Pharmacies Required to Fill Prescriptions for Birth Control.

Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich (D) issued an emergency rule Friday that requires pharmacies to accept and fill prescriptions for contraceptives without delay, after a growing number of complaints nationwide that some pharmacists are refusing to dispense birth control pills and the "morning-after" pill.

Reproductive-rights groups heralded Blagojevich's action as the first statewide regulation to address the issue.

There are no federal laws forcing pharmacies to fill all prescriptions.

At least 11 states are considering legislation that would allow pharmacists to deny prescriptions, and legislation has been proposed in California, Missouri and New Jersey that would protect a customer's ability to have prescriptions filled. North Carolina's pharmacist licensing board recently clarified its policy to prevent pharmacists from obstructing customers from getting prescriptions.

(4-2-05, The Washington Post.)