SPRINGFIELD – Providing educators and students with the resources needed to succeed, fighting for quality, affordable health care and ensuring prosperity Downstate remain at the top of State Senator Dave Koehler’s (D-Peoria) legislative agenda.

Koehler, who was sworn in to his fifth term on Wednesday, is eager to continue working to improve the lives of the people of Central Illinois.

“The responsibility of representing the people of the 46^th Legislative District in Springfield is something I consider to be an incredible privilege,” Koehler said. “Once again, they’ve put their trust in me, and I look forward to continuing the work of earning that trust.”

Koehler was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2006 and successfully won re-election in 2010, 2012, and 2016. The 49^th Legislative District encompasses all or parts of Peoria, Tazewell, and Fulton Counties.

“The work that we do in Springfield has never been without difficulty, but the challenges we collectively face, both economically and societally, in responding to COVID-19 are something else entirely,” Koehler said. “I look forward to meeting those challenges and implementing solutions with the help of my colleagues and input from the people I represent.”

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is urging Illinois drivers to be extra careful on the road during the winter with the first major storm of the season on the horizon. 

“The winter can make roads dangerous,” Koehler said. “I urge everyone to use extreme care when driving on icy roads and to keep up with the latest information on road conditions.”  

Changing weather conditions always present the opportunity for unpredictable road conditions. Getting Around Illinois is a tool to help drivers make informed decisions on whether to drive and to choose the safest routes. This information is important during the winter because of the potential for icy road conditions. 

Getting Around Illinois can be accessed on computers and smartphones. It provides a way for residents to examine a location, destination, or travel route based on a map of the state. Getting Around Illinois also provides a general overview of highways that are maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The map provided by Getting Around Illinois also features a diverse color scheme and other accessibility options for people who have difficulty distinguishing colors.

Drivers can access Getting Around Illinois by going to the website.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to decreased use of health care services through Medicaid managed care organizations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, state Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and state House Assistant Majority Leader Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, filed legislation today to require companies to return excess profits and reallocate funding to critical health care services. 

“While insurance companies and managed care organizations see record-setting profits at the height of a global pandemic, rural communities across the state are experiencing unsustainable strain in their health care systems due to lack of resources,” Koehler said. “The money recouped through this legislation would provide immediate relief for Downstate hospitals that have been devastated by COVID-19.” 

Hospitals across the state are facing an unprecedented decline in outpatient procedures and elective surgeries as a result of the pandemic, contributing to severe financial strain on health care facilities that serve Illinois’ most vulnerable populations. Conversely, MCOs in Illinois have benefitted from these declines, as enrollment-based payments have continued despite decreased use of non-emergency health care services.

In response, Koehler and Crespo introduced Senate Bill 4207 House Bill 5867, respectively, which seeks to reallocatea portion of enrollment-based payments made to Medicaid MCOs throughout the pandemic. From an estimated monthly payment of $1.7 billion, a 20% return would yield $340 million per month that can provide needed relief to hospitals and other health care facilities that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, recouping these funds can provide relief to health care service providers that may be impacted by state budget deficits. 

“While safety net and critical care providers are struggling to remain open and serve their communities, MCO’s are continuing to receive over a billion dollars in state and federal funding each month,” said Crespo. “Residents across Illinois are making significant sacrifices in order to protect themselves and their communities, and we’ve even seen the auto insurance and cable television industries return unused money to consumers. It is unacceptable that MCO’s are profiting off of taxpayer dollars that aren’t being used. Clawing back some of the funding that MCO’s have received throughout the pandemic and reallocating those dollars to health care providers in low-income and rural communities could help hospitals remain open amid ongoing financial instability that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.”

“Minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and its devastating impact on their health and economic wellbeing,” said Jose Sanchez, President and CEO of Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago. “It’s only fair that the Medicaid managed care organizations provide desperately needed relief to our communities by sharing part of the record profits they have made during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

For more information on Senate Bill 4207, please visit contact Senator Koehler’s office via email or by calling (309) 677-0120.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) wants to make sure all fire departments and ambulance services know that the Office of the State Fire Marshal is accepting applications for its Small Equipment Grant Program.

“During a time when local governments will rely on every last dollar, this grant program helps our firefighters and EMS providers buy vital equipment like masks and gloves,” Koehler said. “I encourage local fire departments and ambulance services to apply for this grant program.”

The program was created to help Illinois fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services that struggle to afford the necessary equipment to do their jobs.

In June, the Small Equipment Grant Program awarded $3.5 million to 154 fire departments and EMS providers. Applicants can also apply for personal infection control items such as masks, gowns and gloves.

“We rely on our first responders, who have continued to work even during this pandemic,” Koehler said. “I’m thankful that the Office of the State Fire Marshal has this program to help them stay safe.”

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments are eligible to apply. Stand-alone, not-for-profit ambulance service providers are eligible to apply as well.

For more information, visit the state fire marshal’s website.