SPRINGFIELD — To provide greater flexibility for healthcare providers and businesses receiving prescription drug deliveries while maintaining safeguards for controlled substances State Senator Laura Ellman spearheaded House Bill 4953, reducing burdens for businesses operating across multiple sites while preserving accountability and safety standards.
“This is a commonsense update that reflects how many health care operations function today,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We can improve efficiency without compromising patient safety or oversight.”
Previous law generally required wholesale drug distributors to deliver pharmaceuticals only to the address listed on a license and to individuals whose authorization to receive the drugs has been verified. Under the new law, non-controlled prescription drugs could also be delivered to a health care entity authorized by the license holder and reported to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
House Bill 4953 updates the Illinois’ Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act to allow prescription drugs that are not controlled substances to be delivered to additional authorized health care locations if IDFPR receives notice from the licensee approving the delivery location.
The law will maintain existing requirements under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, meaning controlled substances may still only be delivered to registered places of business or professional practice.
“Health care providers and businesses often operate across multiple locations, and outdated delivery rules can create unnecessary administrative hurdles,” said Ellman. “House Bill 4953 provides flexibility for non-controlled prescription drugs while keeping important protections in place for controlled substances.”
“Streamlining regulations and expanding access to high quality, affordable healthcare are some of my top priorities in Springfield," said Marti Deuter (D-Westmont). “By making it easier for businesses to have prescription medications delivered, we’re able to make sure that more people will have access to quality healthcare while reducing costs to businesses and healthcare providers.”
House Bill 4953 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1.
