Safety net hospitals who serve some of the most vulnerable Illinoisans will receive additional funding in this budget to improve health equity, improve access to quality care, and reduce health disparities in underserved communicates. A total of $75 million for workforce recruitment grants will support safety net hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain health care professionals so more Illinoisans can get the care they need.

The budget also provides funding to support the state’s reproductive health access goals. The package includes $18 million to establish a hotline to connect those seeking abortion services with providers, expand training opportunities for primary care providers in abortion services, increase access to specialty consultation for abortion providers and fund the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program.

Additional investments will ensure our health care workforce is prepared to deliver high-quality health services to Illinoisans. The FY24 budget includes a number of measures that will fund retention, training and development initiatives to expand the health care workforce, including:

• A $2.50 per hour increase for Direct Service Providers who serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• $19.3 million to increase staffing by 330 at state facilities that care for people who are developmentally disabled;
• $2 million for mental health training for frontline workers in the pediatric field;
• $2.5 million for the Community Health Worker certification program;
• $3 million for Equity and Representation in Health Care Work Force Repayment and Scholarship Programs; and
• A rate increase to provide a $17 per hour minimum wage for in-home workers providing long-term care to older Illinoisans.