SPRINGFIELD – A measure aimed to reduce the insane cost of prescription insulin cost pass the Illinois Senate today with the support from State Senator Christopher Belt.

Senate Bill 667  will caps out patients' out of pocket costs for prescription insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply and directs the Attorney General's office to investigate reasons for rising prescription insulin costs to ensure sufficient consumer protections in the pricing of prescription insulin drugs.

“African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and these prices of prescription insulin cost has seriously affected them,” Belt said. “These drug companies are taking advantage of people who have no choice but to purchase insulin and this legislation will put to stop that.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are over 30 million Americans who have diabetes and approximately 7.4 million depend on insulin. The price of insulin as tripled between 2002 and 2013, which has led to many patients rationing their insulin and sacrificing other daily needs to pay for insulin.

The legislation would make Illinois just the second state in nation to cap out of pocket insulin cost for diabetics. Colorado became the first earlier this year.

The measure passed the Senate 48-7 and will move the House for further consideration.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY - State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) recently announced a $30 million investment in I-255 in St. Clair County from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s five-year Highway Improvement Program.

“Many residents have complained about the long-term construction on I-255 and how the potholes and uneven lanes are a safety hazard,” Belt said. “This has been a burden for the people I represent, and really I appreciate Gov. Pritzker and IDOT for making it a top priority to finally restore this important road.”

Other local projects beginning in 2020 include ADA improvements to Illinois Routes 13 and 15 from Rogers Drive in Freeburg to south of the Kaskaskia River, the relocating of Illinois Route 158 from Route 177 to 161, and the repairing of McKinley Bridge in Madison County.

Over the next five years, IDOT is planning 92 separate projects in the area, with over 100 miles of repairs of highways and bridges. A complete breakdown of every project can be found here: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/HIP/2020-2025/ilsenate/sdist57.pdf

In total, IDOT’s statewide program will invest $23.5 billion in improving and expanding roads and bridges throughout Illinois, more than double the size of the previous year’s Multi-Year Plan. Projects outlined in the plan will cover 4,212 miles of roadway and 9.2 million square feet of bridge deck statewide between 2020 and 2025.

     SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement on Touchette Regional Hospital receiving a $2 million grant from the State of Illinois:  

“Touchette provides life-saving care to thousands of residents of Centreville and neighboring communities,” Belt said. “This grant will ensure that this vital institution has the resources needed to continue to deliver services to those who need it the most.”

Belt advocated for the grant to be included in the bipartisan budget package that was signed by Governor Pritzker earlier this summer. The grant was administered to hospitals across the state that are identified as “safety net hospitals.”

Touchette Regional Hospital has provided quality health care services to residents of the Metro-East area since its opening in 1958.

CENTREVILLE – A new law co-sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that will protect consumers from alternate electric providers who prey on the vulnerable was signed into law yesterday by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“We want to protect people from being deceived and misled into thinking their electric bills will drop with alternative providers,” Belt said. “I want to thank Attorney General Kwame Raoul for pushing this initiative and ensuring that our senior citizens and low-income families are protected from deceptive practices.”

Senate Bill 651 increases oversight of alternative electric and gas suppliers by mandating the suppliers list their prices on all materials to allow consumers to make informed price comparisons. The new law also protects consumers who rely upon the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) from being enrolled by an alternative retail electric supplier.

The new law comes after several high-profile aggressive sales practice complaints against alternative electric suppliers.

Senate Bill 651 also:

• requires all marketing materials and customer bills to contain the utility supply rates;
• eliminates early termination fees and penalties;
• prevents suppliers from renewing a consumer's contract without notifying the consumer of the new rate;
• stops the practice of switching consumers from a fixed rate to variable rates without their consent;
• and requires suppliers to report their rates to the Illinois Commerce Commission and Attorney General.

Senate Bill 651 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.