New Laws Ensure Coverage for Trial-Related Medical Expenses, Extends 'Ticket for the Cure'  

CHICAGO - July 11, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed two pieces of legislation strengthening access to healthcare for cancer patients in Illinois. House Bill 1191 prohibits insurance companies from excluding coverage for related medical costs for patients participating in clinical cancer trials, and Senate Bill 1279, extends the "Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure" scratch-off lottery game until 2016.  

"Access to quality healthcare is a basic right, and Illinoisans - particularly those who are fighting cancer - should not be denied coverage for participating in trials that might save their lives," said Governor Quinn. "It is important that Illinois takes the lead in increasing women's access to new science that can save lives."  

Many patients who qualify for clinical trials - and the potential benefits of these innovative therapies - cannot access them because their insurance plans do not cover the routine care they need while participating in the trial. These uncovered expenses include the costs of medical visits, hospitals stays, clinical lab tests, scans and x-rays. The new law amends the Illinois Insurance Code so that a group insurance policy cannot deny routine patient care to an insured patient participating in a qualified clinical cancer trial.  

The lack of coverage for routine care has created a barrier to patient participation in clinical trials and limited access to additional treatment options for cancer. The cost barrier has led to lower participation rates for low-income and minority women in clinical trials.  

House Bill 1191 was an initiative of Susan G. Komen Foundation. Sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Sen. Heather A. Steans (D-Chicago), the bill passed both houses unanimously. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.  

Senate Bill 1279, sponsored by Sens. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) and Reps. Constance A. Howard (D-Chicago) and Mary E. Flowers (D-Chicago), extends the "Ticket for the Cure" lottery scratch-off game an additional five years, until Dec. 31, 2016. The ticket was the first nationwide lottery scratch-off game to provide grants to non-profit organizations supporting breast cancer research and education. The ticket originally was scheduled to be discontinued at the end of 2011.  

Launched in 2006, the ticket was renamed in honor of former Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams, who died of breast cancer in 2007 at age 44. More than 8,700 Illinois women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and more than 1,700 died as a result.  

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All eligible blood donors asked to make and keep appointments

PEORIA, Ill. (July 11, 2011) - Due to a critical shortage of donated blood across the nation, the American Red Cross - the single largest supplier of blood products in the United States - is asking eligible donors of all blood types to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible.

With many donors busy or traveling, and with school out of session where up to 20 percent of donations are made during the academic year, donations have dropped dramatically. In fact, during May and June 2011, while the need for blood products remained steady, donations were at the lowest level the Red Cross has experienced in more than 12 years.

The Red Cross needs blood donors - now more than ever - to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

The American Red Cross has responded to more than 40 major disasters in over 30 states during the past three months - delivering help and hope to people affected by floods, tornadoes and wildfires. But there's another, more personal, kind of disaster which can happen to any of us at any time if we need blood and it's not available.

"As a physician, I have seen firsthand how blood transfusions can truly help save lives," said David C. Mair, M.D., chief medical officer of the Mid-America Blood Services Division of the American Red Cross which provides blood products and specialized laboratory services to more than 326 hospitals in the Midwest and central U.S. "However, a critical blood shortage like the one we're experiencing right now could have a devastating effect on patients whose survival may depend on blood being there when and where needed. Blood donors can help ensure a readily available blood supply locally as well as throughout the country."

A year and a half ago, 15 year old Cora Peters of Princeton, Illinois was diagnosed with stage 4 synovial sarcoma. Since her diagnosis, Cora has gone through three surgeries and countless lifesaving blood product transfusions to replace the blood cells that her body was no longer able to make.

Cora's story highlights the importance of each and every blood donation. Because of that, the Red Cross is reaching out to eligible blood donors, sponsors and community leaders to ask them to recruit blood donors to help meet the needs of patients in communities across the United States.

