Medicaid - Dental and Podiatry Services (SB 741)

Senate Bill 741 rolls back several Medicaid program reductions that were cut in recent years. It restores funding for adult dental and podiatry services, lifts the four-prescription limit for people with severe mental illnesses, and allows more funding for children with extensive medical needs. This bill also helps to secure additional federal funding that will help us expand Medicaid services to those who need it most. 

Telehealth (SB 647)

To help resolve healthcare access issues that people in underserved areas around Illinois face, I sponsored this measure that clarifies the specifics of how insurance companies cover the patients who receive telehealth services. If a patient receives help from his or her primary doctor via a videocall, they should be provided the same insurance coverage as they would from an in-person visit.

Health Information Exchange (HB 5925)

I sponsored this measure to help streamline the sharing of secure information between patients, physicians, and providers.

DCFS Scholarships (HB 4652)

I sponsored this measure to expand opportunities for teenagers under the care of the Dept. of Children and Family Services to attend and finish their post-secondary education.

Voluntary Placement (HB 5598)

In situations where parents cannot provide adequate psychiatric care for their child, they are sometimes forced to make the painful decision of relinquishing custody to the state. This bill creates a pathway for these families so that their children can receive necessary health care services without being separated from their parents.

Responsible Alcohol Service (HB 5926)

To help ensure responsible alcohol service in Cook County, I sponsored House Bill 5926, which requires all alcohol servers in Cook County to have basic training in responsible alcohol service and handling. Under HB 5926, the State Liquor Commission will develop training modules and certificate programs focused on all aspects of responsible alcohol service, including: spotting signs of intoxication, preventing DUIs, stopping underage sales and underage drinking, and creating safer communities where alcohol is served.

Pregnancy Discrimination (HB 8)

This bill requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. It also makes it a civil rights violation if employment opportunities are denied to women because of pregnancy.

Medicinal Cannabis for Epileptic Children (SB 2636)

Children who suffer from severe forms of epilepsy suffer thousands of life-threatening seizures a day. I co-sponsored Senate Bill 2636, which gives these children access to cannabis oil, which has been proven to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. 

As members of the Lakefront Coalition for Responsible Fire Sprinkler Policy already know, Illinois Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis has recently publicly announced that he will not unilaterally pursue a statewide sprinkler mandate in the future. A link to the Fire Marshal's announcement can be found here. 

This pledge from the Fire Marshal is the result of all of the impassioned letters, calls, emails, and petition signatures from people across Chicago who believe that a statewide fire sprinkler mandate is bad public policy.

Thank you to everyone who not only demonstrated your support for my bill, but spread the word and called others to join us in the fight against mandated fire sprinklers.

The Fire Marshal now recognizes the need for a collaborative approach to reaching a solution on fire sprinkler installation laws and other fire safety measures in Illinois. I look forward to working with Mr. Matkaitis, my fellow legislators, and all stakeholders to determine the most effective approaches to fire safety in our state.