Lilly Fighting for Fair Health Care for Incarcerated Individuals

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation to eliminate unfair health care fees for individuals in correctional facilities who are seeking emergency and preventative medical services.

“It is unjust to leave people who cannot afford health care services to suffer needlessly,” Lilly said. “Correctional facilities should treat incarcerated people with dignity, humanity, and respect, especially when they require medical attention.”

Lilly is sponsoring House Bill 2288 to expand health care access for the incarcerated by eliminating mandatory co-pays which many inmates cannot afford. A champion for a fair criminal justice system and health care for all, Lilly is sponsoring the measure at the request of Grace House, a residential re-entry program that offers housing and professional counseling to women departing prison in Illinois in order to reduce recidivism.

“We need to modernize our correctional system and move beyond the punitive ways of the past that perpetuate injustice,” said Lilly. “Removing obstacles to prisoners receiving potentially life-saving health care is something we must do in order to move Illinois forward.”