playnext.fm

Sound of the State

Closing the Gap: Policy, Progress, and Black Health Equity

·24 min·2 clips
Three Illinois state senators reveal how systemic racism and provider bias contribute to Black maternal mortality rates.
State Senator Lakeisha Collins hosts colleagues Maddie Hunter and Doris Turner to discuss Black health equity. Collins introduces herself as a former healthcare worker from Chicago's 5th District. Hunter represents a diverse district from the Gold Coast to Englewood and has served since 2003. Turner, from central Illinois, previously worked at the Illinois Department of Public Health. The senators note persistent disparities in Black maternal health, citing higher mortality rates and delayed diagnoses. They credit systemic racism and provider bias as contributing factors. Turner mentions the Birth Equity Bill (House Bill 5142), which strengthens pregnancy and postpartum care coverage. Hunter details the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus's four-pillar reform from 2021, focusing on criminal justice, education, economic opportunity, and healthcare. This included a $50 million safety net hospital grant program to preserve OB-GYN services. Turner shares a personal story about being misdiagnosed with weight issues for years before a doctor identified her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The senators stress the need for patients to advocate for themselves. Collins discusses her nursing home experience and advocacy for the Nursing Home Retaliation Bill (House Bill 2474). They highlight cultural competency training for healthcare workers, which benefits all patients. The episode concludes with reflections on Black History Month and the legacy of Black women activists.

As heard by us

Black health is treated as a staffing and long-term care policy issue, with a clear career ladder at the center.

Sound of the State treats Black health as a policy question grounded in staffing, training, and the strain of long-term care. State Senator Lakeisha Collins, a former healthcare worker and mother of three, is joined by Leader Maddie Hunter and Senator Turner to sketch a path…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want an Illinois Senate conversation with a straight face and Black History Month purpose.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on
Apple PodcastsSpotify
Play clips from this episodeMore from Sound of the State