Springfield, IL (WAND) – A new law requires Illinois to report data on hospice care available for prisoners. Supporters say the law will bring dignity, transparency and compassion to people dying within the state’s correctional facilities.
More than 1,000 prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people need end-of-life care and support services.
The Illinois Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison-by-prison basis. Although lawmakers said this has led to inconsistent care for people diagnosed with terminal illnesses and those reaching the end of their lives.
“What is provided in various facilities is not consistently provided among all of the facilities,” said Rep. Nicole Grasse (D-Arlington Heights). “Some provide more end-of-life care and some don’t, and it’s very different. So, the reason for this data collection is really to have an understanding of what is provided and who does it, how we do it, and how we can help with that.”
IDOC will have to provide a report with demographic data of prisoners receiving hospice and palliative care by Dec. 1 of each year. However, some local Republicans argue the policy isn’t necessary since the state already collects some data on end-of-life care in prisons.
“Maybe it’s a worthy goal and maybe it’s not,” said Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville). “I just think it’s duplicative. I think it will add an additional cost and lead to additional burdens upon the department.”
The agency told lawmakers that 488 incarcerated people died between September 2019 and June 2020. IDOC said 404 of those people died without hospice services, but sponsors note there is no centralized data on the age, gender, or disability status of prisoners receiving care.
“Once we have that data, we can understand how best to provide uniform, consistent, symptom-managed, quality end-of-life care for those people who are dying in our prisons,” Grasse said.
House Bill 2397 passed out of the House on a 78-27 vote with one representative voting present. The legislation received a 33-19 vote in the Senate.
