Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) recently expressed outrage at the Target Corporation for misrepresenting Planned Parenthood and attempting to cover up a misguided corporate policy that denies women access to contraception. PPFA has urged Target to implement a policy that respects the rights of its customers by ensuring that Target pharmacies fill prescriptions in-store, without discrimination or delay. However, Target has announced that it would continue to embrace a policy that denies women timely access to basic health care. In response to complaints from the public, Target has questioned the veracity of a well-documented pharmacist refusal incident in Missouri and mischaracterized PPFA's attempts to address the situation. Target Timeline Prior to this refusal incident, Target ignored three requests by Planned Parenthood to clarify its national policy on pharmacists who refuse to fill valid, legal prescriptions for birth control. Some pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for Emergency Contraception, claiming that their religious beliefs prevent them from doing so.

Karen Pearl, PPFA interim president, said, "When the drugs needed to fill women's prescriptions are sitting on a shelf behind the counter, women should not be turned away and sent to find them at another store. If Kmart, CVS, Costco and other chains can find a way to accommodate employees while still ensuring that patients receive timely, on-site access to their prescription medication, why can't Target?"

Pharmacist refusals can jeopardize woman's reproductive health. Denying women timely access to health care is an act of discrimination that could lead to an increased number of unintended pregnancies. PPFA has an online letter that can be sent to encourage Target to fill EC and birth control prescriptions.

The Truth About Target | Fill My Pills Now has survey results of the policies of top pharmacy chains about filling birth control prescriptions