The General Assembly approved several major healthcare initiatives over the holiday weekend, including expanding coverage for maternal health services. [Health News Illinois] 

The plan by Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, would task insurers with covering all pregnancy, postpartum and newborn care provided by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives. That includes home births and home visits.

Coverage would also expand to home visits by board-certified lactation consultants, as well as recommended products like breast pumps and feeding aids.

The bill would allow policy limits to cover up to $8,000 for home visits by a perinatal doula.

"What's so heartening to me is to see a governor who understands that a safe healthy pregnancy shouldn't be predicated on one's income, background or race," Gabel said. "It is a fundamental right."

An amendment filed Friday would require Medicaid to cover certified professional midwife services, as well as licensed certified professional midwife services, starting next year.

The proposal passed along party lines. Some Republicans were concerned about why abortion services were not tied to copays, but those who have a miscarriage or a successful delivery could be required to have a copay.

Pritzker, who made maternal health a major priority this session, said Saturday he will sign the bill into law.

“(This initiative) will work to close the tragic gap in maternal mortality between Black women and other new parents, and (will ensure) we meet the unique pregnancy, birthing and postpartum needs of women across our state,” he said.

Lawmakers also approved a plan from Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, that would expand the state’s anti-discrimination protections to include those who receive abortion and reproductive healthcare. Under the bill, for example, employers wouldn't be able to end employment for someone seeking in vitro fertilization and housing providers couldn't refuse an apartment rental because a person had an abortion.

And lawmakers approved a bill from Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, that would ensure patients can receive abortion services in a medical emergency. Supporters said it is a vital step as the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a challenge to a federal law that ensures that patients can receive emergency care.

Another approved bill from Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, would require the Department of Public Health to conduct a study examining what demographics are underrepresented in clinical cancer trials.

All proposals head to Pritzker for final approval.

The Senate on Sunday passed a proposal to create a program to provide medical debt relief for up to 300,000 Illinoisans, another of Pritzker’s legislative initiatives.

Qualifying individuals would have to have a household income below 400 percent of the federal poverty level or possess medical debt amounting to at least 5 percent of their household income.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services would be tasked with reviewing and choosing applicants to receive support. An annual report would be released on the program's progress and outcomes.

Sen. Mike Simmons, a Democrat from Chicago and chief sponsor, said the plan would remove an additional barricade that some individuals have to healthcare.

“Too often people ignore their health due to cost — especially those with fixed incomes and tight budgets,” he said. “We have to look out for them and make sure that a bill is never a barrier to healthcare.”

The chamber also passed a plan from Sen. Karina Villa, D-Chicago, that would require hospital affiliates to report suspected abuse of a patient at hospitals and facilities operated by an affiliate, such as doctor’s offices or clinics. Affiliates would also be subject to the same reporting guidelines as hospitals, with the Department of Public Health able to investigate reports of abuse.

Lawmakers also approved a cannabis omnibus from Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, that would, in part, allow medical cannabis patients to get their prescriptions through telehealth. They removed language from the bill allowing patients to purchase medical cannabis from any dispensary in the state.

The three bills passed by the Senate Sunday head to the House for concurrence.

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