Senate Democrats join governor in signing of historic birth equity legislation

CHICAGO - Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined Governor JB Pritzker to sign the Birth Equity Initiative into law. The new law will assist mothers and soon-to-be-mothers with receiving community-based health care options and resources.

"As a Black woman with three boys, this legislation is personal to me. The increasing rates of infant and maternal mortality, particularly among Black women, demand urgent action," said State Senator Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago). "This law is not just about health care - it's about justice, equality and the right of every mother and child to have access to the safest and most effective care, ultimately reducing mortality rates and ensuring healthier futures for Illinois families."

Under the new law, private insurers will be required to cover all pregnancy, postpartum and newborn care provided by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives, including home births, home visits and support during labor. Insurance companies will need to cover home visits by board-certified lactation consultants, including the cost of recommended breast pumps, breastfeeding supplies and feeding aids.

The Birth Equity Initiative includes over $10 million in funding to identify and address gaps in funding programs that can reduce adverse maternal health outcomes. This includes $5 million to expand the Department of Human Services' home visitor program, and funding for a pilot diaper equity program at DHS.

The birth equity initiative also includes dollars for existing clinics under the Illinois Reproductive Health Facilities Capital Grant, targeted toward birth centers that provide pregnancy services in underserved areas and areas that have seen an influx of patients in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. It also includes capital grant funding to support birth centers trying to gather capital to open in underserved areas.

The law will also provide coverage for abortion care without cost-sharing limitations like waiting periods or deductibles, and aims to add coverage for certified professional midwife services for residents with Medicaid starting Jan. 1, 2025. To keep consumer costs from inflating, the law allows policy limits to cover up to $8,000 for home visits by a perinatal doula.

House Bill 5142 was signed into law on Monday.