CHICAGO – To discuss the disparities in access to health care across racial and socioeconomic lines, Senate Public Health Chair Patricia Van Pelt, Executive Chair Mattie Hunter and Health and Human Services Chair Julie Morrison will lead a joint Senate committee hearing tomorrow morning.

“Everyone deserves equal access to health care,” Van Pelt said. “Too often we see that Black and Brown people’s options for quality health care are few and far between. It’s just another way they feel their lives don’t matter in this country, and we need to fix that.”

“Your health care options depend greatly on where you live,” Hunter said. “Predominately Black and Brown neighborhoods often suffer from health and trauma deserts, especially in light of recent hospital closures. Everyone deserves health care that’s accessible and affordable.”

“Inequity in underserved and minority communities has always been a problem — a problem that has been exasperated even more by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Morrison said. “This hearing will examine the cause and help us create responsible and fair initiative to make a change.”

To watch the virtual committee, visit https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp and click "Watch Live Virtual Committee Video." The link will be available at 9:30 a.m.

Additional witnesses can submit written testimony online at www.ilga.gov.

WHO: Senate Public Health Committee Chair Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago), Executive Committee Chair Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), Health and Human Services Chair Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), and members of the committees

WHAT: A joint committee hearing on access to health care 

WHERE: The virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#. Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service, will also stream the hearing.

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m.