HB0475 - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARDS/RESCUE SQUAD-SANGAMON COUNTY
Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Provides that if a successful referendum is held by a governmental unit to levy an annual tax for the purpose of providing mental health facilities and services, the governmental unit shall appoint all members to its community mental health board within 60 days after the local election authority certifies the passage of the referendum. Provides that all terms for board members shall be measured from the first day of the month (rather than first day of the year) of the appointment. Requires every community mental health board to meet within 30 days after members are first appointed and within 30 days after members are appointed or reappointed upon the expiration of a member's term (rather than requiring the board to meet immediately after appointment). Provides that only one board member shall be a member of the governmental unit's governing body, with the term of membership on the board to run concurrently with the elected term of the member. Provides that a community mental health board may fix a fiscal year for the board. Provides that every community mental health board shall be subject to the requirements under the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the Sangamon County Board may form, manage, fund, and operate a volunteer rescue squad to provide assistance within Sangamon County to any public entity providing law enforcement, firefighting, emergency disaster response, or first responder services.
HB0559 - HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE REINFORCEMENT ACT
Provides that any person who was issued a temporary out-of-state permit or temporary reinstatement permit by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to practice under his or her temporary out-of-state permit if he or she submits an application for licensure by endorsement to the Department on or before May 11, 2023. Provides for license application requirements for holders of temporary out-of-state permits or temporary reinstatement permits in specified professions. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, the ID/DD Community Care Act, and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that, during a statewide public health emergency, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Services may take specified actions pertaining to inspections within an appropriate time frame to the extent feasible. Provides that probationary and provisional licenses may be extended for an additional 120 if requested and approved by the Department. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that during a public health emergency, any provision of the Act that would prevent a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches under the Act from delegating any and all authority prescribed to the physician by law to international medical graduate physicians who are working in response to the public health emergency declared by the Governor are suspended. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Illinois Insurance Code to provide coverage for in-pharmacy COVID and influenza testing, screening, vaccination, and treatments. Includes other provisions. Effective immediately.
HB1001 - MEDICAL DEVICE SAFETY
Creates the Medical Device Safety Act. Provides that (i) all medical devices to be used by, surgically applied to, or surgically implanted within a patient be under warranty, regardless of the severity of the patient's medical condition necessitating the device, (ii) all persons and entities that produce, sell, offer for sale, or provide medical devices to be used by, surgically applied to, or surgically implanted within a patient are liable for all costs to the patient for the replacement of each medical device if the medical device malfunctions due to no fault of the patient, and (iii) all hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers shall waive the costs charged to patients for follow-up surgeries that result from defective medical devices, regardless of whether or not those defective medical devices are capable of being implanted. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act, the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, and the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires that the University of Illinois Hospital, all ambulatory surgical treatment centers, and all hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act waive the costs charged to patients for follow-up surgeries that result from previous surgical errors. Effective immediately.
HB1002 - IDPH-DIAGNOSTIC ALGORITHM
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that before using any diagnostic algorithm to diagnose a patient, a hospital must first confirm that the diagnostic algorithm has been certified by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Innovation and Technology, has been shown to achieve as or more accurate diagnostic results than other diagnostic means, and is not the only method of diagnosis available to a patient. Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that a patient has the right to be told when a diagnostic algorithm will be used to diagnose him or her. Provides that before a diagnostic algorithm is used to diagnose a patient, the patient must first be presented with the option of being diagnosed without the diagnostic algorithm and consent to the diagnostic algorithm's use.
HB1009 - LEAD IN SCHOOLS REPORTING
Creates the Lead in Schools Reporting Act. Provides that on an annual basis the Department of Public Health, in coordination with local departments of public health serving the City of Chicago, shall conduct specified lead testing at public school facilities within the City. Provides that the results from such testing shall be transmitted to the State Board of Education. Provides that the Department shall notify the State Board if a detected lead level meets a level that the Department deems unsafe. Amends the School Code. Provides that the school report cards for the Chicago school district shall include lead testing results and that students in the district may transfer from one attendance center to another attendance center within or outside of the district if any lead levels at his or her current attendance center meet a level that the Department deems unsafe. Makes other changes to the provisions concerning transfers.
