Illinois pharmacists will soon have expanded authority to assess patients and dispense all types of contraceptives, including emergency contraception, without requiring a traditional doctor’s prescription under a new law set to take effect January 1, 2026.
The legislation amends the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act to formally include contraceptive assessment and dispensing as part of the “practice of pharmacy”. Under the new framework, licensed pharmacists can dispense up to a 12-month supply of contraceptives following a patient consultation and risk assessment.
Pharmacists must complete an educational training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education that covers patient self-screening risk assessment, contraceptive counseling and education, and proper dispensation protocols. The self-screening tool is based on the most current version of the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The law requires that patient consultations take place in a private setting to maintain confidentiality, and pharmacists must maintain appropriate records of all services provided. Pharmacists retain professional discretion to refer patients to their physician or another healthcare provider based on assessment results.
The change is particularly significant for residents in rural and underserved areas of Illinois, where access to primary care physicians or OB-GYNs can be limited by distance and long appointment wait times. By eliminating the mandatory intermediate step of a separate doctor’s appointment for prescription renewal or initial consultation, the law addresses a critical barrier to timely reproductive healthcare.
The legislation also amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to ensure that the state’s medical assistance program (Medicaid) covers patient care services provided by pharmacists for contraceptives, including emergency contraception. The law establishes that pharmacists enrolled as ordering and referring providers will be reimbursed at no less than 85% of the rate that the services are reimbursed when provided by a physician.
This coverage provision ensures that low-income patients can access these expanded pharmacy services without financial barriers.
Illinois joins a growing number of states expanding pharmacist prescribing authority to improve healthcare access. Currently, 30 states authorize pharmacists to directly order and administer certain clinical tests, with 13 states now allowing pharmacists to prescribe treatment pursuant to those tests. Research has shown that expanding pharmacists’ prescribing authority can significantly increase access to preventive care, with one study finding an 11.6% increase in pre-exposure prophylaxis prescription rates in states that expanded pharmacist authority.
The new Illinois law builds on previous expansions of pharmacy practice in the state, including legislation signed in 2024 that allowed pharmacists to conduct tests, screenings, and prescribe treatments for conditions including influenza, COVID-19, strep throat, RSV, and head lice.
