July 23, 2021 – A new state law increases access to birth control by letting pharmacists issue it over the counter. Women will no longer have to try and get an appointment with a doctor to get a prescription says, Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“Trained pharmacists, using the same screening forms that a physician would use, will be able to provide 12-month prescriptions for hormonal contraceptives whether pills, rings, or patches to a patient directly over the counter,” he said.
The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2022, letting specially trained pharmacists counsel customers on their best options for birth control, and then dispense the medication without a prescription.
