New law expands insurance coverage of EpiPens for minors

• Health
• Children
• HB 3435

SPRINGFIELD – Insurers will be required to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for minors under a proposal passed by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

“With steady increases in food allergies and other serious allergic conditions, families are relying on EpiPens more than ever before,” Morrison said. “We should be doing everything we can to expand access to affordable lifesaving drugs and medicines. No child with a serious allergy should be without an epinephrine injector because they cannot afford one.”

Epinephrine injectors – commonly known by the specific brand name EpiPen – deliver the life-saving drug epinephrine to individuals experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine works by narrowing blood vessels and opening lung airways, reversing the symptoms of a potentially fatal allergic reaction.

Morrison’s new law, contained in House Bill 3435, requires certain private insurance policies to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for those under 18 years of age.

Read more …

New law protects rights of living organ donors

• Health
• Organ Donation
• HB 2847
• SB 68

SPRINGFIELD – Living organ donors in Illinois would have increased protections under the law under a proposal passed by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed into law today by Gov. Pritzker.

“Across Illinois, thousands of residents are awaiting a kidney transplant. Sadly, less than a quarter of patients who were on the organ donation waiting list last year actually received an organ transplant,” Morrison said. “We must do more to incentivize individuals willing to give so much of themselves for the health of another.”

Morrison’s new law – contained in House Bill 2847 – would prohibit insurance companies from refusing to insure or limiting the kind of coverage available needed for care solely because an individual was a living organ donor.

The law also includes protections in the workplace, making it unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for requesting a leave of absence to donate an organ. Lastly, the bill creates an organ and tissue donor registry under the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

Read more …

Morrison concerned with high-paid CEO while workers with disabilities lose employment

• Human Services
• Disability Rights
• Goodwill

SPRINGFIELD – News that Land of Lincoln Goodwill in Springfield is laying off dozens of workers with disabilities without a valid explanation is drawing concern from State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).

“It is disheartening that Goodwill would use false excuses to terminate the employment of reliable, hardworking staff with disabilities in Illinois,” Morrison said.

Morrison – who is chair of the Senate Human Services Committee and founder of the Special Needs Caucus – passed a series of measures this year aimed at increasing state employment of individuals with disabilities, all aimed at breaking down the barriers to employment.

Read more …

Coming Up: Microplastics Forum

• Events
• Environment,
• Highland Park

Join State Senator Julie Morrison and the Illinois Environmental Council for a forum on the impact of microplastics. Expert speakers from the Shedd Aquarium, Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Prairie Research Institute will be on hand.

The event is being held on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 6:30p until 8:00p at the Highland Park Library (494 Laurel Avenue).

RSVP by clicking here: ilenviro.org/Morrison

Questions?

Contact Senator Morrison's office in Deerfield at (847) 945-5200.

Click on the flyer for more information