Healthcare

Declares March 5, 2025 as Rare Disease Day in the State of Illinois in order to raise awareness of rare diseases, support individuals and families who struggle with rare diseases, bring attention to the need for research and funding to support the discovery and development of therapies designed to treat and potentially cure rare diseases, and support the continued work of the Illinois Rare Disease Commission.

Honors the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman, whose contributions to medical science have had a lasting impact though her name is not widely known. Recognizes Alfred "Lacks" Carter Jr. for his work to preserve Henrietta Lacks' legacy and for his contributions in the fight against cervical cancer. Urges support for community-based research and education programs, which are vital to educating and empowering community members so they can make informed decisions about being involved in clinical research and the research process. Urges support for clinical research to reduce health disparities, to save lives, to gain insights about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and other medical treatments, and to discover treatments for various diseases.

Declares May 4 through May 10, 2025 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week (TDAW) in the State of Illinois. Expresses support for TDAW in recognition of the importance of early detection and intervention to improve outcomes for people living with mental health conditions and prescribed antipsychotics. Expresses support towards efforts to raise awareness about the causes and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and the importance of routine TD screening.

Declares the month of July 2025 as Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) Awareness Month in the State of Illinois. Encourages funding for research organizations working towards finding the cause and the cure of SJIA in order to prevent this disease and offer successful treatment options.

Declares April 10, 2025 as Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of Illinois to educate the public about the importance of vaccinations, initiate meaningful dialogue around vaccinations, and encourage the uptake of vaccines. Urges the Illinois Department of Health to continue to promote to healthcare providers and the people of this state that vaccinations are a highly effective and safe public health measure and increase public awareness about the importance of all Illinois residents receiving recommended immunizations, and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning vaccinations. Urges the Illinois Department of Health to continue to prioritize immunization initiatives, develop policies, and invest in immunization infrastructure to ensure broad and open access to immunizations to safeguard public health and protect the well-being of Illinois residents.

Urges the State to increase reimbursement rates, state grants and contracts, and the minimum overhead allowance to meet the rising costs of providing essential human services in Illinois and supporting the workers who deliver those services.

Expresses opposition to the Trump healthcare cuts, which fundamentally undermine the basic dignity and financial security of working families across the country. Calls upon the United States Senate to immediately table the Trump healthcare cuts bill and instead pursue reforms such as the Illinois' Healthcare Protection Act to make healthcare more accessible and more affordable.

Urges the federal government to allocate more funding toward finding a cure for Lyme disease. Encourages the Illinois State Board of Education to begin health education to prevent tick bites for children who represent the highest risk group for tick-borne diseases. Declares the month of May 2025 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Declares May 2025 as Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month. Express support for raising awareness and educating the public about Prader-Willi Syndrome and increasing research and funding into the causes and treatments of the disease.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Adds acupuncturist to providers included in the meaning of "health care professional". Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that the standard of care for a patient under the Act shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telemedicine, or through another method of electronically-enabled health care. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, by rule, to determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that, if the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions regarding telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause stating the reasons why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the person. Provides that the rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide the person with a period of 7 days after the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Provides that failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately. Provides that a person residing out-of-state that provides services through telemedicine to a patient residing in the State submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State.