SPRINGFIELD – Minority and women-owned businesses would be accepted for participation in the state’s Business Enterprise Program if they have already been certified by Chicago or Cook County’s program under a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) that passed the Senate Sunday.

The Business Enterprise Program was developed to ensure that businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities are awarded at least 20% of the total dollar amount of state contracts.

“Due to a variety of factors, minority-owned businesses are still often at a competitive disadvantage compared to other businesses,” Munoz said. “These businesses deserve the right to compete for state contracts on even footing.”

House Bill 132 requires the Business Enterprise Program to recognize and accept the certifications of businesses certified as minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses by the city of Chicago, Cook County, or other entities approved by the Business Enterprise Program Council for purposes of participating in the program.

“These businesses are being forced to waste their time filling out multiple applications,” Munoz said. “It’s essential that we continue to remove the barriers minorities face in the economy.”

House Bill 132 passed the Senate unanimously.

SPRINGFIELD – Biomarker testing — the medical technology used to determine medical risk factors like cancer — would be covered under state-regulated insurance plans under a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony (D-Chicago), which passed the Senate Tuesday.

“Inequalities exist in our health care services, especially for communities of color and people with lower income,” Munoz said. “Everyone deserves the right to benefit from this testing that can lead to better health outcomes, and this is essential for our fight against inequalities in our health care services.”

A “biomarker” is a sign of disease or abnormal function that can be measured in blood, tissue or bodily fluid. In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient. Biomarker testing analyzes a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker.

Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is currently limited and disparate, a fact Munoz said leads to inequities in care for cancer patients.

House Bill 1779 requires group and individual accident and health insurance policies and managed care plans to include coverage for biomarker testing for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment.

“Figuring out the right treatment at the right time is going to improve the quality of life for patients at a lower cost,” Munoz said. “It’s necessary to give all patients access to these medical advancements, no matter their income level.”

House Bill 1779 passed the Senate with a vote of 58-0.

SPRINGFIELD – Biomarker testing — the medical technology used to determine medical risk factors like cancer — would be required coverage under state-regulated insurance plans under a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony (D-Chicago), which was approved by the Senate Insurance Committee Wednesday.

“Many communities of color and people with lower income are less likely to have insurance plans that offer biomarker testing,” Munoz said. “We need to ensure that these medical advancements are not just for the rich and privileged. Everyone should be able to benefit from this technology.”

A “biomarker” is a sign of disease or abnormal function that can be measured in blood, tissue or bodily fluid. In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient. Biomarker testing analyzes a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker.

Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is currently limited and disparate, a fact Munoz said leads to inequities in care for cancer patients.

House Bill 1779 requires group and individual accident and health insurance policies and managed care plans to include coverage for biomarker testing for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment.

“This legislation is going to lead to better health outcomes, an improved quality of life, and lower costs for the patients who most need this kind of care,” Munoz said. “It’s key to reducing health disparities for all patients, especially for lower income people.”

House Bill 1779 passed the Senate Insurance Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To pay tribute to fallen officers and their families, Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago), a former Chicago Police Officer himself, attended the Illinois State Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Springfield Thursday.

“This ceremony commemorates those who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and protect our communities,” Munoz said. “It is a time to honor the bravery of our fallen soldiers and show the surviving families that we support and care for them.”

Read more ...