Kane County Reporter

State Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) wants to know where the funding will come from for a newly passed bill that creates the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act.  

“With regard to doula services, can you inform the body of the licensing or certification requirements for doulas who could be absorbing up to $55 million of this legislation?” DeWitte recently quizzed fellow lawmakers during Senate floor debate on House Bill 158.

“I want to clarify particularly about the Medicaid portion of this legislation,” he added. “Can you explain what type of certification or licensing requirements will be required for community health workers?”

Effective immediately, HB 158 also seeks to amend various acts regarding medical staff, including electronic posters and signs; N95 masks; continuing education on implicit bias awareness; overdoses; the prescription monitoring program; a dementia training program; taxation of blood sugar testing materials; funding of safety-net hospitals and a child care assistance program eligibility calculator.

The bill also establishes the Health and Human Services Task Force and Study Act, which has the task of reviewing health and human service departments. Another element of the legislation is the Anti-Racism Commission Act, which will focus on the elimination of systemic racism. 

Sen. Mattie Hunter, one of the chief sponsors of the bill, told colleagues that certification of doulas aren’t expected to be required, though they will be able to work with the department to develop the certification.

DeWitte has served the 33rd District since 2018. The district includes all or parts of Batavia, Crystal Lake, East Dundee, Elgin, Gilberts, Lakewood, Pingree Grove, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, Wayne, Geneva, St. Charles, West Dundee, Hampshire, Huntley, Carpentersville, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin.