SPRINGFIELD – Families dealing with substance use disorder face many uncertainties. When a loved one is in treatment, their families hope they are in the safest place possible. In the unfortunate event of an unexpected death, families and caregivers deserve timely notice of their loved one’s passing. Thanks to a bill spearheaded by State Senator Laura Fine, mental health facilities and substance abuse programs will now be required to provide transparent communication regarding a patient’s death.

“It is heartbreaking to lose a loved one, and it is unconscionable that there would be a delay in notification,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “No family should experience this unnecessary pain.”

Jordan’s Law is named in honor of an Evanston family who shared their story about their son, Jordan, who passed away while in a rehab facility. The family was not immediately notified of their son’s death. To ensure no other family would have to experience this, Jordan’s law will require substance abuse disorder programs and mental health and developmental disability facilities to notify a patient’s personal representative of their death within 24 hours and provide a written notice within five days.

SPRINGFIELD – Individuals who are prescribed at-home pregnancy tests will soon have the costs of these tests covered by insurance, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine.

“A part of expanding access to health care services is identifying the barriers individuals face every day,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “That is why I worked with Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl to assist individuals afford the costs of these pregnancy tests.”

The new law requires all state-based insurance plans and Medicaid to provide coverage for prescribed at-home pregnancy tests, regardless if the tests are available over-the-counter. The measure limits the number of tests to two every 30 days, except under Medicaid, where it is limited to a multipack every 30 days.

SPRINGFIELD – To further safeguard patients from discriminatory practices based on their reproductive health decisions, State Senator Laura Fine spearheaded a law that adds additional protections under the Human Rights Act.

“Reproductive health and family planning decisions are personal and it is important that there are laws in place to ensure these rights are upheld in Illinois,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “These additions to the Human Rights Act will provide necessary protections.”

House Bill 4867 will protect against unlawful discrimination for individuals who exercise their reproductive health rights. The law adds “reproductive health decisions” as a vital protection under the Human Rights Act. This ensures an individual is not discriminated against in employment or housing for their reproductive health decisions, including the use of contraception, fertility or sterilization care, assisted reproductive technologies, miscarriage management care, health care related to the continuation or termination of pregnancy, and prenatal, intranatal and postnatal care.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect residents from abuse and neglect at state-run mental health or developmental disability facilities, State Senator Laura Fine championed a law strengthening the ability of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate allegations.

“It is the state’s responsibility to protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Through on-site investigations, the OIG is able to confirm and respond to reports of abuse at these facilities, while removing the source of the issue before a pattern of neglect ensues.”

This law expands protections for patients by giving the OIG the ability to conduct targeted site visits to all community agencies in the state, which includes Community Living Arrangements and Community Mental Health Centers.