HB1030 - PATIENT BILLING-COLLECTION
Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by garnishing wages, seizing moneys from tax returns, or pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure on the patient's home. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than the patient. Provides that the hospital, and not the patient, is responsible for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program.
HB1041 - DHFS-WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends medical assistance coverage to all women of childbearing age regardless of income level. Requires a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act to complete and submit an application for medical assistance on behalf of every uninsured woman of childbearing age who is admitted to the hospital for inpatient or outpatient services. Provides that upon receipt of an application for medical assistance for a woman of childbearing age, the Department of Human Services shall as soon as practicable enroll the woman into the medical assistance program. Grants the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services rulemaking authority to implement the amendatory Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for any federal waivers or State Plan amendments, if required, to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that implementation is contingent on federal approval. Effective immediately.
HB1044 - MEDICAID-AUTO-ENROLLMENT
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to update its eligibility verification and enrollment processing system to allow for the automatic enrollment of all eligible uninsured childless adults into the medical assistance program. Provides that under the updated processing system, hospitals, community-based organizations, and other entities approved by the Departments shall be authorized to screen and identify for medical assistance uninsured childless adults aged 19 or older, but younger than 65, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for medical assistance. Provides that a hospital, community-based organization, or other approved entity shall inform a Medicaid-eligible uninsured childless adult that the adult is presumptively eligible for medical assistance and offer to submit an electronic application for medical assistance on the adult's behalf. Requires the electronic application to be no longer than 2 pages in length as prescribed by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department of Human Services to designate staff to receive and review completed electronic applications for medical assistance from hospitals, community-based organizations, or other approved entities. Requires the designated staff to verify, as soon as practical, the uninsured childless adult's eligibility for medical assistance based on the information provided in the adult's completed electronic application and without requesting additional information or attestations from the uninsured childless adult. Provides that the uninsured childless adult shall be enrolled in the medical assistance program upon verification of eligibility. Grants the Departments rulemaking authority. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that implementation is subject to federal approval.
HB1088 - DNA SPECIMENS-SUBMISSION
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that each licensed hospital shall designate patient-care areas under rules adopted by the Department of Public Health. These areas shall include examination and operating rooms and out-patient care areas of the hospital. Provides that each licensed hospital shall post a sign of a type and size specified by the Department of Public Health in a conspicuous place at the entrance of each patient-care area of the hospital stating that peace officers may not enter the area without the knowing consent of the health supervisor or a valid search warrant. Provides that each hospital shall designate one of its staff as a health supervisor. Provides that the health supervisor shall be the person designated by the hospital to communicate and interact with peace officers including about the treatment and care being provided at the hospital to a person in the peace officer's custody who is being treated at the hospital. Provides that the health supervisor shall be a hospital administrator or other person in charge of supervising nurses at the hospital but who is not providing treatment to patients. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the Sex Offender Registration Act. Deletes provisions that require DNA submissions of persons charged with certain offenses and of each registered sex offender to the Illinois State Police for DNA analysis. Deletes provisions that the detention, arrest, or conviction of a person based upon a database match or database information is not invalidated if it is determined that the specimen was obtained or placed in the database by mistake.
HB1137 - EVIDENCE-HEALTH CARE RECORDS
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires a health care facility or health care practitioner to notify the patient in writing when the health care facility or health care practitioner alters the patient's record within 3 business days of the alteration. Requires a health care facility or health care practitioner to provide an electronic copy of an altered record within 7 calendar days of the receipt of a written request by a patient. Requires any health care facility that accepts Medicaid to, upon written request, provide an electronic copy of an altered record within 4 business days. Provides that the failure to comply with the time limit requirements of the new provisions shall result in a rebuttable presumption that the health care record was altered to fraudulently conceal a failure to meet the applicable standard of care.
HB1156 - LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN INFO
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Life Care Facilities Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the MC/DD Act, and the ID/DD Community Care Act. Provides that establishments or facilities licensed under the Acts shall post on the home page of the licensed establishment's or facility's website specified information about the Department on Aging's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Provides that an establishment or facility may comply with the provisions by posting the required information on the website of its parent company if the establishment does not maintain a unique website and is not required to comply with the provisions if the establishment or facility and any parent company do not maintain a website. Contains other provisions. Effective January 1, 2024.
