Healthcare

Honors the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman, whose contributions to medical science have had a lasting impact though her name is not widely known. Recognizes Alfred "Lacks" Carter Jr. for his work to preserve Henrietta Lacks' legacy and for his contributions in the fight against cervical cancer. Urges support for community-based research and education programs, which are vital to educating and empowering community members so they can make informed decisions about being involved in clinical research and the research process. Urges support for clinical research to reduce health disparities, to save lives, to gain insights about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and other medical treatments, and to discover treatments for various diseases.

Urges the State to increase reimbursement rates, state grants and contracts, and the minimum overhead allowance to meet the rising costs of providing essential human services in Illinois and supporting the workers who deliver those services.

Expresses opposition to the Trump healthcare cuts, which fundamentally undermine the basic dignity and financial security of working families across the country. Calls upon the United States Senate to immediately table the Trump healthcare cuts bill and instead pursue reforms such as the Illinois' Healthcare Protection Act to make healthcare more accessible and more affordable.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Adds acupuncturist to providers included in the meaning of "health care professional". Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that the standard of care for a patient under the Act shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telemedicine, or through another method of electronically-enabled health care. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, by rule, to determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that, if the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions regarding telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause stating the reasons why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the person. Provides that the rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide the person with a period of 7 days after the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Provides that failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately. Provides that a person residing out-of-state that provides services through telemedicine to a patient residing in the State submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State.

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that certain provisions related to probationary separation, term appointments, and veterans hospital visits are subject to Jurisdiction B. Changes references to veterans hospital visits to references to veterans medical appointments. Provides that an employee who is also a veteran shall be permitted 4 days per year to receive medical care authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at any type of health care provider or health care facility (rather than permitted 4 days per year to visit a veterans hospital or clinic), for examination or treatment (rather than for examination) of a military service-connected condition (rather than service-connected disability).

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Provides that any intergovernmental joint self-insurance pool providing health benefits under a specified provision of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act shall not be included under the definition of "health care plan". Effective immediately.

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Requires that a hospital's obligation to patients under the Act shall cover all health care services, including, but not limited to, on-site health care services provided by a non-hospital entity. Provides that, in the event the hospital outsources health care services to an individual or entity that is separate from the hospital within the hospital facility or otherwise on the hospital site, the hospital's obligations under the Act continue as though the hospital had provided the health care services. Requires a hospital to ensure that the individual or entity contracted to provide health care services agrees in writing to operate under the hospital's financial assistance policy, screening obligations, collections provisions, and all other provisions of the Act, and requires a hospital to ensure that a hospital agent or on-site provider of outsourced health care services complies with the Act. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act to establish similar requirements for hospitals. Provides that a hospital shall include charges from the third-party individual or entity when calculating the charge, discount, or collectible amount applicable under the Act.

Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Allows the Department of Public Health to develop and publish on its website a nonopioid alternatives pamphlet, with certain requirements. Prohibits a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that coverage shall not be denied for a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Requires that nonopioid drugs preferred on a specific list for the treatment or management of pain shall not be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Effective July 1, 2027.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall place no additional restrictions, limitations, or requirements than that provided by the statute creating the procedure for medical release. Provides that upon a determination that the petitioner is eligible for a hearing on medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall: (1) provide public notice of the petitioner's name, docket number, counsel, and hearing date; and (2) provide a copy of the evaluation and any medical records provided by the Department of Corrections to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney upon scheduling the institutional hearing. Provides that a hearing on a petitioner's application for medical release is public unless the petitioner requests a non-public hearing. Provides that members of the public shall be permitted to freely attend public hearings on medical release without restriction. Provides that upon denying an eligible petitioner's application for medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall publish a decision letter outlining the reason for denial. Provides that the decision letter must include an explanation of each statutory factor and the estimated annual cost of the petitioner's continued incarceration, including the petitioner's medical care. Makes technical changes.

Amends the Reproductive Health Act. Provides that a health care professional who provides abortion-related care may submit to any governmental agency, person, business, or association a written request that the governmental agency, person, business, or association refrain from disclosing any personal information about the health care professional. Provides that if a governmental agency receives a written request from a health care professional, the governmental agency shall not publicly post or display publicly available content that includes any personal information of the health care professional. Exempts the personal information of the health care professional from the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that if a person, business, or association receives a written request from a health care professional, the person, business, or association shall refrain from publicly posting or displaying on the Internet publicly available content that includes the personal information of a health care professional. Provides that no person, business, or association shall solicit, sell, or trade any personal information of the health care professional with the intent to post an imminent or serious threat to the health and safety of the health care professional or the health care professional's immediate family. Allows a health care professional to bring an action against a governmental agency, person, business, or association, seeking injunctive or declaratory relief if a written request is violated. Provides that it is a Class 3 felony for any person to knowingly and publicly post on the Internet the personal information of a health care professional or the health care professional's immediate family if the person knows that publicly posting the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the health and safety of the health care professional or health care professional's immediate family, and the violation is a proximate cause of bodily injury or death of the health care professional or health care professional's immediate family member. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act.