Despite EC’s proven ability to prevent unwanted pregnancy, many hospital emergency rooms (ERs) do not inform women about EC nor make EC available to them. Sexual assault advocates have been particularly concerned about the failure of ERs to make EC a standard practice of care for women who have been sexually assaulted.

The chart below indicates whether or not a state requires ERs to provide information about EC and/or dispense EC upon request to sexual assault survivors. States in gray do not have such a law.

Last Updated: August 24, 2007

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC.
California	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
Colorado	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC.
Connecticut	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC.
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request. Effective December 14, 2005.
Michigan
Minnesota	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
New Mexico	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
New York	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina	ERs are mandated to dispense EC upon request.
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington	ERs are mandated to provide information about EC and dispense EC upon request.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming