Hundreds of new lawstook effect in Illinois

on January 1.

These five new health and

health care laws might change your life.

1. Have a serious medical condition? You may qualify for medical marijuana.

Recognizing that some conditions respond better to therapeutic qualities of cannabis than traditional medication, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing patients suffering from certain specific conditions to use medical marijuana with their doctors’ permission. The Illinois Department of Public Health is in charge of setting up the system. Learn more.

House Bill 1

2. Under 18? No more tanning for you.

Under previous Illinois law, young people were allowed to tan with their parents’ permission. However, study after study has demonstrated that tanning – particularly during your formative years – greatly increases the risk of cancer. The new law prohibits all commercial tanning facilities from allowing people younger than 18 to tan unless they have a doctor’s prescription. Underage tanning in private homes is still allowed.

House Bill 188

3. Starting in 2014, Illinois teens will learn about condoms and birth control in sex ed

in addition to abstinence.

House Bill 2675

However, schools still have the ability to opt out of sex ed all together, and parents can take their kids out of the classes if they find the content objectionable. Read more here.

4. Have you or someone you love lost your breasts to breast cancer? Help is available.

If your insurance covers breast cancer treatment, it is required, BY LAW, to pay for breast reconstruction and prostheses. Starting this year, the Department of Public Health is charged with making sure you know about this important requirement. Read more here.

HB 3175

5. Not all women are the same. And your doctor should take that into account during your yearly

mammogram.Starting this year, doctors are required to inform women if dense breast tissue shows up in a mammogram. Dense breast tissue makes it harder to detect potentially cancerous tumors, and you may want to seek additional screening tests. Read more here.

SB 2314

Read a complete list of health laws that took effect on January 1.

Illinoissenatedemocrats.com