HB1230 - BIOMETRIC INFO-HEALTH EMPLOYER
Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to apply to any health care employer that (1) hires an employee under the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and the employee has submitted to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, (2) uses and stores biometric information or biometric identifiers exclusively for employment, human resources, compliance, payroll, identification, authentication, safety, security, or fraud prevention purposes, (3) does not sell, lease, or trade the biometric information or biometric identifiers collected, and (4) maintains and follows a documented process to delete any biometric information or biometric identifier.
HB1364 - 9-8-8 TASK FORCE
Creates the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Task Force Act. Provides that the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Task Force shall be composed of 12 appointed members and the State's Chief Behavioral Health Officer, or the Officer's representative. Provides that the 2 Task Force co-chairs shall appoint experts to contribute and participate in the Task Force as nonvoting members. Provides for meetings of the Task Force and responsibilities relating to examination of the first year of implementation and use of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Illinois. Requires the development of an action plan with specified recommendations to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2023. Includes legislative findings. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.
House Amendment 1: Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Changes the short title of the Act to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Workgroup Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, shall convene a working group that includes members of the General Assembly, representatives of State agencies, the State's Chief Behavioral Health Officer, the Director of the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, service providers from the regional and statewide 9-8-8 call centers, representatives of organizations that represent people with mental health conditions or substance use disorders and that operate an Illinois social services helpline or crisis line other than 9-8-8, including veterans' crisis services, more than one individual with personal or family lived experience of a mental health condition or substance use disorder, experts in research and operational evaluation, and any other person or persons as determined by the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health. Requires the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, to submit a report to the General Assembly regarding the Workgroup's findings related to the 9-8-8 call system. Modifies the Workgroup's responsibilities, including removing requirements to review the recommendations and decisions of previous State-led workgroups on transforming the mental health crisis response system and that the action plan must include a plan to sustainably fund a statewide 9-8-8 call center network in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. Effective immediately.
House Amendment 1:
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Changes the short title of the Act to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Workgroup Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, shall convene a working group that includes members of the General Assembly, representatives of State agencies, the State's Chief Behavioral Health Officer, the Director of the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, service providers from the regional and statewide 9-8-8 call centers, representatives of organizations that represent people with mental health conditions or substance use disorders and that operate an Illinois social services helpline or crisis line other than 9-8-8, including veterans' crisis services, more than one individual with personal or family lived experience of a mental health condition or substance use disorder, experts in research and operational evaluation, and any other person or persons as determined by the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health. Requires the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, to submit a report to the General Assembly regarding the Workgroup's findings related to the 9-8-8 call system. Modifies the Workgroup's responsibilities, including removing requirements to review the recommendations and decisions of previous State-led workgroups on transforming the mental health crisis response system and that the action plan must include a plan to sustainably fund a statewide 9-8-8 call center network in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. Effective immediately.
HB2039 - ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH DATA
Creates the Access to Public Health Data Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services shall, at the request of a local health department in Illinois, make any and all public health data related to residents of that local health department's jurisdiction available to that local health department for the purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Exempts specified information from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act and makes a conforming change in that Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that no rule adopted by the Department of Public Health shall be construed as restricting access to vital records by any municipality, county, multicounty, public health district, or regional health officer recognized by the Department for the purposes described in specified provisions.
HB2086 - CONSUMER-OWNED CONTAINERS - LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. In provisions allowing the filling or refilling of personal containers with bulk food, refers to restaurants and retailers (rather than just retailers). Allows restaurants and retailers to fill or refill a consumer-owned container with ready-made food. Allows clean consumer-owned containers provided or returned to a restaurant or retailer for filling or refilling to be filled or refilled and returned to the same consumer if the consumer-owned container is filled or refilled by either an employee of the restaurant or retailer or the owner of the consumer-owned container. Requires filled or refilled consumer-owned containers to be designed and constructed for reuse in accordance with specified federal requirements. Contains requirements for restaurants and retailers. Directs the Department of Public Health to produce materials for restaurants and retailers on or before January 1, 2024, indicating that consumer-owned containers are not prohibited for use under Illinois law and specifying best practices for food safety requirements for consumer-owned containers. Effective immediately.
