Lawmakers have strengthened Illinois’ longstanding sexual abuse survivors regulation in an effort to make sure sufferers obtain vital care after sexual assault.
The adjustments come after APM Reviews’ investigation final 12 months revealed for the primary time how dozens of hospitals violated that regulation. These violations included failing to supply sexual assault testing kits and never contacting baby or grownup protecting companies.
The 49-year-old Illinois regulation requires hospitals to be designated both “remedy” or “switch” hospitals. The previous should present key companies to all rape victims, with some exceptions in pediatric instances. The latter should get state approval to switch rape victims elsewhere. APM Reviews discovered some hospitals transferred sufferers so far as 80 minutes away regardless that a better hospital may have handled them and picked up proof.
The invoice permits the state to fantastic hospitals that fail to take corrective actions after violating the regulation and makes it simpler for the state to disclaim hospital transfers that depart sufferers touring lengthy distances, enduring lengthy wait instances, or with out transportation.
The invoice additionally expands entry to well being care vouchers, which cowl medicines, exams and testing for sexually transmitted infections after a sexual assault. Beforehand, solely those that confirmed up at a remedy hospital may get the government-funded vouchers. The brand new laws permits survivors to get vouchers at any hospital.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s workplace declined to say if he would signal the invoice. He has till the tip of July to take action.
The legislative motion caps a 12 months of negotiations amongst sexual assault survivors and their advocates, hospital trade representatives and state officers.
Sarah Beuning, basic counsel for the Illinois Coalition In opposition to Sexual Assault, stated the invoice “is an enchancment in lots of areas and a step ahead for survivors.” However, she stated she would have most well-liked a tough restrict on how far hospitals can switch sufferers.
Cheryl Thompson sobbed when she discovered Illinois lawmakers handed the revision. The 63-year-old instructed APM Reviews a physician at her nearest hospital dismissed her rape report, refused to look at her and steered she journey 80 minutes away for care after she was sexually assaulted final 12 months.
Thompson obtained a sexual assault examination eight days later, however it didn’t reveal male DNA. Public data present the Illinois State Police investigated her report, however no expenses have been filed.
Since then, Thompson has pressured lawmakers, advocates and trade insiders to vary the regulation. She testified in committee hearings about how her native hospital, and the state’s system meant to guard sexual assault victims, failed her.
“I’m simply overwhelmed that it’s going to be put into regulation due to what I went by way of,” she stated in an interview. “It form of makes it worthwhile that one thing good is popping out of the horrific stuff that I needed to undergo, in order that another person that comes behind me just isn’t going to need to undergo that very same factor.”
David Gross, the federal government relations lead with the Illinois Well being and Hospital Affiliation, stated Thompson’s story satisfied his group to comply with the legislative fixes.
“Out of this unlucky scenario has come some actual, actual enhancements to this regulation and hopefully to the execution of this the place a survivor just isn’t going through the identical scenario she did,” Gross stated.
Deaconess Well being owns the hospital in Anna, Illinois, the place Thompson went for care. In an e-mail, hospital officers stated Deaconess will quickly ship sufferers to a hospital 50 minutes nearer than its present associate hospital in Mount Vernon.
“We acknowledge there are at present gaps in entry to care throughout the state, and Deaconess Illinois is working to be a part of the answer,” stated Will Davis, Deaconess’ Illinois area president, in a press release.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who sponsored the invoice within the state Home, stated, “Proper now, I feel we have now a reasonably nice regulation, and I’m not carried out making it higher.”
Cassidy stated she’d like to extend the reimbursement charge that insurance coverage firms pay hospitals for sexual assault exams, to make it simpler for them to adjust to the regulation. “That’s a longer-term undertaking,” she stated.
