This week, Governor JB Pritzker signed the fourth and final pillar of the 2021 Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda. This pillar, bill number HB 158, addresses systemic racism in the Medicaid health care system by requiring implicit bias training for providers, expands access to high-quality, evidence-based doula and home visiting services for people with Medicaid, and […]
Continue ReadingInfertility is a Reproductive Justice Issue
Policy
EverThrive Illinois has spent over 30 years working to improve the lives of pregnant people, children, and families in Illinois by ensuring that all people have access to quality affordable health care. As part of our mission and vision for Illinois, we believe every family should have the right to choose if, when, and how they will have children. However, infertility and challenges accessing fertility treatment have created barriers for many […]
Continue ReadingBirth Justice for Black Birthing Parents
Policy
After decades of decline, maternal mortality in the U.S. and in Illinois has worsened since 2000 and not all pregnant people are equally at risk. Black pregnant and postpartum women die at six times the rate of white women in Illinois. Women on Medicaid during their pregnancy face almost five times the risk of pregnancy-related death that women with private insurance experience. But to call this phenomenon a maternal mortality “crisis” only captures some of the […]
Continue ReadingIllinois Passes Historic Provisions to Increase Access to Home Visiting and Doula Services
Policy
EverThrive Illinois and Start Early are thrilled the Illinois Senate approved House Bill 158 (HB158). The bill now moves to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk for his signature. Among other historic provisions, the legislation creates the statutory framework for expanding Medicaid to cover home visiting and doula services. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus for crafting a series of bills this year, including HB158, that centered the needs and experiences of Black Illinoisians, who […]
Continue ReadingCOVID-19 Relief is Coming, and With It, Vital Access to Care
Policy
Earlier today, the U.S. House voted to approve the American Rescue Plan that now heads to President Biden for signing later this week. The bill providing $1.9 trillion in spending is set to be one of the largest investments in the social safety net in U.S. history. The American Rescue Plan substantially addresses the number […]
Continue ReadingIllinois Budget Address
Policy
Earlier this week, Governor JB Pritzker delivered a virtual Budget and State of the State Address to the 102nd General Assembly. EverThrive Illinois was pleased to hear the Governor’s continued investment in nutrition support, housing support, early childhood development, child care, and funding to address ongoing vaccine hesitancy. Despite ongoing state budget stress from the pandemic, the Governor did not propose any cuts to state agency budgets. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department […]
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