Lilly Works to Expand Access to Preeclampsia Testing for Illinois Women

SPRINGFIELD, – Ill. — With preeclampsia continuing to pose serious risks for mothers and babies, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is being recognized for her work to raise awareness of the condition and expand access to preeclampsia biomarker testing for women across Illinois. 

“These efforts are about giving women the information they need to understand their risks, advocate for their health and make informed decisions throughout pregnancy,” Lilly said. “When we can identify risk earlier, we give women and their doctors a greater opportunity to act before a serious complication occurs. At the end of the day, every woman deserves access to the information, care and tools she needs to protect her health and the health of her baby.” 

Lilly championed legislation to expand insurance coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing, including House Bill 3706, which addresses coverage for women with private insurance. The Medicaid coverage provision was included in an omnibus Medicaid package, Senate Bill 3365, ensuring women covered by Medicaid also have access to preeclampsia biomarker testing. Together, these efforts help remove financial barriers to testing that can provide important information about a woman’s risk of developing preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure that can threaten the health of both mother and baby. It can contribute to preterm birth, costly NICU stays, long-term health consequences and avoidable health care costs. Approximately 13,000 babies are born preterm in Illinois each year, according to the March of Dimes, while the Illinois Department of Public Health reports that approximately 1 in 8 pregnancies in Illinois experiences hypertension. Preeclampsia also disproportionately affects Black women, occurring approximately 60% more often among Black women and contributing to persistent maternal health disparities.

“There are many leaders across our Illinois communities who share my commitment to improving maternal health, and this progress has been possible because we have worked together,” Lilly said. “Through innovation and collaboration, we are finding new ways to identify a woman’s individual risk of developing preeclampsia before symptoms appear and making sure that women have access to the information and care they need to have healthier pregnancies.” 

Lilly’s continued work on preeclampsia awareness and maternal health reflects a broader commitment to giving Illinois women the information, resources and access to care they need to advocate for themselves and their babies. By supporting earlier identification of risk and expanding coverage for testing, Illinois can give patients and health care providers more opportunities to act before serious complications occur.