Simulation training added as viable medical education requirement under Ventura-backed law

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new law led by State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh, simulation training will be considered an approved form of continuing education for licensed health care professionals.

“As new and improved technologies continue to shape the medical field, simulation training offers an untapped opportunity to provide continuing education to medical students,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Allowing this type of training expands cutting-edge educational resources.”

House Bill 3850 allows simulation training provided by an approved sponsor to count toward a licensed health care professional's continuing education requirement, aiming to modernize professional education and help retain health care workers across Illinois.

Currently, simulation-based training for medical licenses is not required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In an attempt to modernize current educational practices, the bill aims to add simulation training as an approved training tool for professional licensing, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning.

"Throughout the state and nation, we have a profound shortage of health care workers — from CNAs to doctors," said Huynh (D-Chicago). "Cutting red tape and offering new pathways to fulfill continuing education requirements will help more professionals stay in the field and continue to deliver the care our communities need."

House Bill 3850 was signed into law on Aug. 15, and goes into effect immediately.

Ventura law to address student health insurance dependent coverage

• Healthcare
• Insurance

SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to expand access to health care while protecting affordability, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh partnered together on House Bill 1577, which was signed into law on Friday .

The new law clarifies university participation in Illinois’ dependent coverage law, and ensures student health insurance plans remain affordable and sustainable for those who rely on them most.

“Expanding health care access must go hand in hand with protecting affordability,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation supports the intent of the original law while making sure we don't unintentionally burden students with higher premiums. We’re committed to building a more inclusive health care system — one that meets people where they are, including our students.”

House Bill 1577 is a follow-up to a law that took effect in January 2025, which requires health insurance plans to offer dependent coverage to an insured person’s parent or stepparent. That landmark law was designed to help multigenerational households and caregivers access essential care, and only applied to parents or stepparents living with or receiving at least six months of care from the insured individual. Highly specialized insurance products, like Medicare supplement plans and hospital-only coverage, were excluded from these provisions.

House Bill 1577 explicitly exempts student health insurance plans from this requirement — a clarification that was always intended but needed to be codified.

House Bill 1577 was signed into law on Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect immediately.

New Ventura law to ensure continued health insurance coverage for ongoing treatments

• Healthcare

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative from State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh was signed into law on Friday, seeking to protect Illinoisans from out-of-pocket charges for ongoing treatments if the appointment was scheduled before their provider was removed from the insurance network.

“This legislation provides time for a transition of care for those currently undergoing treatments with scheduled appointments. It's one small change that can bring a bit of peace of mind to those currently undergoing changes in their medical journey,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As a former actuarial analyst, I saw firsthand how insurance companies prioritized profits over health care — that being the main reason I left the industry. When a doctor has been removed from a network, patients need time to transition.”

House Bill 3796 requires insurance to continue covering an ongoing course of treatment for up to 90 days if a provider is removed from the network, as long as the patient scheduled their appointment prior to being notified of the provider’s removal from network.

The bill specifies that this does not apply to any follow-up appointments after 90 days from the date of notice or to appointments that are rescheduled for a later date.

"When treating chronic conditions, patients' health outcomes are correlated to their ability to maintain continuity of care," said Huynh (D- Chicago). "No one should be subject to surprise crushing medical expenses just because their insurance company removed a provider. This bill will lower health care costs and improve the lives of policyholders throughout the state."

House Bill 3796 was signed into law Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Ventura leads charge to expand Illinois broadband access under newly signed law

• Broadband

SPRINGFIELD – Despite repeated promises from the federal government, high-speed internet access remains a distant goal for many communities — especially in rural Illinois, where service is often spotty, unreliable or altogether unavailable. In response to federal inaction and recent funding withdrawals, State Senator Rachel Ventura worked alongside State Representative Murri Briel on a new law, providing a strategic state-level response to a growing digital divide.

“Broadband access should be available to all. This law prioritizes anchor institutions to quickly improve our state’s broadband network in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By utilizing existing and nearby infrastructure, vulnerable communities can increase access to high-speed internet, which is critical for daily life.”

The Illinois Century Network (ICN) delivers wholesale internet services to public entities across the state — including schools, libraries and higher education institutions. However, without sufficient federal investment, the burden of expanding reliable broadband increasingly falls to the state.

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