Two years ago, lawmakers cut non-emergency dental care for adults, and stopped paying for visits to podiatrists.
But now lawmakers say the elimination of that routine care is leading to health problems, and that patients eventually show up in the emergency room.
Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) says the cuts ended up costing the state more in the long run.
“And they brought suffering and hardship to families. They brought over-utilization to our emergency departments, and interfered with the care of other patients in need."
Harris says the legislation would also let Illinois collect an additional $2.4 billion federal dollars, with a state investment of about $125 million.