Wisconsin pharmacies say they have emergency contraceptives on hand, some cutting prices, limiting pills purchased

Pharmacies across Wisconsin are finding ways to make emergency contraceptives more accessible after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning abortions sparked concerns over a rush in sales of the morning-after pill that could drive up prices and empty shelves.

Some pharmacists are providing the emergency contraception pill known as Plan B at a lower cost to make it more accessible to women who become pregnant unexpectedly.

In Dane County, Fitchburg Family Pharmacy sells the pill for $35, or the cost to the pharmacy to buy it from the manufacturer, which is about $15 less than the per-dose price in most major retail pharmacies. Some generic options cost as low as $8.

Like many pharmacies around the country, the Fitchburg pharmacy saw an increase in demand for emergency contraceptives including Plan B in the days following the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, putting back in place a Wisconsin state law that bans abortions.

"We didn't have a huge demand for them (Plan B) before the Supreme Court decision. Any increase would be a large increase for us," Thad Schumacher, owner of Fitchburg Family Pharmacy, said. "And then of course (sales increased) since we advertised that we have it in stock and it is available."

Customers are allowed to buy up to two pills a day to ensure their stock doesn't run out, Schumacher said.

RELATED: Can I still buy Plan B? Where can I get it? What to know after SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade

Plan B is the most well-known version of the morning-after pill, but the medication is available under other brands over the counter, including Aftera, Take Action, or My Way.

Emergency contraception, known as morning-after pills, are legal and can halt ovulation, block fertilization, or prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman's uterus if taken within three days of sexual intercourse. The pills do not end pregnancies by expelling fertilized eggs already implanted in the uterus.

Emergency contraception like Plan B is not the same as abortion pills, which terminate pregnancies. Medication abortions may be utilized in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy under rules by the Food and Drug Administration. The procedure involves taking two different drugs, one to stop a pregnancy and the second to force a woman's body to expel the fetus through contractions.

Emergency contraception pills under different brands all generally work the same way unless the woman is over 165 pounds.

For women who weigh more than 165 pounds, Plan B may be less effective. Morning-after pills containing the ingredient ulipristal acetate, such as Ella, may be more effective for women who weigh more than 165 pounds but less than 195 pounds.

A copper intrauterine device, or IUD, which can be used as another form of emergency contraception if inserted up to five days after unprotected sex, may be a better option, according to Planned Parenthood.

At Hayat Pharmacy, a drug store chain with sites throughout the Milwaukee area, demand for emergency contraceptives has spiked. But supply is not yet a concern, said Hashim Zaibak, Hayat’s chief operating officer and lead pharmacist.

Demand has almost quadrupled in recent weeks, across all of Hayat’s locations. Zaibak said some customers have come in to buy four or five of the emergency contraceptive pills, just to have them on hand.

“People panic,” he said. “I had a lady who came to me and said, 'I want to have the choice. I want to have this at home just in case. What if I’m raped?'”

Zaibak encouraged people not to stockpile emergency contraceptives or panic about accessing the drugs at this point. He also noted the drugs expire within about a year after the pharmacies get them, another reason patients should just buy them when they need them.

Hayat Pharmacies have not put limits on how many doses a patient can buy or raised prices on them.

Zaibak said the chain lowered the price of the pills to $19.99 to avoid taking advantage of people’s panic.

He said he couldn't imagine Wisconsin imposing limits on emergency contraceptives.

Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers has pledged to veto legislation that bans such contraception. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who is running in the Republican primary to replace Evers, said she would not sign such a bill either. Tim Michels, a construction executive leading in the polls on the GOP primary for governor, has said he is "not against contraception."

“We’ve never had a situation where people actually kept it at home,” Zaibak said. “I’ve been a pharmacist for 22 years and … it’s never been looked at as something I should keep at home as a contraceptive just in case.”

CVS Pharmacy set a limit immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned because of a "sharp increase" of purchases in stores across the country, but the chain has since lifted the restriction because demand has slowed, according to CVS.

Walgreens pharmacies limit customers to 15 purchases of emergency contraception on its website but does not have a limit on sales in stores, a spokesperson said. The retail pharmacy continues to have "ample supply to meet customer demand," the spokesperson said in an email, although at least one Green Bay Walgreens was out of Plan B during a reporter's visit July 7.

Not all local or smaller pharmacies saw a difference in the demand for emergency contraception pills following the Supreme Court's decision.

At Stevens Point's Hometown Pharmacy, owner and pharmacist Tessa Garr said the number of people coming in for the morning-after pill was pretty normal in the past few weeks. There were still a couple boxes available Wednesday for $24.79 each.

As of Wednesday, Meijer's website says it's in stock in Howard, Grand Chute, Manitowoc. and Sheboygan. According to Target's website the morning-after pill is in stock in Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh. A limit is not in place, according to both pharmacies' websites.

Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @benita_mathew.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Where to find Plan B in Wisconsin: Pharmacies offer morning after pill