House Amendment 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Provides that self-service by consumers is not prohibited if the take-home containers are maintained clean, sanitary, free from debris, smooth, durable, and easy-to-clean, and are not capable of causing, through cleanliness or design, conditions that may cause or spread disease (rather than cleaned, stored, and dispensed in a sanitary manner). Provides that a restaurant or retailer may fill or refill a consumer-owned container with ready-to-eat or dry bulk foods (rather than ready-made food). Provides that the local (rather than county) health departments and municipalities shall not prohibit specified actions by a retailer or restaurant. Removes language providing that the Department of Public Health shall produce materials for restaurants and retailers in print format. Allows the Department of Public Health to adopt administrative rules necessary to implement, interpret, and administer the provisions. Effective immediately.
Senate Amendment 1: Provides that except as provided under specified provisions, county health departments and municipalities may regulate but shall not prohibit (rather than shall not prohibit) the ability of a retailer to allow a consumer to fill or refill a consumer-owned personal container with bulk food if the dispensers used prevent the direct handling of the bulk food or the ability of a restaurant or retailer to fill or refill a consumer-owned container with ready-to-eat or dry bulk foods.
HB2102 - HEALTH CARE WORKER-BACKGROUND
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. In provisions concerning a health care employer or long-term care facility hiring individuals convicted of committing or attempting to commit various specified offenses, adds substantially equivalent offenses under the laws of any other state or of the laws of the United States, as verified by court records, records from a state agency, or an Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records check. In provisions concerning fingerprint-based criminal history records, provides that fingerprints submitted shall be transmitted through a live scan fingerprint vendor licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that fingerprints shall be checked against the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases now and hereafter filed, including, but not limited to, civil, criminal, and latent fingerprint databases (instead of fingerprints submitted shall be checked against the fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois State Police criminal history record databases). Provides that fee charged for conducting the criminal history records check shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions and shall forward the national criminal history record information to the department or agency. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall forward the applicant's fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall request that the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a national criminal history pertaining to the applicant.
HB2118 - HYPODERMIC SYRINGES-SALE
Amends the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Provides that any supplier (rather than a pharmacist) may sell any amount of (rather than up to 100) sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Deletes a provision that a syringe or needle sold must be stored at a pharmacy and in a manner that limits access to the syringes or needles to pharmacists employed at the pharmacy and any persons designated by the pharmacists. Deletes provision that a syringe or needle sold at a pharmacy may be sold only from the pharmacy department of the pharmacy. Makes other conforming changes to the Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act to make conforming changes.
House Amendment 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines "applicable facility" to include the principal place of business of any government official who is collecting for transport, storage, treatment, transfer, or disposal hypodermic, intravenous, or other medical needles, or hypodermic or intravenous syringes, by reason of his or her official duties. Amends the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Deletes the minimum age of 18 for the purchase of hypodermic syringes and needles.
HB2292 - DHFS-SAFETY-NET HOSPITAL-RATES
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the $630 per diem rate to be paid to safety net-hospitals for inpatient psychiatric services on and after January 1, 2021, removes language making the payment rate subject to appropriation. Effective July 1, 2021.
HB2428 - DHFS-OPIOID OVERDOSE-INPATIENT
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to ensure that patients experiencing opioid-related overdose or withdrawal are admitted on inpatient status, rather than observation status, for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance to a safety-net hospital. Prohibits managed care organizations from denying inpatient coverage to safety-net hospitals for patients presenting with opioid overdose or withdrawal diagnosis for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance.
HB2453 - HEALTH WORK BACKGROUND CHECK
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Provides that a health care employer or long-term care facility may hire, employ, or retain any individual in a position involving direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of residents, who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit one or more specified offenses, either within 5, 10, or 25 years after the date of conviction, only with a waiver. Provides that the Health Care Worker Task Force shall include: 2 individuals with a criminal record who work with a community organization that works with people with criminal records; an individual from a legal services agency that represents people with criminal records; an individual from an organization that advocates for improved opportunity for people with criminal records; and a representative from a provider that helps connect people with criminal records with employment. Provides that on or before January 1, 2025, the Task Force shall issue recommendations to the Department of Public Health. Provides that beginning January 1, 2024, the Task Force shall make recommendations to the Department regarding connecting people with criminal records to employment with work in the health care industry. Provides that on or before January 1 of each year, the Department shall report to the Task Force, the Governor, and both houses of the General Assembly specified information for the previous fiscal year. Makes conforming changes to the Code of Civil Procedure.
