Illinois Bill Targets Maternal Health Inequities with Expanded Bias Training

State Senator Willie Preston has advanced new legislation aiming to address maternal health disparities among marginalized communities in Illinois. House Bill 2517, which has passed the Senate, seeks to expand implicit bias training for health care workers, with a focus on risk factors affecting Black women, who face a pregnancy-related mortality rate three times higher than white women. The training will cover current death statistics, identify specific risk factors for marginalized groups, and discuss effective medical care plans shown to reduce maternal mortality. The bill now moves forward for further consideration, marking a significant push for equity in maternal health care.

“I am proud to lead the charge in implementing essential implicit bias training in health care surrounding maternal health risks associated with marginalized communities in particular Black communities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women. I will always advocate for every woman in Illinois to receive adequate, respectful, and dignified health care regardless of their background.”

“This bill is the first step in taking collective action to ensure that we support the future of our daughters and their daughters,” said Preston. “Protecting maternal health care is about simple human rights – and we must protect the rights of all mothers.”