Chicago City Wire

American Red Cross Illinois Regional Communications and Marketing Officer Joy Squier was recently on hand for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of Senate Bill 2294 during a press conference held at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.

Among many provisions, SB 2294 paves the way for people covered under Medicaid to continue to be eligible throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency and for up to a year after the emergency expires. In addition, the measure also calls on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a program for implementation of certified community behavioral health clinics by Jan. 1, 2022, and to develop a “comprehensive behavioral health strategy” that is to be submitted to the governor and General Assembly no more than six-months later.

Other elements of the bill include viewing veteran support specialists as mental health professionals under the state’s Medicaid plan; coverage of both individual and group tobacco cessation programs and requiring in-patient treatment for anyone experiencing an opioid overdose or withdrawal if it’s deemed to be medically necessary.

“The Red Cross is proud of our partnership with Advocate Health Care and proud to be here today,” Squier said. She used the press conference to remind the attendants of the importance of donating blood. 

"Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. The Red Cross must collect 40% of the nation's blood supply for surgery patients, accident victims, those going under cancer treatment, people with blood diseases, such as sickle cell and for those who experienced trauma. We are grateful for those like the people that came out today to donate. You are giving life-saving blood to patients.”

“We are in need of more people to donate as we face a severe national blood shortage after the holiday weekend and as we move into the peak of summer,” she said. “While summer is traditionally a time when blood donations do decline, this year is particularly challenging, as many Americans receive their vaccinations, resume summer activities and, after more than a year of limited interactions, are doing what's fun and what we all want to do, but it is leading to lower turnout. The need for blood doesn't take a summer break.”

Squier said healthy donors of all blood types, especially type O, are desperately needed, adding that roughly 38 percent of the population can donate. She said the Red Cross plans to continue holding blood drives across the state and country.

“Blood has a shelf life and cannot be stockpiled,” she said. “The need for blood is constant.”