In-home patients to receive equitable care under Harris’s law

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure patients needing home health services receive adequate care, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) advanced legislation to require all state health insurance plans to offer coverage.   

"Home care offers individualized services that are tailored to the client's health care needs and finances," Harris said. "By ensuring all state insurance plans cover home services, Illinois can play a tremendous role in protecting the most vulnerable among us, including older residents, the chronically ill and individuals with disabilities."

House Bill 5585 will require all health insurance plans governed by state law issued on or after Jan. 1, 2024, to provide coverage for access to home health services for the duration of medically necessary care. 

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Holmes advances plan to require insurance coverage for hormone therapy treatment for women after hysterectomy

SPRINGFIELD – When a woman requires a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes causes estrogen to drop and menopause to begin. Insurance companies may soon be required to cover hormone therapy treatments under a plan led by State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora).

“A lack of estrogen causes women to develop osteoporosis, weak bones, hot flashes and other symptoms,” Holmes said. “Hormone therapy replaces some or all of the estrogen the woman’s ovaries would be making. Adding estrogen back into a woman’s body lowers their risk of certain medical conditions.”

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Senate approves Loughran Cappel legislation to reduce vehicle registration fee for older Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD – A measure reducing the registration fee for older Illinoisans passed the Senate Thursday under legislation sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

“Rising prices are squeezing people’s budgets across the state, and putting an especially difficult financial strain on older residents,” Loughran Cappel said. “This legislation offers a reduction in cost for a vehicle fee for older adults living on a limited income.”

The measure would reduce the vehicle registration fee for vehicle owners and their spouses from $24 to $10 if they qualify or have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability Property Tax Relief Act.

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Simmons sponsors measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To protect communities across Illinois from the deadly impact of lead, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) is leading a measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures.

“Virtually every community across the state is affected by lead in our water supply,” said Simmons. “This bill provides a systemic response to a problem that is systemic in nature, is decades in the making, and often does the most injury to Black and Brown communities.”

Read more: Simmons sponsors measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures passes Senate