Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law a wide-ranging bill promoting health care equity for Black, Hispanic and low-income patients by enhancing mental health services, requiring bias training for doctors and creating a community health worker program.
"This legislation advances a key belief of mine that I know is shared by everyone standing with me and millions of residents across Illinois â health care is a right, not a privilege," Pritzker said at a bill-signing ceremony for House Bill 158 in Springfield at Memorial Medical Center's Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation.
"Justice isn't just about what happens in a courtroom," the governor said. "Justice is access to economic opportunity, to a great education, and yes, to affordable, quality, personalized health care. It's about recognizing that communities across our state have been left out and left behind, and then doing something about that."