Biss’ prisoner lawsuit legislation passes in the Senate: Senate Bill 2465, sponsored by Senator Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) would prohibit the Illinois Department of Corrections from suing current and former inmates to recoup the cost of their room and board while in prison. The legislation passed by a vote of 32-19 in the Senate. It now goes to the Illinois House for consideration.
* Elmhurst mother honors daughter with support of Sen. Nybo’s epinephrine bill: Senate Bill 2878 would allow state police and other law enforcement agencies to conduct training programs for officers on how to recognize and respond to anaphylaxis, including administration of an epinephrine auto-injector. The State Police or a local governmental agency could authorize officers to carry and administer epinephrine auto-injectors once they have completed the required training.
* Senate committee OKs increase to 21 for buying cigarettes: In addition to possession charges being removed from the bill, the charge for an underage purchaser using a fake ID to buy tobacco products would be reduced from a class A misdemeanor to class B, carrying a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 11:47 am
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===prescribe contraception beyond doctors to pharmacists===
This kind of defeats the whole purpose of how tightly regulated the medical industry is in the State of Illinois. Pharmacists don’t receive hundreds of hours of diagnostic training and contraception can have side effects.
So, who is going to be responsible if there’s an issue? Are the pharmacists going to have to carry malpractice insurance?
There’s better ways to do this.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 11:55 am
“he plan could decrease the likelihood a woman would regularly see her physician” actually the whole point is that many people don’t get birth control BECAUSE they have to see the physician and end up with unintended pregnancies. There isn’t really a good reason to see a doctor for birth control. If you’ve been to one of those annual appointments you’d see it yourself.
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 11:59 am
Low income women vs the med lobby? In Illinois? It’s no surprise who won that round.
Comment by No Use For A Name Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 12:03 pm
In my experience, the family and general practice physicians are very busy as is (at least, the competent ones), and the lead time for an appointment can be lengthy. It seems like this is a common sense approach to reducing some of that pressure for an unnecessary doctor visit. Actually, some insurance plans require you to see a pharmacist instead of a doctor for some shots, etc.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 12:08 pm
simce Rauner has a sports team and benefits indirectly from fantasy sports leagues, they should refuse to move it until the gov signs the antistrike law and map grants…..
I would think conservative antiabortion and anti social service repubs would support contracwptive care. it reduces unwated pregnancies and adding new people who draw on social services…. they really need to pick a lane and stay in it…. do you want fewer people getting abortions and needing social services or do you want to reduce unwanted pregnancies and support those goals
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 12:17 pm
” One measure would ban juveniles charged with a crime from having access to their social media accounts. In addition, those individuals would be required to turn over access to their accounts to police.”
Taking away someones right to speech because they have been charged with a crime can’t be legal. I could see if they were banned from contacting specific individuals involved with the case, but a total limit on their speech just feels unconstitutional to me.
Comment by benniefly2 Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 12:18 pm
===and contraception can have side effects===
So can aspirin.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 12:23 pm
If women are having sex without condoms, they are at risk for both pregnancy AND cervical cancer, among other STDs. The reason for those annual exams is to check for cervical cancer and other diseases that can be treated if caught early. That is also the reason most docs / PAs, / APNs won’t send in a Rx for oral contraceptives without an appointment.
Options exist for low income women to see medical professionals for exams and contraception (Planned Parenthood & Community Health Centers). Plus there are many many options that ARE available without an Rx that are significantly less expensive than birth control pills.
Comment by 2cents Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:01 pm
“One measure would ban juveniles charged with a crime from having access to their social media accounts. In addition, those individuals would be required to turn over access to their accounts to police.” Right, we want police to take over the social media accounts of people accused of crimes, so they can plant or delete info. and interfere with their criminal defense. Great idea there.
“The idea is to allow police to go through the online history of the accused looking for any information about the alleged crime.” Or erasing any records of crimes committed by police, like the three of five cameras that were not “working” when Laquan McDonald was shot.
“Backers of the law said it could also prevent juveniles from stirring up trouble online while their cases play out in courts.” Yet police who delete their own vids are not charged with crimes, since the much ballyhooed Body Cam bill doesn’t criminalize the destruction of evidence by cops.
The good old boys are in action again here. Which police unions are pushing this? I often wonder if we are living in Illinois in 2016, or Alabama in 1962?
Comment by Payback Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:11 pm
I thought you guys hated Planned Parenthood. Besides, there are NO PP clinics south of Effingham.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:13 pm
===So can aspirin.===
Rich, your quip is a logical fallacy. If you think that various forms of birth control should be sold over the counter let them reclassify birth control to be sold over the counter or without a prescription.
Or, if you want pharmacists to start being able to diagnose and treat patients (because that’s what this is) change the requirements to become a licensed pharmacist in this state.
So, let’s not pretend that taking doses of various hormones to shut down a natural function over a long term period is the same as an acidic compound that’s found in tree bark that prevents headaches in low doses.
Waving a wand so that someone that someone who is unqualified, untrained, and unpracticed can suddenly issue prescriptions for any one of the dozens of hormone therapy options isn’t necessarily a great idea.
If you think it is, declassify the birth control drugs that you think can be sold over the counter. Don’t pretend like pharmacists are suddenly qualified to do things they shouldn’t be.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:20 pm
2cents and Anon @ 1:20. Wonderful comments. With expanded Medicaid, payment should no longer be an excuse for women not seeing a provider. That expanded coverage is exactly the reason Dr Shah gave for eliminating the breast and cervical cancer prevention program from the budget - women can now get such services covered through Medicaid.
Wonder if the malpractice insurers are lined up to support this proposal?
Comment by Gmma Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:46 pm
The OB-GYN are supporting movement of oral contraceptives to OTC. Boom!
Comment by mary Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Cheryl44.
– Besides, there are NO PP clinics south of Effingham. —
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/illinois/effingham/62401/effingham-health-center-2937-90430
Comment by 2cents Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:16 pm
Fine. Now find one south of there.
I got my information from the internets too.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 3:58 pm
“ith expanded Medicaid, payment should no longer be an excuse for women not seeing a provider. ” You really don’t understand the lives of poor or young women. You may not be able to take time off from work on weekday business hours, you may not have transportation, you may not have someone to watch your other kids while you go, or you may just be worn down by life and adding a single additional impediment to the process can bring you to a halt.
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 4:54 pm
–Schaumberg Democratic Rep. Michelle Mussman..–
Really, AP, and every media outlet that published this?
I take it you outsourced your copy editors to Bangalore?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 6:34 pm