SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) released the following statement in support of the Fiscal Year 23 budget:

“When I look at this budget before us, I consider how this will affect the people back home. The family of four struggling to make ends meet. The aspiring college student wondering how they’ll pay for college. The single mom deciding between going to work or paying for child care.

“With this budget, I think of all the people who rely on the General Assembly to make smart decisions and fulfill its responsibilities. I’m proud that Lake County has a 211 program, but I’m especially thrilled that in this budget we have allocated $1.8 million for a statewide 211 program. With this funding, we can provide Illinoisans all across the state with easy access to the resources they need.

“I also think about how this is the first time in all the years I’ve served here that we’ve been able to put money away for a Rainy Day fund or how our credit rating has been raised—twice. I think about how it’s our responsibility to put out a budget that will move our state forward—and this budget does just that. This truly is a budget I was proud to vote for.”

SPRINGFIELD – A career-long advocate for the fight against the ongoing opioid epidemic, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is leading a measure to make an opioid overdose reversal drug more accessible.  

“We all know someone who has a friend or family member that struggles with addiction – and the thought of that person losing their life when lifesaving medication is available is devastating,” Bush said. “We must put an end to the red tape and hurdles people have to go through to receive naloxone.”

Bush’s measure would prohibit insurers and Medicaid from charging a copay for naloxone – an opioid suppressant. Naloxone can be lifesaving for people overdosing on opioids, but can often be inaccessible with a cost of up to $140 for two doses.

More than 75,000 people died from an opioid overdose in 2020 – and in one out of three cases, a bystander was present who could have saved the person’s life, had naloxone been accessible. 

Since first entering the General Assembly, Bush has been a steadfast advocate on fighting the ongoing opioid crisis. In 2015, she championed legislation to make naloxone more accessible and affordable to law enforcement agencies. House Bill 4408 is another step toward saving lives from the deadly effects of opioids.

“It’s simple: naloxone saves lives,” Bush said. “The more accessible naloxone is, the better.”

House Bill 4408 passed the Senate Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD – A career-long advocate for the fight against the ongoing opioid epidemic, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is leading a measure to make an opioid overdose reversal drug more accessible.  

“We all know someone who has a friend or family member that struggles with addiction – and the thought of that person losing their life when lifesaving medication is available is devastating,” Bush said. “We must put an end to the red tape and hurdles people have to go through to receive naloxone.”

Bush’s measure would prohibit insurers and Medicaid from charging a copay for naloxone – an opioid suppressant. Naloxone can be lifesaving for people overdosing on opioids, but can often be inaccessible with a cost of up to $140 for two doses.

More than 75,000 people died from an opioid overdose in 2020 – and in one out of three cases, a bystander was present who could have saved the person’s life, had naloxone been accessible. 

Since first entering the General Assembly, Bush has been a steadfast advocate on fighting the ongoing opioid crisis. In 2015, she championed legislation to make naloxone more accessible and affordable to law enforcement agencies. House Bill 4408 is another step toward saving lives from the deadly effects of opioids.

“It’s simple: naloxone saves lives,” Bush said. “The more accessible naloxone is, the better.”

House Bill 4408 passed the Senate Insurance Committee Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – People who are prescribed opioid drugs would be educated on the addictive – and sometimes deadly – consequences of the medication by a pharmacist under a measure spearheaded by State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

“Opioid overdoses have been occurring at alarming rates in Illinois,” Bush said. “Opioid education will save lives.”

The measure would require pharmacists to inform the patient that opioids are addictive and offer to give the patient naloxone – a common opioid reversal medication. Further, under the legislation, if a patient is discharged from the hospital after overdose of a controlled substance, they would be provided with naloxone. 

More than 2,000 people in Illinois lost their lives to opioids in 2019 alone, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Furthermore, Cook County has recently seen more than double the number of overdose deaths – potentially caused by isolation and lack of support during the pandemic.

Since first entering the General Assembly, Bush has been a steadfast advocate on fighting the ongoing opioid crisis. In 2015, she championed legislation to make naloxone more accessible and affordable to law enforcement agencies. Senate Bill 2535 is another step toward saving lives from the deadly effects of opioids.

“The opioid epidemic is a serious and complicated issue that only continues to get worse,” Bush said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the opioid crisis, especially amongst vulnerable populations. We must tackle this crisis head on.”

The measure passed the Senate Wednesday and heads to the House for further consideration.