Healthcare

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a mechanism to collect research and data regarding overdose prevention sites (OPSs) and prepare a report for the General Assembly within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the report shall contain information on (1) current research on the effectiveness of an OPS as an overdose prevention strategy; (2) OPS best practices for staffing, placement, and activities; and (3) the benefits and challenges of different OPS models - structures and settings. Requires the Department, in collaboration with people with lived experience, to develop a pilot service, subject to available funding, aimed at saving the lives of people who use substances that shall include the establishment of at least one OPS. Requires the pilot OPSs to offer people, who are most likely to use drugs in public, unobserved, high-risk, and unsanitary locations, a safe space to use pre-obtained substances and connect to community supports or other existing treatment and recovery programs, harm reduction services, and health care. Contains provisions concerning certain principles pilot OPSs must abide by; OPS staffing and location requirements; pilot OPS services; and other matters. Permits the Department to approve an entity to operate a pilot program in one or more jurisdictions. Grants criminal and civil immunity to persons who use pilot OPSs services; pilot OPS staff; and any real property owner upon which the OPS site is located or operates. Contains provisions on public awareness outreach; OPS reporting requirements; home rule exemption; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Excludes student health insurance coverage from a provision requiring group or individual policies of accident and health insurance that provide dependent coverage to make that dependent coverage available to the parent or stepparent of the insured if certain conditions are met. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Repeals provisions that require: (i) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to consult with stakeholders and General Assembly members for input on a plan to develop enhanced Medicaid rates for substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment in underserved communities; and (ii) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services to collaborate to review coverage and billing requirements for substance use prevention and recovery and mental health services with the goal of identifying disparities and streamlining coverage and billing requirements to reduce the administrative burden for providers and medical assistance beneficiaries. Effective January 1, 2026.

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 Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Repeals provisions that require: (i) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to consult with stakeholders and General Assembly members for input on a plan to develop enhanced Medicaid rates for substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment in underserved communities; and (ii) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services to collaborate to review coverage and billing requirements for substance use prevention and recovery and mental health services with the goal of identifying disparities and streamlining coverage and billing requirements to reduce the administrative burden for providers and medical assistance beneficiaries. Effective January 1, 2026.