Pharmacist contraception services are growing across the United States. Several states have authorized pharmacists to prescribe contraception, and the interest in other states continues to grow. Opposition to these practices exists and centers on discussions related to safety, training, cost, and fragmentation of care. We review these arguments and provide evidence refuting these concerns. Pharmacist-prescribed contraception increases access to care, and patients express interest in utilizing this service at the pharmacy. Pharmacists follow evidence-based recommendations. Counseling on preventative services and referral to other providers is part of contraception care by pharmacists. Training programs have been developed to equip both pharmacy students and pharmacists with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to successfully provide these services. This article can serve as a guide for pharmacists and advocates when discussing pharmacist-prescribed contraception with policymakers, patients, and other healthcare professionals.

For the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), strategic engagement is critical to the success of colleges and schools of pharmacy in expanding pharmacy and public health practice, meeting programmatic needs, and fulfilling institutional missions. The 2020-2021 Strategic Engagement Standing Committee was charged with identifying effective strategies to leverage the temporary expansion of pharmacist practice capabilities granted during the COVID-19 pandemic for sustained practice. The group was also tasked with looking at ways to partner with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), our medicine counterparts to develop a plan for collaborating with them to advance interprofessional practice. In this unique year, all standing committees were charged with reading all the reports last year to put President Lin's charges into perspective with the hopes of carrying over the overall theme and work of the previous years committee. Overall, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several expansions on the scope of practice for pharmacists and vary by state. We hope to draw out some of those expansions to see how we can build upon efforts to make those permanent. POLICY AMENDMENT AND RECOMMENDATION:Based upon the work of the 2020-2021 Strategic Engagement Committee, the following policy amendments are provided to AACP and Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy along with one policy recommendation: Policy Amendments:1. AACP supports the establishment of a recognized triad relationship among the schools/colleges of pharmacy, boards of pharmacy, and state pharmacy associations for the successful advancement of pharmacy practice and the role of pharmacists as recognized health care providers within interprofessional and multidisciplinary healthcare practices.(Source: 2019-2020 Professional Affairs Committee) a. AACP supports the establishment of partnerships among the schools/colleges of pharmacy, boards of pharmacy and other health professions, and state health care professional associations, for the successful advancement of the role of pharmacists as recognized health care providers within interprofessional and multidisciplinary healthcare practices. (Source: 2019-2020 Professional Affairs Committee) 2. AACP supports the creation of a national vision emphasizing the value of pharmacy education and colleges and schools of pharmacy to various stakeholders including patients and communities. (Source: Professional Affairs Committee, 2015) a. AACP supports the creation of a national vision emphasizing the value of pharmacists to various stakeholders including patients, government, and other healthcare professions. (Source: Professional Affairs Committee, 2015)New Policy Recommendations: 1. AACP supports the identification of one or more strategic engagement champions at member institutions.

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While contraception prescribing by pharmacists has seen rapid growth in recent years, pharmacist-provided services that can impact maternal health encompass more than just contraception. Each phase of maternal health—preconception, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy—has unique needs, and pharmacists are well equipped to provide services to meet those needs and are more accessible than other healthcare providers. While pharmacist-provided maternal health services may lead to significant savings to the healthcare system, additional research to more fully capture the value of pharmacist-provided maternal health services is needed. Robust implementation of a pharmacist-provided maternal health services program will require partnerships between providers, payers, and pharmacists. Infant and maternal mortality, preterm birth, and unintended pregnancies are significant public health issues, and pharmacists should be seen as a capable workforce who can provide needed maternal health care and serve as a gateway into the healthcare system for those capable of pregnancy.