HB2501 - HOSPITALS-POSTINGS
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals that receive a property tax exemption under a provision of the Property Tax Code concerning exemptions related to access to hospital and health care services by low-income and underserved individuals to post the hospital's charity care policy and the contact information of a financial counselor in a reasonably viewable area in the hospital's emergency room.
HB2609 - HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY
Creates the Hospital Price Transparency Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a facility (a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, or licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act) must make specified information public. Requires facilities to maintain lists of standard charges and shoppable services and ensure that the lists are available at all times to the public. Contains reporting requirements. Requires the Department of Public Health to monitor each facility's compliance with the requirements of the Act and to enforce compliance with the Act. Provides that facilities that violate the Act must submit and implement a corrective action plan. Establishes the Hospital Price Transparency Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Requires administrative penalties collected under the Act to be deposited into the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department for expenses relating to the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Requires the University of Illinois Hospital to comply with the Hospital Price Transparency Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that any report submitted to the Department under the Hospital Price Transparency Act and any information or data contained in such a report is subject to disclosure to the public by the Department. Requires hospitals licensed under the Act to comply with the Hospital Price Transparency Act. Effective January 1, 2024.
HB2619 - NURSING HOME-TRANSFER NOTICE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the State Long Term Care Ombudsman shall be notified when a resident is involuntarily transferred or discharged from a facility. Makes corresponding changes.
HB2719 - COMMUNITY BENEFITS ACT - HOSPITAL SCREENING
Amends the Community Benefits Act. Provides that information made available to the public shall include the number of uninsured patients who have declined or failed to respond to the screening described specified provisions and the 5 most frequent reasons for declining. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Makes a change in provisions concerning legislative findings. Sets forth provisions concerning screening patients for health insurance and financial assistance. In provisions concerning hospitals pursuing collective action, provides that hospitals and their agents may pursue collective action against an uninsured patient only if the hospital has complied with the screening requirements set forth in specified provisions and exhausted any discount available to the patient under specified provisions. Provides that obligations of hospitals under the amendatory Act Defines terms. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that if a patient declines to apply for a public health insurance program on the basis of concern for immigration-related consequences, the hospital may refer the patient to a free, unbiased resource to address the patient's immigration-related concerns and assist in enrolling the patient in a public health insurance program. Provides that a hospital may still screen the patient for eligibility under its financial assistance policy. Provides that hospitals shall permit an uninsured patient to apply for a discount within 90 days of completion of the screening under specified provisions or denial of an application for a public health insurance program.
HB2811 - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Behavioral Health Receiving Center Grant Pilot Program to award a grant to one or more counties to develop and implement a behavioral health receiving center. Requires the Department to issue a request for proposals no later than July 1, 2023 and to award all grants before December 31, 2023. Prohibits the use of the grant to purchase land for the behavioral health receiving center. Provides that the purpose of the behavioral health receiving center project is to increase access to mental health crisis services for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis; and to reduce the number of individuals who are incarcerated or in a hospital emergency room while experiencing a mental health crisis. Requires a grant application to contain certain information including the population to which the behavioral health receiving center will serve, the type of mental health services that will be provided, and the cost of the proposed project. Requires the Department to report to certain House and Senate committees before June 30, 2024 regarding each county awarded a grant and the details of each project. Requires the Department to report to the committees before June 30, 2026 regarding certain data and recommendations for the future use of mental health crisis services in behavioral health receiving centers. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply, no later than July 1, 2023, for a federal waiver or Title XIX State Plan amendment to provide reimbursement through a bundled daily rate for crisis management services that are delivered to an individual during the individual's stay at a behavioral health receiving center. Effective immediately.
HB2815 - HOSPITAL WORKFORCE INSURANCE
Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Insurance to conduct a study to better understand the gaps in health insurance coverage for uninsured residents, including the reasons why individuals are uninsured and whether insured individuals are insured through an employer-sponsored plan or through the Illinois health insurance marketplace. Requires the Department to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall provide health insurance coverage to all of their workforce.
