Illinois – REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ALERTS

11 Jul

Illinois Department of Public Health Expands Access to Reproductive Health Products

ChaseLatest NewsContraception, Democratic Governor, Healthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced an updated contraceptive standing order expanding the ability of trained pharmacists to provide prescription birth control methods directly to Illinois residents. The updated order is intended to ensure residents have easy access to contraceptive methods.

14 Jun

Illinois Lawmakers pass bill to shield abortion information from digital medical records

ChaseLatest NewsAbortion Rights, Democratic Governor, Healthcare, Illinois, Reproductive Health Privacy Act, Reproductive rights, United States

Bills expanding privacy for abortion medical records and access to birth control services passed in the final days of the General Assembly’s spring session.

02 Feb

Illinois launches new fund to support reproductive health access nationwide

MorganLatest NewsHealthcare, Illinois, Reproductive Health, Reproductive rights, United States

A new fund has been announced to boost and strengthen access specifically to sexual and reproductive health, not just for Illinoisans but for people across the country.

05 Oct

A student ‘womb service’ works covertly to deliver contraception at a Catholic college

JordanLatest NewsContraception, Healthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights

College student Maya Roman has the handoff down to a science: a text message, a walk to a designated site, and a paper bag delivered with condoms and Plan B emergency contraception. At DePaul University, it’s the only way students can get a sliver of sexual health support, she said.

12 Sep

How Abortion Providers are Bracing for Serious Fallout

RileyLatest NewsAbortion Providers, Abortion Rights, Healthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights, travel

Dr. Allison Cowett, medical director at Family Planning Associates, discusses how Illinois clinics are becoming overburdened hubs for patients traveling from across the Midwest.

08 Aug

Week In Review

PhoenixLatest NewsHealthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights, United States

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (WOPR), which limits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy and psychotherapy services. WOPR prohibits using AI in the state for therapeutic decision-making, but allows licensed behavioral health professionals to use AI for administrative and support tasks. WOPR aims to protect patients from “unregulated and unqualified” AI products, especially amid concerns over the use of AI chatbots in youth mental health services. It also seeks to preserve the jobs of thousands of behavioral health providers in Illinois.

01 Jul

Cook County Board unanimously approves nearly $10 billion budget for 2025

ChaseLatest NewsCook County, Illinois, Reproductive rights

Effective July 1, 2025: The spending plan includes more money for reproductive health services

01 Jul

July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy

ChaseLatest NewsGender Inclusiveness, Illinois

Climate change education, gender inclusiveness, birth certificates, prostitution privacy, court translators and insulin costs all received attention from the Illinois General Assembly. Laws involving them take effect July 1. Plus, the state gasoline tax goes up.

25 Mar

What happens when a Chicago hospital bows to federal pressure on trans care for teens

DoryLatest NewsHealthcare, Hospital Care, Illinois, Trans Rights, Transgender, United States

He's 17 and lives in the Chicago suburbs. He loves theater and recently helped direct a play at his high school. He takes competitive AP courses and is working on his Eagle Scout project. And he's been on a journey for four years.

22 Jan

An abortion clinic moved to a ‘safe haven’ state. It didn’t get a warm welcome

AlanLatest NewsAbortion Rights, Illinois, Safe Haven, United States

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, LaDonna Prince decided to move her abortion clinic from Indiana, where abortion became banned, to a town just over the border in Illinois, where abortion is legal. Illinois has become a key access point for people who have to travel to get an abortion; it has welcomed more out-of-state patients than any other state, according to one estimate. The new location of Affirmative Care Solutions in Danville is just about an hour from where it was before. Prince said she chose the location to keep the commute manageable for her staff and as convenient as possible for patients facing…

01 Jan

Protections for Reproductive Health Decision-Making in Illinois Take Effect January 1

BarbraLatest NewsHealthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights

Illinois continues to lead the country in strengthening reproductive rights. A law that takes effect January 1st prohibits discrimination based on a person’s reproductive health decisions, including fertility care and abortion.

26 Dec

New Law Expands Reproductive Rights

BarbraLatest News2025, Illinois, Reproductive rights

Protections for Reproductive Health Decision-Making Take Effect January 1 CHICAGO - Illinois continues to lead the country in strengthening reproductive rights. A law that takes effect January 1st prohibits discrimination based on a person's reproductive health decisions, including fertility care and abortion.

14 Oct

What are the tax, reproductive rights and elections interference questions on my ballot this year?

BarbraLatest NewsHealthcare, Illinois, Reproductive rights, Vote

This election season, most eyes are on the biggest race of them all: the presidential race. As important as it is to make your pick between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, Illinois residents are also being asked to weigh in on matters that don’t involve a choice between candidates.

30 Aug

Abortion access could be in jeopardy as Chicago Abortion Fund, others run short of mone

MollyLatest News, United StatesAbortion Access, Abortion Care, Abortion Fund, Chicago, DNC, Health care, Illinois, Reproductive Medical Care, travel, Travel for Care, United States

"Abortion took center stage during the Democratic National Convention, and Illinois was celebrated for welcoming thousands of women needing care since access has vanished across much of the Midwest and the South. But funds that are essential for many traveling to Illinois and other states for abortions — paying for their flights, hotels, child care and the abortions — are running out of money. Providers and advocates say that’s putting access to reproductive medical care in jeopardy...."

08 Aug

Illinois further expands reproductive health care protections

DoryLatest NewsIllinois, legislation, Reproductive rights

Gov. JB Pritzker signed multiple bills expanding reproductive rights in Illinois on Wednesday, including codifying a federal law that allows medical professionals to perform an abortion in response to a clinical emergency. Another bill bolsters Illinois’ interstate shield law that prohibits Illinois authorities from disclosing information, or using resources, to abet any interstate investigation into someone receiving abortion services within Illinois. The final bill signed prohibits discrimination against people for their reproductive health decisions, including abortion, in vitro fertilization and fertility treatment.