Illinois Passes Bill to Increase Home Visiting, Doula Services

The Illinois Senate has approved the Health Care and Human Service Reform Act (House Bill 158), which creates a framework to expand Medicaid to cover home visiting and doula services. It’s the latest in a series of bills to advance racial equity in the state.

The bill will:

• Create an Illinois Anti-Racism Commission
• Create a new Medicaid provider certification for community health workers (subject to appropriation)
• Require health care professionals to complete one implicit bias training per license renewal period 
• Allow for doula services and evidence-based home visiting services to be provided to families with Medicaid (subject to appropriation)
• Expand training for early childhood professionals on trauma and adverse childhood experiences
• Expand the coverage of eligible family members for employee sick leave

The bill now moves to Gov. Pritzker‘s desk for his signature. Update: Gov. Pritzker signed the bill into law on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

You can read more about HB158 on the Start Early website.