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SPRINGFIELD – For nearly a year, physician assistants (PAs) have stepped up to provide hands-on care for COVID-19 patients, which is why State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is renewing a push to remove the unnecessary and outdated practice barriers they face in providing care services.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many PAs reached outside their normal duties to care for an unprecedented influx of patients and make up for staff shortages,” Murphy said. “Some states waived obstructive practice requirements to enable PAs to step up and help, with great success. We need to make those changes here in Illinois, permanently.”
Murphy’s proposed legislation would simplify partnerships between physicians and PAs by removing burdensome red tape, like written agreements and practice notifications. These bureaucratic barriers restrict health care access for patients, according to a 2018 study by the Brookings Institution, and eliminating them could significantly improve productivity in the health care industry.
The measure would also give PAs representation by establishing a PA regulatory board. Physicians and PAs would be able to work together to decide what care services the PA can provide to patients, based on his or her education, training and experience.
“When our hospitals were facing dangerous overcrowding, PAs proved themselves to be professional, skilled and highly educated,” said Murphy. “It’s time we let them do their jobs.”
Senate Bill 145 has been assigned to the Senate Licensed Activities Committee.
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DES PLAINES – The Illinois Department of Public Health will partner with Chicago Behavioral Hospital to administer vaccines to residents in Des Plaines and surrounding communities, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced today.
“Expanding access to the vaccine is especially important in the communities hit hardest by COVID-19, where rates of transmission, hospitalization and death are higher,” Murphy said. “This partnership with Chicago Behavioral Hospital will provide local residents a safe and convenient place to get vaccinated, which I hope will help our community bounce back and prevent further tragedy for the individuals and families who have been impacted by this pandemic.”
The state will provide the Des Plaines site with approximately 300-500 vaccine doses per week, in addition to the allocated doses the state distributes to existing health care partners, like local health departments and pharmacies.
Chicago Behavioral Hospital is one of nine sites in Illinois selected to participate in a pilot program launched by the state to ensure that communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to the vaccine.
The state-sponsored site at Chicago Behavioral Hospital will supplement the new Cook County mass vaccination site opening at the former Kmart in Des Plaines to significantly expand access to vaccines in the Northwest Suburbs.
Vaccines will be available to residents by appointment only. For additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit www.coronavirus.Illinois.gov.
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DES PLAINES – A mass COVID-19 vaccination site will open at the former Kmart in Des Plaines, thanks in part to efforts by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to secure a more convenient location for residents in the Northwest Suburbs to receive their dose.
“It’s great to see this much-needed vaccination site open in Des Plaines, a community that suffered some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the region earlier in the pandemic,” Murphy said. “This repurposed facility will allow residents throughout the O’Hare corridor to take that all-important step to protect themselves and their loved ones: Getting vaccinated.”
The site will be housed in the former Kmart located at 1155 E. Oakton St. in Des Plaines and will be open to residents in Phases 1A and 1B, including health care personnel, first responders, front-line essential workers, and residents 65 and older.
In February, Murphy and other North Suburban senators sent a letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle urging the county to open a community vaccination site in the area. Lawmakers cited disproportionately high COVID-19 rates and a large population of older residents, a potentially deadly combination, as reasons to prioritize the area in the county’s vaccine distribution plan.
According to Cook County officials, appointments will be available at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Vaccinations will begin Friday or Saturday, pending delivery of vaccine supplies from the federal government.
“When it’s your turn, I encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It’s the best way you can protect yourself and your loved ones,” Murphy said. “The faster we get everyone vaccinated, the sooner we can start going out to eat, traveling, and enjoying the in-person company of our family and friends again.”
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SPRINGFIELD – College students in Illinois could see lower textbook purchase and rental costs under legislation filed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines), which requires colleges and universities to find ways to make course materials more affordable.
“A full-time undergraduate student today spends nearly $1,300 per year on textbooks and supplies. Especially on top of tuition and other fees, that can be overwhelming,” Murphy said. “It’s time to explore more affordable options, like inclusive access models, e-books, and subscription and rental programs.”
The bill would require colleges and universities to consult with administrators, faculty, campus bookstores and publishers to examine current cost-saving practices and identify best practices moving forward with an eye toward improving affordability; supporting remote learning; ensuring access to required course materials by the first day of class; and bettering student outcomes for minority, low-income and first-generation students.
Each institution would report findings to the Board of Higher Education or the Community College Board, and together, these boards would issue a joint report to the governor and the General Assembly.
Between 2006 and 2016, the average cost of college textbooks rose by 73%—four times faster than the rate of inflation—according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. This lack of affordability has caused 65% of students to skip buying required texts at some point in their college career.
“Students can’t learn without the right materials,” Murphy said. “Tackling the high cost of textbooks is a critical step toward making college accessible to every Illinois student.”
Senate Bill 101 has been assigned to the Higher Education Committee.
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