Illinois State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-East St. Louis) championed legislation to protect affordable health care option for Granite City area residents. | Christopher Belt/Facebook
Illinois State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-East St. Louis) championed legislation to protect affordable health care option for Granite City area residents. | Christopher Belt/Facebook
A Democratic lawmaker's legislation signed into law in April will allow the Gateway Regional Medical Center to retain its status as a safety-net hospital.
Within the past few years, the Granite City-based Gateway Regional Medical Center realigned its operation to offer behavioral health and obstetrician services through neighboring partner Alton Memorial Hospital, the Illinois Business Journal reported.
The change, however, put Gateway in danger of losing its qualification as a safety net hospital since it no longer provided OB services.
"Many patients served by safety-net hospitals are uninsured," bill sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt (D-East St. Louis) said in an April 5 Twitter post. "These hospitals are the only place thousands of Illinoisans can go to receive medical care, and I put forward this initiative to protect them."
Belt's initiative, Senate Bill 1530, added Gateway to a list of grandfathered safety-net hospitals in Illinois and will ensure that the medical center retains its safety-net status.
"Nobody should be afraid to seek medical attention when they need it," Belt said. "By signing this initiative into law, we're ensuring that thousands of residents in the Granite City area will still have an affordable option."
Senate Bill 1530 was signed into law April 2 and took effect immediately.
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