Bill
HB 3489
Expands Illinois pharmacists' role to assess, counsel, and dispense contraceptives (incl. emergency contraception) and requires Medicaid to cover pharmacist-provided contraception.
Status
- Enacted as Public Act 104-0312 (Governor approved August 15, 2025).
- Effective date: January 1, 2026.
- Introduced: February 27, 2025. Companion: SB 1656.
Purpose
- To expand and clarify pharmacists’ authorized practice related to contraceptives and to require Medicaid coverage for pharmacist-provided contraceptive services.
What the law changes (key provisions)
- Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act by revising the definitions/authorized activities in Sections 3 and 43 (225 ILCS 85/3 and 85/43):
- Replaces references to the “dispensing of hormonal contraceptives” with broader language: the “assessment and consultation of patients and dispensing of contraceptives, including emergency contraception.”
- Conforming changes elsewhere in the Act shift from limiting pharmacist-dispensed products to “hormonal contraceptives” to the broader category “contraceptives, including emergency contraception.”
- Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/5-5.12d):
- Requires the State’s medical assistance (Medicaid) program to cover patient care services provided by a pharmacist for contraceptives, explicitly including emergency contraception (replacing prior references limited to “hormonal contraceptives”).
- Makes related conforming edits in affected statutory language.
Who is affected
- Pharmacists and pharmacies in Illinois: expands a pharmac y practice activity to explicitly include assessment, consultation, and dispensing of a broader range of contraceptives (including emergency contraception).
- Patients seeking contraceptives: may increase points of access through pharmacies.
- Illinois Medicaid (medical assistance) recipients: pharmacist-provided contraceptive services must be covered/reimbursed under the program.
- State agencies and payers: will implement coverage and any necessary operational rules for pharmacist reimbursement and recordkeeping.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Passed both legislative chambers (final legislative passage May 22, 2025).
- Sent to Governor June 20, 2025; approved August 15, 2025.
- Effective January 1, 2026.
- Note: Section 3 of the Pharmacy Practice Act is shown in the statute text as scheduled for repeal on January 1, 2028 (existing statutory scheduling remains unchanged by this summary).
Potential impact (practical effect)
- Broadens pharmacists’ statutory authority regarding contraceptive services and ensures Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist-delivered contraceptive care, which could increase timely access to contraceptives at community pharmacies. Implementation details (training, protocols, reimbursement rates, recordkeeping) will depend on agency rulemaking and payer policy.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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