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In a groundbreaking development for reproductive health, New York State enacted a law in March 2024 . This move, following the example set by states in Oregon and California, aims to increase accessibility and convenience for individuals seeking hormonal birth control.

Sarah Lynch, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Director of Skills Education, has been at the forefront of this initiative. With her extensive background in pharmacy practice, she has played a crucial role in advocating for and implementing this significant change.

“This law allows pharmacists to meet with patients, assess their needs, and prescribe any self-administered hormonal contraceptive, including oral pills, vaginal rings, and transdermal patches,” Lynch explained.

This move follows the , the first OTC hormonal contraceptive, in January.

“The OTC hormonal birth control pill is a first for the United States,” Lynch explained. “It is a progesterone-only pill, free from estrogen-related side effects, and provides a safe option for those who prefer not to see a doctor for their contraceptive needs.”

Lynch’s journey with this initiative of bringing pharmacist-dispensed birth control to New York began during her pharmacy residency in Illinois, where she contributed to developing protocols and training for pharmacists in Oregon, one of the first states to implement this practice. Her expertise has been instrumental in shaping New York’s approach, particularly through her collaboration with the New York Birth Control Access Project, an advocacy group dedicated to expanding birth control access.

“The group worked with the representatives here in New York State and they kind of prepped them and helped write the bill that ended up being passed,” Lynch explained “Obviously they wanted a lot of input from pharmacists as pharmacists would be the ones who would be most heavily impacted by this. It’s been a great experience to work with that organization and I’m very thankful that we have them here in New York State because they’ve done so much advocacy on behalf of pharmacists.”

One of the most notable moments in Lynch’s advocacy happened during a live-streamed discussion of the bill in the New York Assembly. When a local assembly member expressed uncertainty about his vote, Lynch reached out via email to address his concerns. “He called me from the floor in Albany, thanking me for my insights, and ultimately decided to vote yes,” she recounted. This interaction underscored the impact of informed advocacy on legislative processes.

Currently, Lynch is focused on developing training programs for pharmacists to ensure they are prepared to prescribe contraceptives. Collaborating with the University at Buffalo and the Wegmans pharmacy, she is creating comprehensive continuing education programs.

Her efforts also extend to her students. A recent capstone project on patient opinions regarding pharmacist-prescribed contraceptives led to a published paper and media interviews, demonstrating the practical significance of their academic work.

As New York State moves forward with this initiative, Lynch remains optimistic. “I’m hopeful that in the coming months, we’ll see widespread adoption of this practice, making contraceptives more accessible across the state.”