HB2838 - DHS-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer the Behavioral Health Scholarship Program for the purpose of incentivizing students to pursue degrees in a behavioral health discipline. Provides that the Department shall award financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, university fees, and books each year for a maximum of 4 years at a participating university if the applicant meets certain conditions. Sets forth rules, regulations, and other requirements for the Program. Provides that the Department shall establish the Employment Funding Grant Program to provide grants to qualified individuals who work for a community not-for-profit behavioral health agency or a federally qualified health center. Defines who is a qualified individual. Sets forth rules, regulations, and other requirements for the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Behavioral Health Education Program Fund. Makes other changes.
HB2843 - NURSING HOME CARE-DISCLOSURE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that a for-profit facility licensed under the Act shall disclose data regarding the lease or rental of the facility by a real estate partnership owning the facility to a business operating the facility in any cost report submitted by the facility to the State. Provides that the provisions only apply to a facility that is leased or rented by its owner to a related party of the owner. Contains specified data to be disclosed by a for-profit facility under the Act with each cost report filed with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Requires the information disclosed to be filed with the Department's Bureau of Health Finance within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year. Requires the Department to publish the information on its website for general viewing and in an annual report to the General Assembly. Requires the Auditor General to submit an annual audit report to the General Assembly concerning the quality of care, financial practices, and statewide oversight of Illinois' facilities. Provides that any individual who has an ownership interest in a facility that is placed on the federal Special Focus Facility List published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or its list of candidates for that List shall not obtain an ownership interest in another facility in the State until the facility has been removed from and remains off of the Special Focus Facility List or the list of candidates for that List for a period of 2 years. Provides that, within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all long-term care providers operating or maintaining a facility shall notify the Department of all individual owners and any individuals or organizations that are part of a limited liability company with ownership of that facility and the percentage of ownership of each owner. Provides that this ownership reporting requirement does not include individual shareholders in a publicly held corporation. Requires the Department, in collaboration with any other relevant State agency, to work to improve State data collection forms for facilities to ensure that all relevant information is provided. Provides that State regulators shall perform specified duties.
HB2858 - ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, expands the definition of "access" to mean the right to inspect and copy (rather than inspect) the clinical and other records of a participant or resident, regardless of age, with the express written consent of the participant or resident. In provisions concerning access and visitation rights, provides that a long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, and shared housing establishment must permit representatives of the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman, with the permission of the resident or other specified persons, to examine and copy the resident's clinical and other records. Provides that any person may report information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department on Aging. Provides that if a mandated reporter has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult is the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to the agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner. Prohibits employers from discriminating against any employee who makes a good faith oral or written report concerning information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult. Contains provisions concerning the required testimony of a mandated reporter at an administrative hearing concerning the suspicious death of an eligible adult; the referral of evidence to the appropriate law enforcement agency; access to records concerning reports of suspicious deaths due to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation; and other matters.
HB2998 - ASSISTED LIVING-MONITORING
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Directs the Department of Public Health to study current and potential uses of electronic monitoring and recording for the purpose of preventing and identifying abuse and neglect within assisted living establishments. Requires the Department to report its findings to the General Assembly and Governor. Provides that, if the Department determines, after conducting its study, that the benefits of monitoring within assisted living establishments outweigh the costs of that monitoring, then the Department may adopt rules requiring the installation and use of electronic monitoring and recording within assisted living establishments.
HB3092 - PFAS REDUCE-DATA COLLECTION
Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall contract with an existing multistate chemical data collection entity that is used by other states and jurisdictions to implement, by January 1, 2026, a publicly accessible data collection interface that manufacturers shall use to report certain data about products that contain intentionally added PFAS. Provides that the Agency may adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions. Provides that the Agency may provide technical assistance to manufacturers in complying with these provisions. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2026, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, a manufacturer of PFAS or a product or product component containing intentionally added PFAS that, during the prior calendar year, is sold, offered for sale, distributed, or offered for promotional purposes in, or imported into the State shall register the PFAS or the product or product component containing intentionally added PFAS on the publicly accessible data collection interface, along with specified information. Provides that a violation of these provisions is subject to a civil penalty. Provides product exemptions for these provisions.
