(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed an amended version of House Bill 5142, which mandates that health insurance policies in the state pay for pregnancy and postpartum coverage. [Illinois- The Center Square]
The governor said the law ensures competitive Medicaid reimbursement rates for doulas, lactation consultants, home visitors and other community-based providers.
“Reproductive freedom and maternal health go hand-in-hand, and every time we make an advancement in the cause, I thank my mother,” Pritzker said.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, said that a nurse midwife is different than a midwife, and his biggest concern about the new law is bad outcomes.
“My concern is, when you allow others to provide these types of care, do they really have the training if something were to go wrong?” Davidsmeyer asked.
Insurance policies in Illinois are also required to cover abortions and pregnancy-ending medications.
When signing the Birth Equity Initiative, Pritzker said that Black women are three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes.
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