Pharmacists CARE Initiative

 

Is this mini-grant for pharmacists to prescribe medication abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol)? 

No.  The goal of this mini-grant is to expand medication abortion dispensing in California pharmacies.  If awarded, pharmacies will be expected to obtain certification to dispense mifepristone when presented with a prescription from a physician, nurse practitioner, or other provider. We will walk you through this process in the Medication Abortion Care at the Pharmacy training. 

Does dispensing mifepristone or misoprostol increase legal risk for pharmacists?

California has passed many laws that strengthen protections for patients and providers, including patients traveling from other states and seeking abortion care. You can find more information here. 

Is the mini-grant for an individual pharmacist or a pharmacy site? 

This mini-grant is awarded to the pharmacy site, not an individual pharmacist.  Each pharmacy location can receive only one $2,000 mini-grant. 

I own a pharmacy with multiple locations. Can I apply for a mini-grant for each location? 

Yes! Each pharmacy location can apply for a mini-grant.  You will need to provide the name of a different pharmacist for each location who will complete the training. 

Do I need to be a member of CPhA to apply for this mini-grant? 

No, any independent pharmacy located in California and serving Medi-Cal patients is eligible to apply for this mini-grant. 

Will the demographics of my pharmacy’s patient population factor in to evaluation for the mini-grant award? 

No, the demographics of your pharmacy’s patient population will not factor in to whether your pharmacy is awarded the mini-grant.   

What steps do I need to complete to receive a mini-grant? 

1 )  Submit the complete mini-grant application. 

2 )  Complete the 1 hour Medication Abortion Care at the Pharmacy training provided by Birth Control Pharmacist. 

3 )  Apply to become certified to dispense mifepristone through the FDA REMS program. 

4 )  Be prepared to dispense mifepristone and misoprostol in your pharmacy. 

5 )  Receive your grant funding! 

When will I hear back if my application is approved?

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You will receive an initial confirmation of the application being received, and staff will contact you to verify information as needed. Approvals are contingent on all information being validated and may take up to 3 months.

When will my pharmacy receive funds?  

Funding is processed on a quarterly basis in March, June, September, and December. Once all required documentation and proof has been received, funds will be processed in the corresponding processing month.

What will my pharmacy receive if awarded the mini-grant? 

Your pharmacy will receive a $2,000 check and an implementation toolkit including a certification checklist, mifepristone dispensing checklist, patient education cards, patient fact sheets, and more.  

How are these mini-grants funded?  

These mini-grants are funded by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information and facilitated by the CPhA Foundation 

How will patients and providers know that my pharmacy dispenses mifepristone? 

Our medication abortion pharmacy directory is coming soon! You can also use our provider letter template to inform local providers that your pharmacy can dispense mifepristone and misoprostol.