Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today signed House Bill 1191 and Senate Bill 1279, both of which will further aid Illinois cancer patients in obtaining health care.
House Bill 1191, which was an initiative of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, amends several of the states medical and insurance codes and also sets provisions in terms of cancer patients receiving medical care. Additionally, the law forbids group policies and health insurances from excluding coverage or refusing to pay for individuals participating in qualified clinical cancer trials.
The bill will help low-income women be included in clinical trials since they have often been excluded due to the financial expenses associated with it. Similarly, House Bill 1191 will help cover many costs that were uncovered before, including hospital stays, X-rays, and lab tests. The bill was introduced in February of this year, passed in both Houses on May 17 and sent to the governor's desk on June 15.
Senate Bill 1279 was signed to raise further funding for cancer initiatives by extending the "Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure" Illinois lottery scratch-off game promotion and additional five years, meaning the game will continue until 2016. The promotion was named in honor of former Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams, who died at the age of 44 due to breast cancer.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the "Ticket for the Cure" initiative was announced in January of 2006 under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The initiative was the first of its kind in the nation and the lottery tickets were completely dedicated to help fund breast cancer research, screening, education, and patient services all throughout Illinois.
Additionally, 100 percent of the proceeds go towards these types of programs and within the first year of its release the tickets helped raise over $3 million. WFTV also reported that as of March 2011 the tickets had generated $8.4 million and that lawmakers were pushing for a similar initiative in the State of Florida based off Illinois' success.
Quinn commented on both bills signed today and the importance of extending access to healthcare to Illinois cancer patients and raising more funding for cancer research and education in the state. Quinn said, "Access to quality healthcare is a basic right, and Illinoisans '" particularly those who are fighting cancer '" should not be denied coverage for participating in trials that might save their lives. It is important that Illinois takes the lead in increasing women's access to new science that can save lives."
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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