Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4699

LRB104 18757 AAS 32200 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4699

Introduced , by Rep. Anne Stava

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 85/45 new

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Defines "large pharmacy chain" and "retail pharmacy". Provides that a large pharmacy chain operating in the State shall ensure that each of the large pharmacy chain's retail pharmacy locations maintains, at minimum, an inventory that is sufficient to cover the needs of existing patients for up to 14 days without needing to restock. Requires each retail pharmacy location to implement a predictive restocking practice to prevent or mitigate future inventory shortages. Provides that, if a patient attempts to fill a prescription that a retail pharmacy location does not have in stock, the retail pharmacy location shall provide timely mail-order fulfillment, up to and including overnight shipping, if necessary to provide a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in time to ensure no missed doses.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Pharmacy Practice Act is amended by adding Section 45 as follows:

(225 ILCS 85/45 new)

Sec. 45. Inventory standards for large pharmacy chains.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Large pharmacy chain" means an entity that is engaged in the practice of pharmacy, that operates at scale, and that meets one or more of the following characteristics:

(1) the entity operates 10 or more retail pharmacy locations statewide or 50 or more retail pharmacy locations nationally;

(2) the entity is owned, operated, or franchised by a national or regional corporation; and

(3) the entity utilizes centralized purchasing, distribution, or inventory management systems across multiple locations.

"Retail pharmacy" means a store, shop, or other place where drugs, medicines, or poisons are dispensed, sold, or offered for sale at retail or displayed for sale at retail.

(b) A large pharmacy chain operating in this State shall ensure that each of the large pharmacy chain's retail pharmacy locations maintains, at minimum, an inventory that is sufficient to cover the needs of existing patients for up to 14 days without needing to restock. Each retail pharmacy location shall implement a predictive restocking practice to prevent or mitigate future inventory shortages.

(c) If a patient attempts to fill a prescription that a retail pharmacy location does not have in stock, the retail pharmacy location shall provide timely mail-order fulfillment, up to and including overnight shipping, if necessary to provide a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in time to ensure no missed doses. Overnight shipping shall only be required when deemed medically necessary or otherwise confirmed by the prescribing physician.