SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate passed a monumental plan Thursday night to drastically improve maternal healthcare for Black women across the state.
This proposal would require private insurance companies to cover maternal services provided by midwives, doulas and lactation consultants.
Private insurance companies would be required to cover home births, home visits and support during labor, abortion or miscarriage as well.Â
Related Links
- Stratton advocates for equitable pregnancy, postpartum care during Senate hearing
- Pritzker, Democrats hope to curb maternal mortality with $23 million budget investment
- Proposal improving Illinois Black maternal healthcare moving to Senate
Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) said this is a critical as Black mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical issues than white women.
"This is not a partisan issue. This is a health issue," Collins stressed. "It impacts every woman across the state of Illinois. By eliminating the cost-sharing requirements for this care, we can save lives across the board."
Gov. JB Pritzker wants to provide $4.4 million to the Illinois Department of Public Health to assess the state's maternal mortality rate and create an action plan.
Senate Republicans said it is wrong that patients having a baby or miscarriage would have a co-pay, but anyone having an abortion would not have to pay.
House Bill 5142 passed out of the Senate on a partisan 40-19 vote. It now moves back to the House on concurrence due to a technical amendment.
Gov. JB Pritzker also hopes to provide $4.4 million to IDPH in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to address the state's maternal mortality rate and create an action plan to support community-based full spectrum care. The Democrat wants lawmakers to approve a $5 million expansion of the state's home visiting program and $1 million for a new diaper distribution program as well.
Copyright 2024. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