A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation's blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY

7/11/2011, 11:00 am- 4:00 pm, DHL Global Forwarding, 3100 69th Ave #2, Moline

WHITESIDE COUNTY

7/12/2011, 1:00 pm- 5:15 pm, Old Fulton Fire Station, 912 4th Street, Fulton, IL, Whiteside

7/13/2011, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St., Rock Falls, , IL, Whiteside

7/14/2011, 3:00 pm- 8:00 pm, Fairfield Amish Mennonite School, 29467 425 E. Street, Tampico, , IL, Whiteside

7/15/2011, 11:30 am- 6:00 pm, Sterling National Manufacturing Education Center, 1 First Avenue, Sterling, , IL, Whiteside

7/16/2011, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm, Culver's, 1901 Harley Davidson Drive, Rock Falls, IL, Whiteside

Laws Will Help Car-Sharing Organizations to Purchase Electric Vehicles; Explore Ways to Increase Electric Vehicles Usage  

CHICAGO - July 9, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed two bills into law that will encourage greater use of electric vehicles in Illinois. Together, these new laws will promote the use of energy efficient vehicles, help reduce emissions produced by gasoline-powered vehicles, and support the development of advanced electric vehicle technology.   

"We must do everything we can to encourage sustainable and affordable transportation," said Governor Quinn. "By expanding the use of electric cars, we are creating high-tech jobs, saving consumers money and protecting our environment."  

House Bill 2903, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), establishes a grant program that will help eligible car-sharing organizations purchase and use electric cars in their fleets. Car-sharing organizations are membership-based services that allow members to drive cars by the hour, which takes cars off of the roads and benefits our environment.   

The new law authorizes the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to make grants of up to 25 percent of a project's total cost to eligible car-sharing organizations for the purchase of electric vehicles for their fleets. These vehicles must be registered in Illinois, and remain registered in Illinois for at least five years after the purchase. House Bill 2903 takes effect immediately.  

The grants will be funded through the Alternate Fuels Fund, which currently provides rebates to Illinois vehicle owners who use renewable fuels, such as 85 percent ethanol blend fuel, or up to $4,000 for the cost of certain electric-powered vehicles. For more information regarding the fund, visit www.illinoisgreenfleets.org.  

"Promoting the use of electric cars boosts our efforts to encourage the use of alternate fuels, which will help improve our environment for years to come," said IEPA Interim Director Lisa Bonnett.    

House Bill 2902, sponsored by Rep. Williams and Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Chicago), creates the Illinois Electric Vehicle Advisory Council, which will explore and recommend strategies to encourage the use of electric vehicles. The new law takes effect immediately.  

"This package of bills is designed to promote and expedite the continued development of the electric car industry in Illinois. We are making important strides forward by increasing the number of environmentally-friendly transportation options for the average Illinoisan," said Rep. Williams. "This is really just the beginning."

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Q.  Why do you support the production of biodiesel?

A.  Too much of America's energy comes from fossil fuels imported from countries that don't like us.  We can reduce dependence on foreign oil, and be better off economically, environmentally, and geopolitically, by encouraging domestic production of renewable, clean-burning biodiesel.  In 2004, Congress passed the biodiesel tax incentive that I sponsored as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to encourage the production and use of biodiesel.  Biodiesel production in the United States increased from 25 million gallons in 2004, to 700 million gallons in 2008.  When Congress allowed the tax credit to lapse in 2009, nearly 8,900 jobs were wiped out, many in Iowa.  Thankfully, in December 2010, the credit was restored retroactively through December 2011. 

Q.  What can be done to encourage the production of biodiesel? 

A.  I've introduced legislation with Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington that would extend through 2014 the $1 per gallon tax for biodiesel.  And, the bill would help small producers by maintaining the additional 10 cent credit for the first 15 million gallons of biodiesel created by producers with an annual production capacity of less than 60 million gallons.  Fourteen of Iowa's 15 biodiesel plants fall into that category.

Q.  Can abuse of the credit be prevented? 

A.  The bill would eliminate potential abuses by changing the incentive from a blender credit to a production tax credit.  This change would gear the credit toward producers who create clean biodiesel, rather than for the blending of biodiesel with petroleum diesel.  By focusing the credit on production, we'll further reduce potential abuses of foreign fuel passing through the U.S. to claim the blender's credit.  

Q.  What affect will extension of the biodiesel tax credit have on jobs and the economy?

A.  A study by an international consulting firm found that if Congress does not extend the tax credit, consumers would be forced to spend an additional $6.6 billion for diesel fuel between 2012 and 2015.  But, with the right incentives, by 2015, biodiesel production could replace 1.9 billion gallons of imported diesel fuel, support more than 74,000 jobs, and generate $4 billion in income and approximately $7.3 billion in gross domestic product.

July 8, 2011