Bill Overview
Title: Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act
Description: This bill prohibits the federal government and federally funded entities from discriminating or otherwise taking adverse action against a pharmacist, pharmacy owner, or pharmacy technician who declines to store, fill prescriptions for, or make referrals for drugs that cause abortions (or that the individual provider believes in good faith cause abortions). Individuals or the Department of Justice may bring civil actions for violations of this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Target Audience
Population: Pharmacists globally
Estimated Size: 750000
- The bill affects pharmacists, pharmacy owners, and pharmacy technicians who may be in a position to fill prescriptions for drugs they believe cause abortions.
- Pharmacists and pharmacies across the United States, particularly those who have strong conscientious or religious beliefs against abortion, will be directly impacted.
- Patients seeking abortive drugs may be indirectly affected depending on pharmacists' decisions to fill prescriptions.
- The bill potentially impacts the accessibility of medications believed to cause abortion, influencing individuals seeking these medications for medical reasons beyond abortion.
- The population of pharmacies that are federally funded needs to be considered, including those in hospitals and clinics funded by federal programs.
Reasoning
- The Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act primarily impacts pharmacists, pharmacy owners, and pharmacy technicians across the U.S. who have conscientious objections to dispensing drugs that they believe cause abortions.
- There is potential for wide variance in personal opinions about the policy, as it touches on deeply personal and often polarizing beliefs.
- The population directly impacted is primarily those in pharmaceutical professions, while patients in need of such medications may experience indirect impacts.
- The policy's budget constrains the extent of education and legal resources available to those affected, which may influence how widely and effectively the policy is implemented.
- Rural areas or areas with fewer pharmacy options may experience more pronounced effects if multiple pharmacists choose to exercise their rights under this bill.
Simulated Interviews
Pharmacist (Austin, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am relieved that this policy allows me to follow my conscience without fearing for my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pharmacy technician (Rural Montana)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me legal backing if I ever face pressure to dispense drugs against my beliefs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Pharmacy Owner (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy has little impact on my pharmacies' operations, as our pharmacists will continue to follow established guidelines on these prescriptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Pharmacist (Portland, OR)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that this policy could discourage pharmacists from filling legitimate prescriptions, negatively affecting patient care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Pharmacist (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is unlikely to affect my day-to-day work, as I fill prescriptions based on medical necessity and federal guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Pharmacy Technician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy reduces pressures on individuals like me who may face ethical dilemmas at work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Pharmacy Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am concerned about the impacts on patient rights and access to necessary medication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Pharmacy Owner (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy clarifies options for pharmacies and protects staff with differing beliefs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Pharmacist (Dallas, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is concerning for access to patient care, as it might limit the ability for women to obtain necessary treatments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 9 |
Pharmacy Technician (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the protection this policy offers for those with moral objections, but I worry about potential implications for patient access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $14000000)
Year 5: $9000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 100: $7000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- Legal interpretation and implementation of the policy might vary across states, impacting overall costs.
- Enforcement of non-discrimination provisions requires robust monitoring systems, potentially increasing federal oversight and legal expenses.
- The bill requires a balance between protection of conscience rights and ensuring access to medical care, especially in federally funded pharmacies.