Health News Illinois reports: Medical records of patients who receive abortion and gender dysphoria care in Illinois will now be protected under a law signed Wednesday by Gov. JB Pritzker.  [Health News Illinois} 

The plan, which goes into effect in July 2027, would require electronic health networks to prevent any medical information related to abortion and gender dysphoria from leaving the state unless a patient expresses their consent.

Care that would be covered under the law includes medical supplies, behavioral health services and rehabilitative services related to the abortion.

The plan outlines the specific diagnosis codes that health data companies have to keep separate from the rest of the medical record. For non-coded information, the electronic health networks must allow providers to manually segregate the information from a patient’s electronic health record.

Electronic health record companies are responsible for implementing the plan, and the law specifies that it does not include any licensed healthcare provider or hospital.

The law was a priority of Pritzker and abortion rights advocates during the spring legislative session.

“The state of Illinois will always stand up for women’s reproductive freedom while aggressively rejecting anti-woman, anti-choice policies,” Pritzker said at a bill signing in Chicago.

Wednesday marked the four-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. Since then, Illinois groups like the Chicago Abortion Fund said they have seen a spike in the demand for services.

The group said Wednesday it has served over 60,000 individuals in the past four years, and has distributed over $25 million in direct support funding to individuals coming to the state for abortion care.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois said earlier this week it has seen a 48 percent increase in abortion care patients over the past four years, with one in four individuals from out of state.

Additionally, PPIL said it has seen a 220 percent increase in patients using telehealth services over that time period, with expectations that those numbers will continue to increase as patients are more comfortable with the technology.

Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC, said Illinois is at the “center of a public health crisis” when it comes to abortion care.

“Because of what we have built through decades of relentless organizing and the support of our champions in government, we have a strong network of providers, advocates, and abortion funds able to meet the moment,” she said. “We stay nimble and respond to the issues our providers and their patients are facing through laws like (this).”

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