IDPH Urges Hospitals to Give Perinatal Women Naloxone

May 28, 2025

MEMORANDUM

On May 23, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) issued a memo strongly recommending that all hospitals that provide care to pregnant or post-partum women distribute take-home opioid overdose reversal agents, such as naloxone kits (Narcan), with a low-threshold approach. According to the latest Illinois maternal morbidity and mortality report, the leading cause of death in Illinois was substance use disorder at 32%, more than double the second leading cause of death (cardiac/coronary conditions at 14%).

Birthing hospitals that have onsite pharmacies are encouraged to use their “Meds to Beds” program during discharge for patients covered by Medicaid or other health insurance coverage that covers naloxone. If not already, hospitals are encouraged to enroll in Illinois’ Drug Overdose Prevention Program (DOPP), a vital state resource designed to help hospital emergency departments and inpatient units provide free take-home naloxone for distribution at discharge, for patients without insurance coverage.

IHA successfully advocated for reforms under P.A. 102-0598 that would broaden access to opioid use disorder treatment in hospitals. Since then, the state has worked diligently to streamline and simplify DOPP enrollment. To learn more about enrolling in the new and improved DOPP, register for the webinar hosted by IHA this Thursday, May 29 at 11 a.m. CT, which will share practical strategies for hospitals to implement a successful take-home naloxone program. Implementing a take-home naloxone program in the hospital setting can save lives by ensuring that individuals at risk of opioid overdose have access to lifesaving medications when they need them the most. 

For questions regarding your hospital’s role or responsibility in the Illinois Regionalized Perinatal Health System, please contact Lisa Masinter, IDPH Deputy Director, Office of Women’s Health and Family Services, at Lisa.Masinter@illinois.gov. For questions or comments for IHA regarding this notice, please contact us.