HB3125 - DHFS-NURSING FACILITY RATES
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2023 (rather than July 1, 2014), the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.17%. Effective July 1, 2023.
HB3128 - PFAS DISPOSAL PROGRAM
Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a take-back program for local fire departments and fire protection districts that use and store firefighting foam containing PFAS. Provides that fire departments and fire protection districts that participated in the most recent PFAS survey shall be eligible to participate in the program, but participation in the program shall not be required. Provides that the program shall provide funding and resources to ensure the proper destruction of firefighting foam containing PFAS. Provides that the program shall commence within 6 months after the effective date and continue for a period of 5 years or until the Office of the State Fire Marshall finds that no firefighting foam containing PFAS is reported in the PFAS survey. Effective immediately.
HB3230 - BEHAVIORIAL HEALTH CRISIS CARE
Creates the Strengthening and Transforming Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Illinois Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, to use an independent third-party expert to conduct a cost analysis and determine actuarially sound costs associated with developing and maintaining a statewide initiative for the coordination and delivery of the continuum of behavioral health crisis response services in the State, including crisis call centers, mobile crisis response team services, crisis receiving and stabilization centers, and other acute behavioral health services. Contains provisions concerning recommendations on multiple sources of funding that could potentially be utilized to support a sustainable and comprehensive continuum of behavioral health crisis response services; a behavioral health crisis workforce; an action plan; a stakeholder working group to develop recommendations to coordinate programming and strategies to support a cohesive behavioral health crisis response system; and other matters. Effective immediately.
House Amendment 1:
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but with the following changes: Makes subject to appropriation the requirement that the Department of Human Services use an independent third-party expert to conduct a cost analysis on developing and maintaining a statewide initiative for the coordination and delivery of the continuum of behavioral health crisis response services in the State. Provides that the cost analysis shall include costs that are or can be reasonably attributed to: (i) staffing and technological infrastructure enhancements necessary to achieve operational and clinical standards and best practices set forth by the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (rather than costs that are or can be reasonably attributed to ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline to the designated hotline center and community behavioral health centers); (ii) the need to develop staffing that is consistent with federal guidelines for (rather than staffing that is adequate for expedient) mobile crisis response times, based on call volume and the geography served; and (iii) the provision of call, text, and chat response; mobile crisis response; and follow-up and crisis stabilization services that are in response to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Removes all references to "Program 590" with "the Division of Mental Health's Crisis Care Continuum Program". Makes other technical changes. Effective immediately.
HB3338 - SAFE PATIENT LIMITS
Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in Act. Provides that nothing in the Act precludes the use of patient acuity systems consistent with the Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act; however, the maximum patient assignments in the Act may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules governing the implementation and operation of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides specified requirements for the Act's implementation by a facility. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides that the written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff shall require that all temporary personnel receive the same amount and type of training and orientation that is required for permanent staff. Provides specified nurse rights and protections. Provides that the Act's provisions are severable. Contains other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice shall be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient.
HB3524 - SCH CD-AIR QUAL TASK FORCE
Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall form an Air Quality in Schools Working Group to compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. Provides that the working group shall include representatives from the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, and any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. Provides that the State Board shall implement an outreach plan to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board's website on or before August 1, 2024. Provides that the working group shall be dissolved upon the publication of the compiled resources. Provides that the State Board may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary.
HB3583 - HEALTH WORK BKGD-APPLICABLE
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Provides that the Act applies to persons licensed, certified, or registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under specified Acts. Provides that a felony conviction of specified offenses is a disqualifying offense and requires immediate review of the license, registration, or certification under those specified licensing Acts. Sets forth provisions concerning applicability of the changes made by the amendatory Act. Effective 6 months after becoming law.
