Healthcare
My Position
I believe every Illinoisan deserves access to affordable, quality health care. I will continue working to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while expanding access to these vital programs for people across Illinois. I will also advocate for greater participation by local health care providers so more residents can access the care they need while keeping prescription drug and health care costs affordable.
What I’ve Accomplished
I have supported and sponsored legislation focused on protecting patients, expanding access to health care, and keeping medical costs affordable for Illinois families.
HB 4461 – Medical Debt Protection: Protects families from aggressive medical debt collection by prohibiting unpaid medical debt from resulting in a lien on a patient’s primary residence.
HB 4207 & HB 5001 – Expanding Lifesaving Screenings: Expands insurance coverage for medically necessary diagnostic testing, including coronary calcium scans and scoring that can help identify cardiovascular risks earlier.
HB 4596 & HB 1569 – Combating Health Misinformation: Establishes a Health Misinformation Response Unit within the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop resources to identify and counter dangerous medical misinformation online and in local communities.
SB 0638 – Retiree Health Care Infrastructure: Allows non-home-rule municipalities to establish specialized OPEB trusts to sustainably manage long-term investments for retiree health care benefits without placing unnecessary burdens on local taxpayers.
HB 1745 & HB 5318 – Insurance Accountability: Works to limit unexpected out-of-pocket costs and improve patients’ ability to access affordable and transparent health care providers.
Future Plans
Our health care programs are facing serious challenges, and I will continue fighting to protect the programs that working families, seniors, and vulnerable Illinoisans rely on. I will stand against efforts to cut Medicare, Medicaid, or the Affordable Care Act and work to preserve access to care.
Here in our communities, I will also continue advocating for the resources our hospitals and local health care providers need to remain open and serve the people who depend on them.
This is about more than politics. It is about making sure Illinoisans can afford the care they need and protecting the health care infrastructure our communities rely on.