Only 28 clinics reported offering evening or weekend contraceptive appointments; travel, scheduling and other practical barriers can make care harder to access
Media contact: Alexson Calahan | 636-236-5862 | [email protected]
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A new statewide analysis from the Family Planning Council of Iowa finds that having contraceptive care nearby does not always mean it is realistically accessible to the person who needs it.
In 2024, researchers contacted 502 clinic locations identified as potentially providing contraception and accepting Medicaid, reviewed 579 pharmacies, and mapped travel distances and drive times. The findings provide a snapshot of the information a person seeking care could obtain from provider listings and phone calls during the study period.
Of the clinics contacted, 399 said they could schedule an appointment for an oral contraceptive prescription and accept Medicaid. Yet only 28 reported offering contraceptive appointments on weekday evenings or weekends.
In 10 larger Iowa cities and towns used as illustrative examples, the nearest clinic reporting an evening or weekend contraceptive appointment was a median 45 miles, or 50 minutes, away. The nearest pharmacy with hours beyond the standard 9-to-5 workday was a median 1 mile, or 2 minutes, away. These selected-community findings are not statewide averages.
“A clinic can appear on a map without being realistically accessible to the person who needs care,” said Allison Smith, executive director of the Family Planning Council of Iowa. “Getting an appointment can require missing work, arranging childcare, and driving nearly an hour each way; these barriers are real and cause many Iowans to delay or forgo needed care. This research gives Iowa decision-makers better information about the obstacles people can encounter in real life.”
The analysis also identified barriers that can arise before a patient ever sees a clinician. During mystery calls, researchers received inconsistent or incorrect information about available Family Planning Council of Iowa services, encountered requirements for previous medical records before scheduling, and found some clinics offered family planning services only on limited days.
Pharmacist-prescribed contraception is one promising way to expand timely access while preserving clinical standards and patient choice. Iowa law allows pharmacists to prescribe contraception when they complete training and utilize an evidence-based protocol that meets standards of care. FPCI is working with local partners to develop a resource toolkit for interested pharmacists.
“Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in many Iowa communities, and pharmacist-prescribed contraception has the potential to give patients another option for obtaining care when and where they need it,” said Monica Nikseresht, PharmD, Clinical Director and Pharmacy Manager of the Medicap Pharmacy in Glenwood, Iowa.
FPCI encourages policymakers to consider policies that reduce barriers to care, such as 12-month dispensing mandates and standing orders for over-the-counter contraceptives. Providers can use the findings to review front-desk communication, clinic hours and scheduling, and patient-navigation practices for unnecessary barriers.
The findings also identify questions that warrant additional study. The analysis captures what researchers could learn from provider information and calls during a specific period in 2024. Additional research could provide a deeper understanding of contraceptive access barriers.
Read Contraceptive Access in Iowa: A Landscape Analysis and related resources at fpcouncil.org.
About the Family Planning Council of Iowa
The Family Planning Council of Iowa is committed to increasing access to high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare across the state. We distribute resources, equip providers, conduct research, and advocate at the state and national level to help every Iowan make empowered and informed decisions about their health. Learn more at fpcouncil.org.