New state law makes remote doctor visits more accessible

Posted on July 23, 2021
Gov. Pritzker signing a new bill Thursday that expands access to tele-health in Illinois. (Twitter/Governor JB Pritzker)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Post pandemic, one new thing which will stick around will be the virtual doctor visit. Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday signed a bill expanding access to tele-health.

“Today is historic because, as we come out of this pandemic,” said the House sponsor, State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City), “we have to realize we have lost almost 25,000 people in Illinois, and this bill is a mixture of mental health, it’s a mixture of low income residents who have the opportunity now to have tele-health visits with their doctors. It allows patients who don’t have access to have access.”

The bill, among other things, requires insurance to cover tele-health visits without also having an in-person visit.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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