FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2023

Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition applauds passage of HB 2450

The Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition applauds passage by the Illinois General Assembly of legislation that will ensure cultural competency is part of continuing medical education for a range of healthcare providers in Illinois.

"We are a coalition of civil rights, community healthcare, and labor organizations. Thanks to the leadership of State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Dagmara Avelar, HB 2450 will ensure that healthcare providers are equipped with critical information and tools to deliver culturally competent care for the diverse communities they serve. We appreciate the leadership of Sen. Villivalam and Rep. Avelar and thank the Illinois General Assembly for passing this important legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. We urge Governor JB Pritzker to approve the bill when it reaches his desk."

The required healthcare cultural competency will support healthcare providers, such as physicians, nurses, and dentists, with the tools and information they need to effectively and affirmingly serve communities of color, people with disabilities, people of diverse faiths, undocumented individuals, LGBTQ+ people, people living with HIV, intersex people, and other communities that have been marginalized in the healthcare system. HB 2450 also provides healthcare professionals with the flexibility they need to fulfill their continuing medical education requirements. The bill does not eliminate or repeal any currently mandated topic.

HB 2450 passed the Illinois House on Thursday with a bipartisan 103-01 vote and the Illinois Senate on May 19 with a bipartisan 52-04 vote. The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2025.

The Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition includes Access Living, AIDS Foundation Chicago, ALMA Chicago, Arab American Family Services, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity (BLACHE), Brave Space Alliance, Chicago Therapy Collective, Citizen Action/Illinois, Equality Illinois, Howard Brown Health, Illinois NOW, Illinois Nurses Association, Illinois Unidos, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, Muslim Civic Coalition, Peoria Proud, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Pride Action Tank, Prairie Pride Coalition, Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center, the Resurrection Project, and Youth Outlook, among other organizations.

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