LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a story Sept. 22 about the governor signing women's health legislation, The Associated Press reported erroneously that one bill, AB2348, allows registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives to dispense birth control. Instead, the new law applies only to registered nurses because nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives already are allowed to do so.
The short headline on the story also misstated the intent of the legislation by saying it would allow nurses to prescribe the pill. The legislation would allow nurses only to dispense contraceptives, not prescribe them.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Law allows RNs to dispense contraceptives
Calif. governor signs legislation related to women's health issues
LOS ANGELES (AP) — During a visit to a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood clinic, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that allows registered nurses to dispense birth control, making it easier for women to get contraceptives.
The Democratic governor was joined Saturday by women's health advocates who cheered the signing of AB2348.
"At a time when some seek to turn back the clock and restrict women's health choices, California is expanding access to birth control and reaffirming every woman's basic Constitutional rights," Brown said.
The bill, authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), was passed by lawmakers in August. It allows registered nurses to dispense the pill, patches and rings. Nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives already can do so.
Julie Rabinovitz, head of the California Family Health Council, applauded the governor for working to expand access to contraception for women.
"With his signature, the governor also took action to address provider shortages statewide by allowing RNs to work to the full extent of their scope and training," Rabinovitz said Saturday. "This is especially important in our changing health care landscape."
Also Saturday, Brown announced the signing of a bill requiring extra warnings for the 40 percent of women over the age of 40 who have breast tissue dense enough to mask or mimic cancers on mammograms.
The bill, SB1538, also requires that a range of screening options are available.
Brown vetoed a similar bill in 2011, expressing doubts about whether the warnings were what he termed "a path to greater knowledge or unnecessary anxiety." Since then it was amended to include notice language negotiated with the governor's office and health care interest groups, according to state Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who authored the bill.
Simitian thanked Brown "for his willingness to listen to and work with us on this issue over the past year."
