Your generous donation will help support our project and policy work to help create a healthier society for women, children and families. We look forward to seeing you at our 20th anniversary celebration!
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| IMCHC ANNOUNCEMENTS | ||
Additionally, both the Senate and House, along with the original House sponsor of HB5285, Representative Charles Jefferson, approved the Governor’s amendatory vetoes to this legislation. As a result, young adults up to age 26 and Illinois Veterans up to age 30 will have the option to stay on a parent’s health insurance policy. This change goes into effect January 1, 2009. Thanks to everyone who took the time to contact their legislators about this important reform to Illinois’ private health insurance. This is a very positive step to achieving affordable, accessible, guaranteed health care for all Illinois residents!
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Archived Topics
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| Take Action! | ||
Sign On Letter – Urge Congress to Increase Illinois’ Medicaid Match There is serious conversation about including a temporary increase of the Medicaid FMAP (the percentages of federal matching funds each state gets for its Medicaid Program) as part of a stimulus package this fall. As part of our advocacy efforts, the Alliance for Children and Families, AFSCME and Families USA are jointly circulating a sign on letter to House and Senate leadership in support of the FMAP increase. Click here to read the letter. We hope that your organization will sign on by the deadline of Friday, September 5th at noon (EST)! Please email Linda Bennett with AFSCME to sign onto the letter. In a Harvard-led study of the maternity leave policies of 170 countries, the United States was found to be one of only four countries that do not offer some form of paid leave for new mothers. The Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 (HR5873) would create a system to provide all workers with 12 weeks of paid leave over a 12-month period to care for a new child, care for their own illness or help another family member who was sick. It would also provide paid time off for family members dealing with an exigency caused by the deployment of a member of the military. Paid leave will provide families with the support and flexibility they need, as well as help with employee retention, productivity and overall morale. A handful of states, including California, Washington, New Jersey, have taken it into their own hands by passing some form of family and/or medical leave laws. Oregon, New York and Maryland are looking into similar legislation. Paid leave is also a policy priority of IMCHC’s newest project, the Campaign to Save Our Babies.
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| Partner Announcements | ||
Visit the website of Women Employed to join the Illinois Paid Leave Coalition or to learn more about this initiative. Upcoming Policy Conference The 3rd Annual Midwest Policy Conference will take place on Friday, October 24th at the Erikson Institute, 451 N. LaSalle in Chicago. This daylong event will focus on early childhood mental health, highlighting findings from Herr Research Center studies on screening and assessment, workforce development and consultation services in the Midwest region. Email atimm@erikson.edu if you are interested in attending.
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| News in Brief | ||
Comment Period Now Open for Proposed Federal Rule that Could Limit Access to Birth Control Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released plans to implement a proposed federal rule that intends to protect a broad definition of health workers who have religious objections to abortions. However, both critics and supporters think that the rule is written in a manner that would allow for birth control and emergency contraception to be included in the definition of abortion. Federal funding would be at jeopardy for nearly 600,000 hospitals, clinics, health plans and medical facilities if officials determine that those facilities do not properly accommodate employees who do not want to provide services on moral, personal or religious grounds. The definition of employees would also include volunteers, trainees and workers who clean medical instruments. Advocates for women’s health and family planning supporters say that the rule “poses a serious threat to women's health care by limiting the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate health information and services," and that women's "ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology.” Implementation is expected to cost more than $44 million and the public comment period ends on September 25th. Visit HHS’s website for instructions on submitting comment. Source: National Partnership for Women and Families - August 22, 2008 The proposed rule change would require businesses to comply with both of the current options or be subject to the annual penalty. The rule is expected to generate an estimated $45 million in the current fiscal year and would be used to help pay for other parts of the health care reform legislation. In Spring 2006, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to enact comprehensive health insurance reform. A new report shows that an additional 429,000 state residents have been insured since the reforms went into effect. Nearly half of these individuals have purchased private coverage and hospitals and community health centers have reported that uninsured visits decreased by 37% in Summer 2007 compared to the previous year. Sources: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report – August 11, August 13, August 21, 2008 Article and Poll Indicate that Coverage can Influence Relationship Decisions TIME magazine published an article in their August 18th issue that looked at the controversy surrounding home births, which account for less than 1% of the total births in the United States. Women who choose home births often do so because they want a “natural experience” and an environment free of unnecessary medical interventions. A number of states, including Illinois, are reviewing legislation to allow for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), sometimes referred to as direct-entry midwives, to be licensed and practice. Some provider associations, including the American Medical Association, have actively opposed such legislation. A study by the Guttmacher Institute shows that 41% of women in 2002 reported receiving contraceptive services compared to only 36% in 1995. Additionally, about a quarter of the women who received services say they obtained them at a public clinic. The number receiving all sexual and reproductive services including Pap tests and STI screenings remained the same at 74%. It is estimated that family planning services save $4.3 billion in public funds each year. Source: National Partnership for Women and Families Daily Women’s Health Policy Report – August 15, 2008 Most New Jersey Adults Support Teaching Teens about Birth Control In a survey released by Monmouth University and Gannett New Jersey, over 90% of surveyed New Jersey adults support teaching teenagers about birth control in high school, while three-quarters support the same in middle schools. Additionally, almost 60% of adults disagreed that sex ed encourages teens to have sex. New Jersey’s teen birth rate increased slightly from 11.9 births/1,000 girls in 2005 to 12.4 births/1,000 girls in 2006. “Harry and Louise” Commercial Returns but with a New Message The groups sponsoring the ad campaign include the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Health Association, Families USA and the National Federation of Independent Business. The commercial is expected to air during Sunday morning news programs, as well as national cable networks and Comedy Central throughout the national party conventions. Additionally, the study documented that nearly 40% of those with increasing medical bills used their savings and 30% accumulated credit card debit to help pay off these costs. |
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| Upcoming Events | ||
IMCHC's 20th Anniversary Benefit Gala |
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| Save these Dates! | ||
IMCHC Southern Illinois Chapter Meeting and Legislative Luncheon |
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition
1256 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
312-491-8161 (voice)
312-491-8171 (fax)