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Illinois legislators have passed a bill aimed at closing gaps in the state’s decades-old law requiring hospitals to provide care for sexual assault survivors. The reforms follow a 2023 investigation by APM Reports that exposed widespread violations of the 49-year-old law across dozens of hospitals, The 19thNews reported yesterday, in collaboration with APM Reports, an investigative and documentaries unit affiliated with American Public Media.
Under the law, hospitals are designated as either “treatment” facilities—required to provide key services to sexual assault victims—or “transfer” hospitals, which must receive approval before moving patients to other facilities. APM Reports found that some hospitals were transferring victims as far as 80 minutes away, despite closer facilities being available.
The new legislation gives the state more authority to fine hospitals that fail to address violations and strengthens the criteria for approving patient transfers. It also broadens access to government-funded health care vouchers covering medications, STI testing, and exams. Previously, vouchers were only available at treatment hospitals; the new law makes them accessible at any hospital.
The bill’s passage marks the culmination of a year-long effort involving survivors, advocacy organizations, state officials, and hospital industry representatives. It has not yet been signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, who has until the end of July to act.
Sarah Beuning, general counsel for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, called the bill “a step forward for survivors,” although she expressed disappointment that it does not establish a maximum transfer distance.
One of the most vocal advocates for reform was Cheryl Thompson, a 63-year-old sexual assault survivor who was turned away by her local hospital and told to travel 80 minutes for care. She later received a forensic exam eight days after her assault, which yielded no DNA evidence. Although the Illinois State Police investigated her case, no charges were filed.
Thompson shared her story in committee hearings, pushing lawmakers to amend the law that failed her. “I am just overwhelmed that it’s going to be put into law because of what I went through,” she said. “It kind of makes it worthwhile that something good is coming out of the horrific stuff that I had to go through.”
Her testimony played a key role in convincing the Illinois Health and Hospital Association to support the changes. “Out of this unfortunate situation has come some real improvements to this law,” said a spokesperson for the organization.
Deaconess Health, which operates the hospital in Anna, Illinois, where Thompson was initially denied care, said it will begin transferring patients to a facility 50 minutes closer than its current partner hospital in Mount Vernon. The company acknowledged statewide access issues and pledged to be “part of the solution.”
Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill in the House, praised the updated legislation but said more work remains. She plans to advocate for increased insurance reimbursements to hospitals conducting sexual assault exams. “That’s a longer-term project,” she said.
