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Guzmán bill to protect patients from greedy health care corporations passes Senate Executive Committee

SPRINGFIELD – With Illinois residents facing skyrocketing health care costs and pressure on housing from property taxes and inflation, State Senator Graciela Guzmán has advanced legislation through the Senate to protect those burdened by health care debt from having a lien placed on their home during a health care debt collection.

“I condemn this practice of threating a family’s home because they are in medical debt,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “No person should have to go into medical debt in order to get the care they need in the first place, and placing a lien on that person’s home, that they have worked so hard for, is unacceptable.”

This bill came forward after the House sponsor heard from constituents affected by the acquisition of St. Margaret’s Hospital in Peru by OSF HealthCare. After that acquisition, families saw more aggressive medical debt collection practices, including liens on homes for medical debts sometimes as low as $2,000.

Read more: Guzmán bill to protect patients from greedy health care corporations passes Senate Executive...

Guzmán effort to expand mammogram access moves forward

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán is pushing to allow mammograms under all health insurance policies regardless of the person’s age.

“Young people should not be burdened by cost if they and their health care provider find they require a mammogram,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Earlier detection of breast cancer can lead to more effective treatment and better survival rates for those diagnosed.”

Read more: Guzmán effort to expand mammogram access moves forward

Lightford measure to prioritize community safety amid federal immigration activity

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is spearheading legislation to ensure federal immigration detention centers cannot be constructed, operated or located within 1,500 feet of protected locations – such as schools, day care centers, places of worship and private residences.

“Protecting areas where children and families frequent from federal government overreach is imperative for community safety,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Through this measure, Illinois is sending a clear message that we will not stand for federal immigration operations compromising our residents’ quality of life.”

Read more: Lightford measure to prioritize community safety amid federal immigration activity

Morrison-backed measure addressing emergency room workplace violence advances

DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison is leading the charge with a measure that would establish emergency room workplace violence reporting requirements.

“Professionals should not have to worry about violence when working in the health care setting,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It is reported that health care workers are five times more likely to suffer from a workplace violence injury than workers overall. Frontline workers can’t keep waiting– we must act now.”

According to a poll conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians, 91% of physicians said they or a colleague experienced violence in the past year.

Read more: Morrison-backed measure addressing emergency room workplace violence advances