Grasse Advances Measure for Fiscal Responsibility, Effective Reforms in Department of Corrections Palliative and Hospice Healthcare

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, advanced a measure to promote transparency and fiscal responsibility in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) system through greater palliative and hospice healthcare cost reporting requirements. This bill passed the House Restorative Justice and Public Safety Committee last week and will soon be heard on the House floor.

“Gathering information on the cost of end-of-life care for individuals in our Department of Corrections system who don’t receive palliative or hospice care is essential to making smart, fiscally responsible reforms,” Grasse said. “Without a clear picture of the financial impact of not providing palliative and hospice care, next steps are going to be less reliable.”

In her continued push for fiscal responsibility and smart reforms, Grasse is leading the charge on House Bill 4665, which requires IDOC to include in its annual report data on the costs of end-of-life care for people who die of natural causes without hospice or palliative programs. This requirement is an expansion of the Eddie Thomas Act, which mandates IDOC to gather and post online other health data on palliative and hospice care for incarcerated individuals.

House Bill 4665 is supported by the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender and Restore Justice.

“At a time in which Illinois is facing the challenges of federal funding cuts, ensuring we understand the cost implications of government processes is essential to acting responsibly,” Grasse said. “This bill provides the foundation for next steps to take to optimize our corrections system for incarcerated people while remaining fiscally accountable.”