IDPH-PHARMACY DESERTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Debbie Meyers-Martin and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3623 requires IDPH to identify Illinois 'pharmacy deserts' and annually report their locations and related health issues to the General Assembly, using state or federal data.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Summary / Purpose

HB 3623 requires the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to identify and report annually on “pharmacy deserts” in the state and to describe health issues associated with those areas. The bill is intended to improve statewide awareness and legislative oversight of areas lacking access to retail prescription medication dispensing.

Key provisions

Adds Section 2310‑23 to the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law (20 ILCS 2310).

Requires IDPH to deliver an annual report to the General Assembly by December 31 each year that:

Identifies locations of pharmacy deserts within Illinois, and
Provides information about health issues associated with those pharmacy deserts.

Allows IDPH to satisfy the reporting requirement by including relevant federal government information if that federal information identifies Illinois pharmacy deserts and their associated health issues.

Defines “pharmacy desert” (text contains a drafting error “vapid” but context indicates a place lacking prescription medication retail sales), described as an area lacking pharmacies, health care facilities, or other physical dispensaries of prescription medication.

The bill as introduced stated “effective immediately”; enacted timeline in legislative history indicates a later effective date (see Implementation & Timeline).

Who is affected

IDPH: new recurring reporting obligation.

Illinois General Assembly and state policymakers: receive information to inform legislation, budget, and public health interventions.

Communities/residents in areas identified as pharmacy deserts: may be targeted for future policy or programmatic responses.

Health care planners, local public health departments, and advocacy groups: will have a new data resource for planning and advocacy.

Implementation & timeline

Introduced and moved through committee and both chambers in spring 2025.

Legislative history indicates: passed both houses, signed by the Governor (June 20, 2025).

Legislative actions record an effective date of September 1, 2025; the bill text as introduced used “effective immediately.” (Users should consult the enrolled/public act for the official effective date and final text.)

Notes, limits, and likely impacts

The bill requires reporting but does not create mandates, funding, or specific remedial programs to address pharmacy deserts.

The statutory definition is brief and does not specify quantitative criteria (e.g., distance to nearest pharmacy, population thresholds), so IDPH will need to adopt operational criteria and data sources to identify deserts.

Permitting federal data to satisfy the requirement may reduce state analytic burden but could also limit state-specific measures.

Expected benefit: improved visibility of pharmacy access gaps for policymaking, grant applications, and public health planning. Potential next steps by the Legislature or administration would be needed to fund or implement remedies.

Bill