2005-2006 Regular Session 1st House HR 1652 & Senate S 809

Summary: The Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act (ALPhA) would ensure that a patient's prescription be filled without delay or harassment, regardless of the religious or moral beliefs of a specific pharmacist.

What You Should Know: This bipartisan bill seeks to address a growing number of incidents around the country where pharmacists who object to contraception for religious reasons have refused to fill women's prescriptions for birth control—including emergency contraception or the "morning-after pill." It strikes a careful balance between the interests of both parties, allowing an individual pharmacist to refuse to dispense contraception, but requiring the pharmacy to ensure that someone else there fills the prescription in a timely manner.

Primary Sponsor(s): Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) & Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Introduction Date: 4/14/2005 (House & Senate)

Last Major Action:

House: 5/13/2005. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Senate: 4/14/2005. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3685-3686)