Contraceptive Prescribing and Dispensing After the Defense Health Agency’s Policy Change

Was the release of Defense Health Agency Procedural Instruction (DHA-PI) 6200.02, which aimed to increase access to contraceptives among beneficiaries, associated with changes in contraceptive prescribing and dispensing patterns among active-duty servicewomen (ADSW)?In this cohort study of 429 194 ADSW, statistically significant increases were observed in extended-supply prescriptions of short-acting reversible contraceptives. However, the proportion of eligible ADSW receiving extended supply declined, and no statistically significant changes were seen in the number of prescribers providing extended supply.These findings suggest partial uptake of the DHA-PI 6200.02 policy across the Military Health System, with opportunities for improvement with consistent implementation of extended contraceptive supply.

Corresponding Author: Laura E. Gressler, MS, PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham, Ste 522, Little Rock, AR 72205 (legressler@uams.edu).

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