Access to health
Policy Update: Creating healthy futures for Illinoisans
The fight for health justice continues in Illinois with many bills to protect and expand access to healthy futures in Illinois.
Read MoreExploring the health and well-being of the transgender community
On this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility, we want to celebrate the accomplishments made towards expanding and protecting the rights and well-being of the trans community. But we must also recognize a significant amount of work left to be done in fighting the rampant discrimination and violence facing trans and gender nonconforming communities. Members of…
Read MoreWhat You Can Do To Help Medicaid in Illinois
In response to constant barriers, Protect Our Care Illinois (a statewide coalition of which Legal Council is a leading agency) is promoting a new piece of legislation to reform and improve the Medicaid eligibility and renewal process. The bill, SB2021 or the Medicaid Eligibility Determination and Renewal Reform Act, takes the best practices from other states who do not experience these problems and puts forward a comprehensive approach to reform.
Read MoreFederal Court Rules Against the Affordable Care Act
Last week, in the case of Texas v. United States, a rogue Judge ignored U.S. Supreme Court precedent and reasoning to find that the Affordable Care Act (A.C.A) is unconstitutional. This decision threatens healthcare access, quality of coverage, and financial protections that the A.C.A guarantees Americans.. As just one example of the importance of the A.C.A, today…
Read MoreA City Divided: Laquan McDonald and Health Disparities in Chicago
Last week, three Chicago police officers went to trial on charges that they were part of a cover up of the death of Laquan McDonald. The trial comes after Officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty of McDonald’s death after shooting him multiple times. On October 5th, Chicago held its breath. The jury was set…
Read More#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Legal Council Executive Director Tom Yates
#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Executive Director Tom Yates Legal Council is officially 30! Because of loyal friends like you, we have accomplished so much over the past three decades. Tens of thousands of clients facing illness and disability have had the opportunity to stabilize their lives and pursue their full potential. And Legal Council’s…
Read MoreIllinois Alliance for Welcoming Health Care
Over the last two years, immigrants have faced threats of deportation and family separation, forcing parents to choose between accessing life-saving care and services for their families and keeping their families together. These policy’s have caused significant damage to community well-being. The increase of fear has led to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee…
Read MoreLiving True: Transgender Day of Remembrance
Almost 20 years ago, transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith started the Transgender Day of Remembrance (T.D.O.R) to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in her own home in 1998. Her death was widely ignored by the media and many today still don’t know who Rita was. Her death remains unsolved. T.D.O.R is a day…
Read MoreIllinoisans now have access to a life-saving cure to hepatitis C
After receiving a formal threat of litigation, officials at the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (H.F.S) negotiated with Legal Council lawyers to end the department’s policy of rationing coverage of life-saving drugs to cure hepatitis C (H.C.V) for Medicaid participants. This policy change comes after years of discussions and strategic advocacy to remove…
Read MoreBREAKING: Joint Statement on Medicaid Hepatitis C Treatment Restrictions
AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Legal Council for Health Justice Statement on Medicaid Hepatitis C Treatment Restrictions Legal Council for Health Justice and AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) laud the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) announcement today ending the department’s policy of rationing coverage of life-saving drugs to cure hepatitis C (HCV)…
Read More