Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – It’s on to the Senate for health insurance legislation which passed the Illinois House Thursday night. Gov JB Pritzker had a postgame celebration in his office.

“The bill’s purpose is to make quality care easier to access for patients,” Pritzker (pictured, left) said, “and to increase accountability in insurance companies. For far too long. insurance companies and not doctors have been free to determine what treatment options patients could have and how quickly they can receive it.

“With this bill, we’re putting power back into the hands of doctors and patients.”

During the floor debate, sponsoring State Rep. Anna Moeller (pictured, right) (D-Elgin) had a top member of Pritzker’s staff by her side. Emily Miller is the mother of a little girl with asthma.

“She was subjected to step therapy,” said Moeller, “when trying to access an inhaler that worked for her daughter, and she was forced to use the least expensive form of treatment available because of her insurer. Because of that, she got sicker and sicker and had to go to an emergency room.”

HB 5395 has passed the House, 81-25-2.