Illinois Department of Public Health Expands Access to Reproductive Health Products

Illinois Department of Public Health Expands Access to Reproductive Health Products

Updated standing order from Illinois Department of Public Health allows trained pharmacists to provide broader contraceptive methods, emergency contraception, and more

SPRINGFIELD - Today, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced an updated contraceptive standing order expanding the ability of trained pharmacists to provide prescription birth control methods directly to Illinois residents. The updated order is intended to ensure residents have easy access to contraceptive methods.

The updated order builds upon an order issued in 2023 that gave pharmacists, licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) the ability to provide certain prescription hormonal contraceptives. The new expansion includes prescription non-hormonal contraception and emergency contraception. Pharmacists are required to complete training approved by IDFPR on patient assessment, contraceptive counseling and education, and more before being allowed to provide prescription contraception.

"Reproductive health care must be accessible, safe, timely, and centered around the needs of Illinois residents," said Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "By expanding this standing order, we are giving more people the ability to access contraception from trained pharmacists in their own communities. This action strengthens our commitment to reducing barriers to care and supporting Illinoisans in making informed decisions about their health."

"We, in partnership with IDPH, remain firmly committed to ensuring that every person in Illinois has access to the critical reproductive care they need from qualified, licensed healthcare professionals," said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr.

In addition to allowing pharmacists to directly provide prescription contraception, the order also includes a prescription for over-the-counter forms of contraception and emergency contraception, as well as condoms and pregnancy tests, to support insurance coverage requirements.

Under the terms of the standing order, before a pharmacist can provide prescription forms of contraception, they must have the patient complete a self-screening risk assessment tool and ensure that the patient meets the medical criteria for the contraception. If the pharmacist determines that they cannot provide the medication, they must refer the patient to a physician or other health care provider. Pharmacists must also provide counseling on various forms of contraception and must maintain appropriate records showing that they have met the requirements of the standing order.

Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, IDPH has taken steps to further protect access to reproductive health care, including:

• Working with multiple state agencies to increase access to reproductive health services;
• Providing millions in grant funding to Illinois organizations, including $2 million to organizations to provide training to medical providers in order to increase access to safe, high-quality care;
• Implementing Governor JB Pritzker's Birth Equity Blueprint, and issuing millions of dollars in grants to support those birth equity efforts;
• Overseeing the state's Title X program, in partnership with more than 30 delegate agencies, giving more than 100,000 people access to reproductive health services at low or no cost;
• Reaffirming state policy guaranteeing pregnant residents will have full access to all necessary life-saving emergency room treatments; and
• Revising the way abortion data is collected and preserved in order to better protect patient privacy.

A copy of the standing order can be found here.