SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is working to cap insulin costs for patients as part of her work to lower prescription drug prices for Illinoisans.

“It is wrong for patients in need of insulin treatments to be priced out of lifesaving health care,” Mah said. “In Illinois, we will put an end to large insurance corporations and prescription drug companies putting profits ahead of people.”

To ensure that individuals in need of insulin do not face outrageous out-of-pocket costs, Mah is sponsoring Senate Bill 667 to cap co-payments for insulin at $100 per month. Mah’s measure would also direct the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate and report on additional consumer protections for insulin pricing. Mah’s legislation would make Illinois the second state after Colorado to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin treatments.

“Building a stronger Illinois means lowering prescription drug prices for patients and protecting critical health care access,” Mah said. “No person should be forced to choose between having lifesaving insulin and keeping a roof over their head or putting food on their table. This measure will help ensure that drug companies aren’t putting patients in a bind by charging outrageous and unreasonable prices.”

Mah represents the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Chinatown, McKinley Park, and Pilsen.

OTTAWA, Ill. – Working to amplify and support life-saving health resources for his constituents, State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, visited Spring Valley Kidney Care to learn more about the services the center provides.

“These kinds of facilities are absolutely critical to residents in our community,” said Yednock. “People’s access to affordable health care is an absolute necessity, and that is why I supported numerous policies to rein in prescription drug costs and prevent big insurance companies from gouging families on their premiums.”

Yednock recently visited Spring Valley’s Fresenius Kidney Care to tour the facility and to speak with the administration to determine their needs. The center is critical to local residents in need of life-saving, specialized kidney care because they help patients identify symptoms of diabetes and develop a treatment plan if necessary. For those in need of treatment or assistance from Fresenius Kidney Care, Yednock is encouraging residents to call 815-664-4585.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – Continuando su compromiso para luchar por cuidado médico económico, la Representante Estatal Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, está patrocinando un Seminario Sobre Medicare con AgeOptions.

“Estoy trabajando para construir un Illinois que prioriza las necesidades de las personas de la tercera edad y familias de clase media al reducir los costos indignantes del cuidado médico y de medicamentos,” Villa dijo. “Luchar por cuidado médico económico para las personas de la tercera edad, muchas cuales viven con ingresos fijos, es parte de mi compromiso de construir un Illinois más fuerte.”

Villa está invitando a personas de la tercera edad y miembros de su familia en nuestra área a su Seminario Sobre Medicare el próximo jueves, 31 de octubre a las 10 a.m. en la Biblioteca de West Chicago, cual está localizada en 118 W. Washington St. Expertos de AgeOptions darán una presentación en Español sobre los diferente planes de Medicare, nuevas inscripciones, fechas importantes y contestarán preguntas sobre el cuidado de ancianos.

“Es muy importante entender Medicare, el proceso de registrarse y los diferentes planes disponibles,” Villa agrego. “Urjo a las personas de la tercera edad en nuestra comunidad que me acompañen a este seminario para aprender más sobre Medicare y los beneficios que se merecen.”

Para más información, comuníquese con la oficina de servicios al constituyente de la Representante Villa al 630-326-9319 or StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Mary Edly-Allen. D-Libertyville, partnered with local law enforcement and healthcare experts to host an informational town hall meeting on the dangers of vaping devices and e-cigarettes.

“As a former teacher, education and protecting the health of our youth is extremely important to me,” said Edly-Allen. “This town hall meeting on the dangers of vaping gave families and parents an opportunity to learn from the experts and understand the increase in vaping and its potential side effects.”

Edly-Allen’s town hall meeting featured expert panelists including Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim, Mundelein Chief of Police Eric Guenther, and representatives from the Respiratory Health Association and Lake County Public Health Department. Edly-Allen intends to support legislation to increase regulations on vaping devices, which have come under scrutiny lately for their ties to respiratory illnesses in young people.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, continued to push for accessible medical treatment for all Illinois with his support of a new law expanding mental health care training in all schools.

“We need to ensure our schools are equipped to provide support for any students who are dealing with mental illness,” Carroll said. “Accessible health care is one of the most important things we can give to our kids, so it is critical that the people responsible for their wellbeing know how to respond to these all-too-common problems. In the past, mental health care has been treated as a secondary issue that only warrents a few trained specialists in a school. It’s time for that to change.”

Carroll sponsored Senate Bill 1731, which requires all school personnel responsible for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade be trained to handle mental health issues. These issues include depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse, among others. This legislation receive strong bipartisan support and is now law.

“I’m committed to building a stronger, fairer Illinois, and that means providing a health care system with the resources to assist everyone,” Carroll said. “Health care isn’t limited to doctors and nurses, it includes therapists, social workers and even teachers. This law will provide our educators with the tools and training to help students facing mental illness.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is inviting local residents to attend a Health Care Legislative Advisory Committee on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at his district office, located at 1234 W. 95^th Street in Chicago.

“Ensuring that our state’s hardworking families have access to affordable health care is critical,” said Slaughter. “Hosting citizen advisory committees like these allow me to speak directly with local residents about their needs and ideas they have on how to improve health care in Illinois.”

Slaughter is hosting the advisory committee to discuss recently passed health care measures as well as current issues surrounding access to care and affordability. Earlier this year, Slaughter backed legislation to stop insurance companies from implementing significant premium increases for no reason and supported efforts to reduce skyrocketing prescription drug costs.

