Springfield, IL (WAND) –  A new state law will make it easier to get prescriptions filled. Pharmacies will be able to electronically transfer more prescriptions from one location to another.

Many people face dilemmas when they find out their pharmacy cannot fill a prescription because it is out of stock only to find out they can’t transfer it to another pharmacy due to Illinois law.

Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said a local surgeon told him Illinois needs to allow more types of prescriptions to be electronically transferred from one pharmacy to another.

“Instead of the pharmacy telling the patient, ‘Sorry, we just can’t fill this prescription and you’re going to have a new prescription that’s going to have to be written by your doctor again,’ they’re going to say, ‘We can transfer this prescription from the current pharmacy that it’s at to another pharmacy that has it in stock,'” McClure said Tuesday. “That’s going to save people a second trip to the doctor’s office and make sure people can pick up their prescriptions.”

Sponsors said this can be critical for chronic pain patients who struggle to find their meds.

The law creates safeguards for pharmacies while they transition to an electronic system. It also includes exceptions for when patients can use paper prescriptions for controlled substances.

“For example, your home pharmacy is not a 24 hour pharmacy,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago). “You’re being discharged from the emergency room in the middle of the night, and you need to find a place that you can get your meds. A paper prescription is going to make that a lot easier for you.”

McClure said it took several years of negotiations to get the plan across the finish line.

“This is why people put us in the Capitol as legislators, to take a common sense issue that can be fixed and we work together as Republicans and Democrats to fix the issue,” McClure said.

Senate Bill 3213 passed unanimously out of both chambers. It takes effect Jan. 1.