Legislation sponsored by State Representative Tom Weber ensuring insurance coverage for medically necessary heart disease scans was unanimously passed by the Illinois House of Representatives on April 14.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both the United States and worldwide, with heart attacks and strokes accounting for four out of every five heart disease-related deaths. The new bill aims to expand access to preventive procedures such as coronary calcium scans, which help determine a person’s risk for developing heart disease.
“Over the past few years, I’ve been working on a piece of legislation to help expand coverage for a simple preventive procedure called a coronary calcium scan that determines a person’s risk of heart disease,” Weber said. “This simple, preventive scan both saves lives and lowers long-term healthcare costs.”
Weber also said, “I’m thankful to the bipartisan sponsors who have helped us pass this bill through the House unanimously, and I hope our colleagues in the Senate will pass this legislation with the same level of support.”
Weber has represented Illinois’ 64th House District since being elected in 2019, succeeding Barbara Wheeler according to Ballotpedia.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
