January 13, 2026

Representatives on behalf of the the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL) sent a letter to Governor JB Pritzker urging his administration to pursue and support the use of Illinois’ Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver to provide

lead-reducing water filters to Medicaid-eligible households with lead service water lines. The letter comes as Illinois begins entering negotiations with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) — a critical moment when state leaders can ensure vulnerable families are protected from lead exposure  now while full pipe replacement remains underway statewide.

In response, Protect Kids from Lead Executive Director Wendi Wilkes released the following statement: 

“As negotiations between Illinois and Medicaid managed care organizations begin, we need to ensure that the safety of children and families is not an afterthought. Providing lead-reducing filters through Medicaid is a commonsense, proven step that gives families real protection now while long–term infrastructure work is underway. We are grateful for Governor Pritzker’s ongoing leadership on this issue and encourage his administration to adopt this policy so every Medicaid household can access safer drinking water without delay.”