Local community members are invited to ask questions and share feedback and ideas they have for new legislation aimed at improving health care in Illinois. The advisory committee will also feature  experts from Universal Family Connection, Christian Community Health Center, Advocate Health Care and other organizations.

“Hearing direct feedback from people in our community helps me to understand their needs and how I can serve them better as their voice in Springfield,” said Slaughter. “I look forward to hearing from the diverse voices throughout our community on how to make health care better for everyone.”

For more information or to R.S.V.P., please contact Rep. Slaughter’s office at 773-445-9700 or send an email to Justin@RepSlaughter.com

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, working with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Avon Township, and several other local health organizations and vendors to host a free Health Care Fair for community members on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Round Lake High School, located at 800 Panther Blvd. in Round Lake.

“With flu season quickly approaching, it is important that we work to provide a safe and healthy community for all,” Yingling said. “By teaming up with IDPH and all of the other fantastic partners for this Health Care Fair, we can provide preventative health services at no cost to local residents and keep our communities healthy this winter and beyond.”

By partnering with IDPH, Yingling hopes to provide free flu shots and other preventative health care measures to support the community. Attendees will also receive more information from multiple local partners, such as Mano a Mano, an organization focused on immigrant family services, and NICASA, a mental health organization.

“Getting a flu shot not only helps prevent you from getting the flu, but it also seriously reduces the risk of flu-related hospitalizations for vulnerable community members who may not be able to get vaccinated themselves,” Yingling said. “I am thrilled to partner with IDPH to provide such an important service for no cost to the community.”

Yingling has hosted numerous events offering free services for residents and connect them with the information they need. He recently hosted a College Affordability and FAFSA Seminar aimed at helping local students become aware of the resources available to ensure their success.

For more information, please contact Yingling’s constituent office at 847-231-6262 or email repsamyingling@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law backed by state Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, will manage spikes in prescription drug costs and rein in pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to skyrocket costs.

“When members of our community go to the pharmacy to pick up the critical medicines they need to function, they are paying far-too-high a cost,” Pappas said. “Pharmaceutical companies’ non-stop pursuit of profits has come at the expense of working and middle-class families, and it has to end.”

Pappas helped pass House Bill 465, which will curb skyrocketing prescription drug prices by creating comprehensive regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including requirements that they inform customers of cheaper prescription alternatives, comply with oversight from the Department of Insurance and pay fines of up to $50,000 for violating the Illinois Administrative Code in their bookkeeping procedures. The new law also protects the rights of patients in the emergency room by prohibiting any insurer from denying coverage until the patient is considered stable. Combined, these measures should help substantially lower the cost of health care in Illinois.

As the middlemen between drug manufacturers and pharmacies, PBMs set drug prices on behalf of insurance companies. Until now, they have operated with virtually no oversight even though they manage public money through Medicaid, as well as managing prescription programs for private insurance and self-insured plans.

“I’m committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the medical aid they need,” Pappas said. “Not only is reliable health care the foundation of a stable life, it’s the foundation of a growing economy. We are working to create good-paying jobs, but those jobs won’t help our economy thrive if people are too busy battling chronic health problems to work.”

​CHICAGO – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is teaming up with 33^rd Ward Ald. Rossana Rodriguez to provide a free flu shot clinic for the community on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Roosevelt High School located at 3436 W. Wilson Ave, in Chicago. Attendees are encouraged to enter through the courtyard off of Leland Ave.

“Getting a flu shot is a great way to stay healthy and protect the community,” Andrade said. “Some of the most vulnerable people in our community are medically unable to receive a flu vaccination, so events like these are great opportunities to help stop the spread of the flu and keep the people we care about safe.”

Andrade has held free flu shot clinics in the past in conjunction with local leaders and Alderpeople. He frequently partners with community health organizations to connect residents to different health care options in their neighborhoods. Recently, he partnered with 39rd Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent to provide flu shots and a community health fair for residents.

“I encourage residents to come and take advantage of the free vaccine offered at our flu shot clinic. Alderperson Rodriguez and I are excited to collaborate and make this happen,” Andrade said. “Receiving a free vaccination is a simple, but effective way to stay healthy in the winter months when people are at greatest risk of catching the flu.”

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – To promote the safety and health of all women, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is encouraging Illinois women to seek out the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), which provides Illinois women with access to screenings for residents who cannot afford this essential health care coverage.   

“I recognize how important it is for all women to have access to health care, which is why I recently fought to allow families to have insurance coverage for babies that need human breast milk in order to increase their health from a medically fragile condition,” Stuart said. “Whether it be for nursing or personal health, women should be allowed to have access to screenings and other essential health care services for little or no cost.”

The Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) is regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Not only does this service allow uninsured Illinois women between the ages of 35 and 64 accessibility to various exams, but if the resident is diagnosed with cancer, they would be eligible to accept treatment benefits. For more information, please visit www.dph.illinois.gov or call the Illinois Women’s Health-Line at 1-888-522-1282.

“This program allows Illinois women access to exams such as breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap tests that they otherwise may not be able to afford on their own,” continued Stuart. “Routine breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings can allow a woman to save her life if cancer is detected or allow her peace of mind knowing that her body is cancer-free.”