SPRINGFIELD – After Illinois legislators passed historic health care reform legislation, House Bill 5395, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:

“Access to health care is a fundamental right, and costs should never be the reason people forgo care. I've heard too many stories from people in my community who struggle to see a doctor or get the treatment they need because of obstacles like a lack of available doctors who accept their insurance or arbitrarily high insurance costs leaving them with low coverage or no insurance for their health emergencies. These barriers lead to untreated medical conditions and premature death for too many of our family members, neighbors and friends.

“We are putting the power back into the hands of the people who rely on the health care system and removing roadblocks for those who provide care to improve the overall well-being of our communities.

“The Healthcare Protection Act will save lives by banning prior authorization denials, stopping unchecked rate increases and eliminating ghost networks and predatory junk plans. This is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will make health care more accessible to everyone.”