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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Pharmacists allowed to dispense non-hormonal contraception options under new Ventura law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Michelle Mussman worked together on a new law that will expand the types of contraception pharmacists can dispense to include emergency contraception and non-hormonal options.

“By allowing pharmacists to prescribe all types of contraceptives, including non-hormonal options, we are improving access so that every individual can make the best choice for birth control,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Women come in all shapes and sizes so it only stands to reason that medication should be tailored to them as needed.”

House Bill 3489 expands the type of contraception pharmacists can offer to include hormonal, non-hormonal and emergency contraceptives, including Plan B (levonorgestrel pill), Phexxi (non-hormonal), and Ella (ulipristal acetate pill).

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Illinois to implement rewilding strategies under new Ventura law, revitalizing ecosystems statewide

• Rewilding
• HB2726
• Conservation

SPRINGFIELD – To support ongoing efforts aimed at protecting and revitalizing local landscapes and ecosystems, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Anna Moeller partnered on House Bill 2726 to give the Illinois Department of Natural Resources more authority to implement conservation tactics to create new rewilding strategies statewide.

“By creating a holistic rewilding strategy for the state, we can see landscapes restored to their previous state — a major win for the environment and their local ecosystems,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Over the last few decades, countless species of wild animals and plant life have been reduced significantly or completely lost to human activity, making this legislation timely and critically needed.”

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