FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11th, 2023

Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition applauds approval of the Healthcare Cultural Competency Law, HB 2450 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition applauds Governor JB Pritzker’s approval today 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. 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. Thank you, Gov. Pritzker, for approving this important legislation that keeps Illinois moving forward. We also appreciate the leadership of our legislative sponsors, Sen. Ram Villivalam and Rep. Dagmara Avelar, for their fierce championing of this important legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support."

The required healthcare cultural competency education 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 topics.

In May, HB 2450 passed the Illinois House with a bipartisan 103-01 vote and the Illinois Senate with a bipartisan 52-04 vote. The new law takes 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, Lambda Legal, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, Muslim Civic Coalition, Peoria Proud, Phoenix Center, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, Pride Action Tank, Prairie Pride Coalition, Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center, the Resurrection Project, TaskForce Prevention and Community Services, and Youth Outlook, among other organizations.

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