Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Gurnee) welcomes new health care law that addresses access to women an racial minorities. | Photo Courtesy of Adriane Johnson website
Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Gurnee) welcomes new health care law that addresses access to women an racial minorities. | Photo Courtesy of Adriane Johnson website
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and several Illinois legislators made their way to the metro-east to discuss legislation meant to improve access to health care for populations who have historically lacked access, such as those living in poverty and racial minorities.
House Bill 158 bill would include coverage not only for health care but also prenatal and childbirth services.
"House Bill 158 has been signed into law, representing the final pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda," Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Gurnee) said in an April 27 Facebook post. "I'm proud to have supported these initiatives to root out racism in Illinois' health care system and ensure all Illinoisans have the support and resources they need to be well."
These types of support are severely needed for people of color, especially women, who often bear the brunt of the toll that poor healthcare takes.
A black woman is, in fact, three times as likely to die while giving birth than the average white female in the U.S., and that statistic is even direr in Illinois, where a black woman’s risk of dying is six times worse than a white female.
Sen. Christopher Belts (D-Centreville) and Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) were also at the news conference.
H.B. 158 is also known as the Health Care and Human Services Reform Act.
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