Morrison to provide options on how to handle totaled vehicles

SPRINGFIELD – Finding out your vehicle is totaled can be a difficult situation and the last thing you want to do is research the cost of each part of your car. State Senator Julie Morrison introduced a measure to require vehicle insurance companies to do that work for you.

“I am committed to increasing transparency between insurance companies and consumers,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This initiative will save people time and energy during an already trying occurrence.”

House Bill 5559 would require auto insurers to provide a description of how the total loss of vehicle determination was made, as well as include any available repair estimates, estimated vehicle salvage value, assessed market value and any other costs or calculations.

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Morrison measure to improve diversity of clinical cancer trials

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison is leading a measure to bring more diversity in participants of clinical trials.

“Better representation in clinical trials will improve progress and innovation in cancer care and mitigate some inequities that currently exist in health care,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest).

House Bill 5405 would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with the University of Illinois and other relevant organizations to conduct a study examining what demographics are currently underrepresented in clinical trials, identify barriers to participation and pinpoint ways to improve upon outreach to these communities. IDPH would report the findings of this study to the General Assembly by July 1, 2026.

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American Cancer Society addresses the State of Cancer in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) joined forces at a press conference Thursday to discuss the state of cancer and advocate for measures to tackle the deadly disease.

“Increasing cancer awareness and sponsoring policy that positively impacts cancer statistics is a priority,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Since 1990, cancer mortality rates have dropped by 25%. We must act to continue this positive progression and restore hope.”

Nearly 80,000 Illinoisans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 23,000 will likely lose their lives to the disease.

Currently, cancer screenings for certain types of cancer are covered by insurance as long as the patient meets the age requirement. Senator Morrison is working with ACS CAN to pass Senate Bill 2697.

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Morrison leads measure to give physicians a new resource for end-of-life care

SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside advocates from various health care organizations as well as the State Bar Association at a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her initiative to create a state electronic registry which will store treatment preferences for critically ill individuals.

“How much or how little treatment a person gets at their end-of-life should be up to each individual instead of the one-size-fits-all approach,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This measure will enable physicians to access forms detailing patients’ wishes in a single, accessible location.”

Senate Bill 2644 would establish a statewide electronic registry that will contain Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms, which lay out what type of medical treatment a patient does and does not want. POLST forms can help health care practitioners to uphold a person’s wishes regarding their care.  

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