Healthcare

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that, for any law implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Department of Insurance may adopt rules that include incorporations by reference of federal rules and regulations without identifying the incorporated matter by date and without including a statement that the incorporation does not include later amendments. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes changes concerning the assignment or transfer of property and casualty policies; formatting requirements for the insurance company supplier diversity report; and insurance coverage for dependent parents. Provides that the Director of Insurance shall maintain as confidential any records or information received from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies (instead of insurance regulatory officials of other states) that are confidential in that other jurisdiction. Provides that the Department may waive registration and course certification fees if the pre-licensing or continuing education course is provided by a government entity free of charge. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. In applicability provisions, removes language concerning exemptions for short-term, limited-duration health insurance coverage with a network plan. Repeals the Health Care Purchasing Group Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In provisions concerning an exception to the prohibition on fee splitting for billing, administrative preparation, or collection services, requires any charges for multiple in-network services during the same appointment, including, but not limited to, an office visit that was added to a physical exam, to be disclosed to the patient during the appointment.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the payment of nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers, makes changes to defined term, removes jurisdictional provisions, and provides that, for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned and operated by (instead of subject to) a unit of local government, a rate shall be paid that is equal to the rate established or approved by the governing body of the unit of local government providing the ground ambulance service. Establishes a rate of pay for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers that are not owned and operated by (instead of subject to the jurisdiction of) a unit of local government. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Replaces provisions concerning coverage for emergency transportation by ambulance with provisions concerning coverage for ground ambulance service.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires every hospital to adopt an influenza and pneumococcal immunization policy that includes procedures for identifying patients age 18 or older (rather than 50 or older) for influenza immunization and 50 or older (rather than 65 or older) for pneumococcal immunization.

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. In provisions concerning the Children's Mental Health Partnership, makes changes to the Partnership's list of duties to include (i) reviewing or facilitating needs assessments (rather than conducting research assessments) to better understand the challenges and gaps of programs, services, and policies related to children's mental health; (ii) monitoring policy development related to children's mental health in Illinois at the local, State, and federal level; and (iii) regularly reviewing aggregate and de-identified data on the need for children's behavioral health services in Illinois that is collected by the Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation (BEACON) portal to ensure that system transformation can continue to be driven by data. Provides that the Partnership's membership shall include public members who reflect a diversity of sexual orientation; and that all Partnership members shall serve without compensation and with no entitlement to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Removes a provision permitting the Partnership to convene study groups. Expands the membership of the adjunct council to include up to 10 youth aged 16 to 25 (rather than up to 6 youth aged 14 to 25) and up to 4 (rather than a minimum of 4) representatives of 4 different community-based organizations that focus on youth mental health. Makes other changes.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that a pharmacist who is exercising his or her professional judgment may add missing non-pharmaceutical devices or durable medical equipment that aid in the appropriate clinical usage of a medication or in achieving a positive therapeutic outcome to a prescription. Provides that a pharmacist may complete missing information on a prescription if there is evidence to support the change. Requires any adaptations to a prescription to be documented in the patient's record. In provisions concerning the distribution of a prescription drug for less than its fair market value, provides that it shall be unlawful to require a pharmacist or pharmacy to dispense a prescription drug for less than its fair market value, including the cost of dispensing. Provides that a payor that reimburses a pharmacy for less than fair market value, including the cost of dispensing, shall not be able to include the pharmacy toward any network adequacy requirements and shall not be deemed in compliance with any willing provider provisions.

Creates the Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the Nurse Practice Act or any rule of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to the contrary, delegation, including, but not limited to, delegation of the performance of central venous catheter procedures in a kidney disease treatment center, shall only be allowed if the individual receiving delegation is a licensed practical nurse who has obtained the proper training, education, and experience or a certified dialysis technician who currently holds, or is in the process of acquiring, the necessary experience to apply for and obtain certification as a certified clinical hemodialysis technician by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission or a Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology. Sets forth additional provisions concerning delegation of duties in a kidney disease treatment center. Provides that the Department is authorized to adopt rules for the administration and enforcement of the Act, and the rules may define standards and criteria for the necessary training, education, and experience for licensed practical nurses to obtain before receiving delegation under the Act. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a violation of the Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act is grounds for disciplinary action. Effective immediately.

Creates the Expanded Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require information and counseling concerning lung cancer screening to be made available to individuals accessing the tobacco quitline. Allows the Department to enter into contracts and agreements and award grants to persons operating the tobacco quitline. Requires the Department to develop signage that discloses referral information for lung cancer screening. Requires the Department to develop an educational insert to accompany the sale of tobacco products and nicotine replacement therapies by retailers. Provides that a retailer of tobacco products or nicotine replacement therapies who intentionally violates these provisions is guilty of a petty offense. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for medically prescribed seizure detection devices. Requires all covered seizure detection devices to be approved for use by individuals, and for the choice of device to be made based upon the individual's circumstances and medical needs in consultation with the individual's medical provider. Sets forth provisions prohibiting prior authorization and cost-sharing, as specified. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under the provisions of those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that an assisted living establishment or a shared housing establishment shall only make referrals to its residents for home services providers that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Establishes penalties for violating the referral requirement. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, and the Life Care Facilities Act to require that the Department of Public Health to distribute to each establishment or facility a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type and that the each establishment or facility post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. Effective January 1, 2027.