Chronic Care Policy Alliance Commends Illinois Governor for Sharing His Experience as a Patient
(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Today, Liz Helms, CEO of the Chronic Care Policy Alliance (CCPA), released the following statement commending Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for publicly sharing his experience taking a GLP-1 medication with the Chicago Sun Times:
“Governor Pritzker’s decision to share his experience with prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity treatment will help change the conversation around chronic disease. By speaking openly about his health journey, he reinforced an important message: obesity is a serious chronic disease, not a failure of personal willpower, and patients with obesity deserve access to evidence-based treatments that can improve their health and quality of life.
“Our polling earlier this year found that 57% of Illinoisians report a personal connection to obesity, with nearly 73% agreeing obesity should be treated like other chronic diseases when it comes to health insurance coverage. Voters also overwhelmingly support Illinois Medicaid covering FDA-approved obesity treatments for eligible patients and believe policymakers should take steps to improve access to obesity medications. Essentially, when a doctor prescribes an FDA-approved treatment, voters in Illinois believe a patient’s insurance status or income shouldn’t be what stands in the way of them receiving the care they need.
“The Governor’s own experience illustrates a broader truth: treating obesity early can help prevent more serious and costly health complications down the road. Effective care reduces the burden of co-occurring chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other related conditions that impact patients, families, employers, and taxpayers alike. According to a study from GlobalData, Illinois absorbs $2.6 billion a year in direct fiscal impact on state and local government, including $1.2 billion in increased Medicaid spending and $941 million in lost tax revenue.
“That’s why Illinois expanded coverage to GLP-1s to approximately 55,000 state employees in 2024. The next step is ensuring that eligible Medicaid patients can access this care.
“We commend Governor Pritzker for sharing his story and helping bring awareness and greater visibility to the realities of living with this chronic disease. His announcement is a powerful reminder that access to effective treatment can change lives – we’ll continue fighting to ensure all patients in Illinois have the same opportunity to engage in preventative health care as Governor Pritzker.”