Cervantes leads bill to improve health care access in Illinois

• Health Care Access
• Physician Assistant

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure more skilled health care professionals can practice in Illinois, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes introduced legislation to better support the state’s physician assistant workforce and improve access to care.

“Too many Illinoisans are suffering adverse health effects because they have to wait to see health care providers,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This initiative will streamline the process of becoming a licensed physician assistant, decreasing the shortage in the health care workforce so that more people can get the care they need more quickly.”

According to a 2020 workforce report prepared by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center, Illinois currently has a shortage of more than 15,000 nurses. With projections of a shortage of more than 6,000 doctors by 2030, patients could face significant delays in seeing a provider, which can negatively impact their health.  

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Cervantes measure to extend deadline for standardizing electronic payments for dental care

SPRINGFIELD – Smaller dental practices will soon have more time to transition to electronic payments, thanks to an initiative sponsored by State Senator Javier Cervantes.

“If we enforce a deadline without giving dental practices enough time to adapt, we will be doing them and their patients a greater disservice,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This measure will allow dental practices more time to enhance their electronic portals to better serve their patients, and to meet the new deadline in 2027.”  

Previous legislation requires dental providers and insurance companies to begin sharing all information electronically by 2026. While this measure intends to help modernize these practices and make patient payments more efficient, many dental care providers throughout the state have requested more time to make the necessary technological advancements.

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Cervantes measure improves parole eligibility process for youth offenders

CHICAGO – To clear up confusion around when young people who are incarcerated can petition for youthful parole, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is sponsoring legislation that would clarify the timeline available for people who were committed an offense under the age of 21. 

“I am grateful that the law in Illinois extends grace to young people who have committed criminal offenses and gives them the chance to reform their lives,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This legislation will add onto that, and give them an opportunity to apply for parole earlier, helping them reintegrate to their community and create a more positive future.”

Currently, young people who were under 21 at the time of committing a criminal offense can file a petition for a parole hearing up to three years before they are eligible for parole. If appropriately filed, the Prisoner Review Board sets a parole hearing date three years from the date it received the petition. However, sometimes a person is already eligible for a youthful parole hearing when they file a petition because they have already served the required number of years. This has caused some confusion when they file a petition over if the parole hearing can take place within a year, or if they have to wait three years for a hearing.

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Cervantes on Homeland Security Secretary visit: We do not stand for attempts to further divide our country

• Immigration

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary’s visit to Springfield:

“In Illinois, we understand that all folks have value and worth, and are afforded basic human rights. It is deplorable that the current administration and Department of Homeland Security are acting against our country’s basic values.

“My mother, and so many other immigrants, made countless sacrifices, took on low-paying jobs, and did everything in their power just to give their family a better life. Instead of highlighting their tenacity and unbreakable work ethic, the secretary often describes immigrants as violent and criminal. Mischaracterizing immigrants this way is very dangerous, and deeply dehumanizing.

“In our state and in our capitol, where we are actively working on legislation to further protect the rights of immigrants, we do not stand for these lies and the weaponization of rhetoric to further divide our country. I will proudly join with my community to celebrate Latino Unity Day, and stand in opposition to her visit and actions against Illinoisans and immigrants throughout the country.”