North Cook News

The Illinois House approved legislation in March to reform how health care is provided in the state and address inequalities. 

The 227-page bill includes multiple elements that are expected to improve the health system. These include creating a program for sickle cell anemia treatment and prevention, changes to the state’s prescription monitoring system and community health worker development programs. There are dozens of provisions, including enhanced dementia training for the Illinois Department of Aging, which was part of an amendment added March 18.

“I voted No on HB 158. Why? It creates a possible $10 billion+ program that we just don’t have the resources for now, no matter how well-intentioned,” Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Lake Barrington) said in a March tweet. “Promises made that can never be kept only hurt our ability to be trusted to do what’s necessary to restore Illinois.”

A previous version of the legislation did not pass during the General Assembly’s session in January. This version of the bill did not include the replacement of the Illinois Medicaid managed care program.

“Let me commend you on the incredible amount of work that you have put into this legislation, working with your colleagues, working with all of us actually… Because there are so many components to this bill that are extremely helpful,” state Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) said on the House floor. “For many of us on this side of the aisle, we are hearing some pretty astounding numbers… According to our figures to fully implement this would be somewhere between $12 and $15 billion.”

Rep. Camille Lily (D-Chicago), who introduced the bill, calls those figures inaccurate and suggests there will be changes when the appropriations process happens.