By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – The fourth and final legislative “pillar” in the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda is now law: equity in health care.
“This bill will create an anti-racism commission to eliminate the systemic racism so prevalent in our health care system,” said House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), enumerating some of the bill’s features. “It will halt the closure of hospitals across the state – mostly in poor communities like the ones we represent. This bill will require implicit bias training for all medical professionals.”
The new law is meant to fight the trends that people of color have less access to health care, are more likely to suffer chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and have shorter lifespans than whites.
Put another way, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said, “Health care is a right, not a privilege.”
A Republican news release says the programs in the bill are funded by “fantasy money.”
Dave Dahl can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
