CHICAGO, Ill. — As November marks Prematurity Awareness Month, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is being recognized for her work to raise awareness of preeclampsia and expand access to biomarker testing that can help identify pregnancy risks earlier and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Lilly will be honored during the Illinois Maternal Health & Prematurity Awareness Roundtable on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Hosted alongside Mirvie, a company dedicated to improving pregnancy health, the event will bring together patient advocates, health plan leaders and community organizations to discuss ways to reduce premature births and improve maternal health 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. Every woman deserves access to the information, care and tools she needs to protect her health and the health of her baby.”
Lilly championed House Bill 3706, which expands insurance coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing for women with private insurance. Medicaid coverage was included in an omnibus Medicaid package, Senate Bill 3365. Together, these efforts make Illinois the first state to mandate coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing across Medicaid and private insurance without patient cost-sharing.
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure that threatens the health of mothers and babies and accounts for approximately 20 to 25% of premature deliveries. According to the March of Dimes, approximately 13,000 babies are born prematurely in Illinois each year. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that approximately one in eight pregnancies in Illinois experiences hypertension. Preeclampsia also occurs approximately 60% more often among Black women, 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 women have access to the information and care they need for healthier pregnancies.”
The roundtable will feature Kara Boeldt, founder and CEO of EndPreeclampsia, an Illinois resident and preeclampsia survivor, who will share findings from a new survey of 1,200 survivors detailing their experiences with the condition. Additional participants include David Stern, CEO of Mirvie; Kimberly McCullough-Starks, CEO of Wellness West; and Yvette Davis, population health leader at HCSC.
Lilly’s continued work reflects her commitment to improving maternal health and ensuring women have the resources and access to care they need to advocate for themselves and their babies.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: Illinois Maternal Health & Prematurity Awareness Roundtable
WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Media check-in and lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Roundtable discussion and Q&A: 11:45 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.
- Press availability, interviews and photo opportunity: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
WHERE: Rush Oak Park Hospital, Centennial Room, Second Floor, 520 S. Maple Ave., Oak Park
PARKING: Garage located at 524 Wisconsin Ave., behind the hospital.
MEDIA CHECK-IN: Enter through the main entrance at 520 S. Maple Ave., obtain a visitor sticker and proceed to the second floor via Elevator A.