USA: Illinois expands pharmacy access to emergency contraception through new standing order
July 2026. The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a new standing order to improve access to reproductive health products through community pharmacies. The Standing Order for Reproductive Health: Contraception, Emergency Contraception and Pregnancy Tests, issued on 24 June 2026, is part of broader efforts to expand timely access to contraception by enabling pharmacists to play a greater role in contraceptive care.
In the United States of America emergency contraceptive pills with ulipristal acetate (UPA), remain prescription-only, unlike levonorgestrel (LNG) pills, which are sold over-the-counter.
Under the new standing order, licensed pharmacists in the state of Illinois may dispense prescription contraceptives, including UPA emergency contraception. Pharmacists wishing to provide prescription contraception under this order must complete a training programme covering patient self-screening, risk assessment, contraceptive counselling and contraceptives dispensing.
In addition, pharmacists can dispenses several over-the-counter reproductive health products without the need for additional training or screening, including:
- levonorgestrel (LNG) emergency contraceptive pills;
- progestin-only oral contraceptive pills;
- condoms; and
- pregnancy tests.