HB3629 - NURSING HOME-TRANSITION CARE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Creates the Transition and Emergency Home Services Article. Provides that within 4 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Human Services shall create a program to provide nursing services and assistance with activities of daily living sufficient to allow individuals who otherwise qualify for placement in a nursing facility to receive short-term services in the community. Provides that the short-term services shall cover both: (1) emergency home services for individuals currently receiving home services who experience a temporary need for a substitute personal assistant because of the unavailability of their other home services providers; and (2) short-term services to bridge periods between release from medical or institutional settings and establishment of long-term home services under a State waiver or other arrangements that allow the individual to live in the community. Provides that a person receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act and residing in a facility, shall receive a personal needs allowance of $90 per monthly, with the Department providing $60 per month in addition to the amount required under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Provides that facility owners, management, and employees are prohibited from retaliating against facility residents or employees who complain about facility services, including the facility's physical condition, medical care, social supports and services, access to visitation and time outside the facility, and any other attribute connected to a resident's experience of living in a facility. Makes other changes.
HB3698 - CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM GRANTS-MENTAL HEALTH
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to create the Cultural Empowerment Program to make grants-in-aid to one or more community providers to provide outreach, engagement, training, and support to faith-based organizations serving communities that are underserved by mental and behavioral health resources. Requires the Department to provide a list of ZIP codes identifying the targeted communities. Provides that grantees under the program shall utilize all available resources to provide initial relationship building within community areas by delivering training to faith-based leadership and providing connection through personal stories from persons with lived expertise to the leadership of faith communities or their congregations. Requires grantees to: (i) provide information about the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential to interested individuals; (ii) build relationships with local community mental health centers (CMHCs) and other behavioral health providers to help facilitate linkage to mental health services for people in targeted communities; (iii) ensure that consumers in the program experience a warm handoff between the grantee and the CMHC or other service provider; (iv) assist consumers in navigating or bypassing wait lists and other barriers to accessing care; (v) use their relationships with CMHCs and service providers to support expansion of services when needed and where possible; (vi) utilize their expertise to build relationships with faith-based communities in the targeted communities and ensure that those organizations are aware of the behavioral health resources available; and other matters. Provides that the Department shall prioritize organizations that are existing trusted messengers within targeted communities in awarding funding under the program. Provides that the program shall begin operations no later than July 1, 2024.
HB3716 - LONG-TERM CARE TRANSITION
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a New Directions for Nursing Home Resident Care Task Force to develop a 5-year plan to deinstitutionalize individuals who require long-term care consistent with the federal requirements of community integration. Provides that the Task Force shall create a plan so that every nursing-home eligible individual who can be cared for in the community at the same or lesser cost than the individual's care in a nursing home has programs available to allow them to choose such community care. Provides that the Task Force shall also identify the costs and service needs related to expanding the Task Force's plan to include that part of the nursing facility population that would be more expensive to house in the community. Provides for membership, compensation, and administrative support of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall constitute the Task Force no later than 3 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that within 6 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Task Force shall create a proposal for providing housing assistance payments to individuals receiving benefits under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act who are facing placement in a facility or are unable to leave such a facility unless the individuals' have access to such a housing subsidy.
HB3783 - WAGES-NURSE REPORTING TIME PAY
Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that each workday a nurse is required to report for work, based upon a previously approved and distributed work schedule, and either (1) does report, but is not put to work, or (2) was directed to not report, the nurse shall be paid for half the usual or scheduled day's work at the nurse's regular rate of pay, which shall not be less than the minimum wage. Provides that the requirement applies to nurses who are directed not to report to work and to nurses engaged in telemedicine. Provides that the report-to-work requirement is to be based upon an approved and distributed work schedule. Effective January 1, 2024.
HB3837 - HOSPITALS-PATIENT MEDICATION
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act are prohibited from preventing the administration of a prescription medication to a patient if the patient's treating physician has prescribed the medication.
HB3843 - $HEALTH LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES
Appropriates $75,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund to implement the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. Effective July 1, 202 3 .
HB3875 - GRANT ACCOUNT ACT-PUB HEALTH
Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to awards made by the Department of Public Health to certified local health departments for the purposes of public health, public safety, and healthcare-related projects utilizing State and federal funds. Provides that federal and federal pass-through awards from the Department of Public Health to certified local health departments are governed by and must comply with specified federal guidelines notwithstanding the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.
HB3886 - IDPH-PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require health care facilities and health care professionals to conform to specified requirements regarding patient care during a public health emergency. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to effectuate the provisions. Effective immediately.
HB3890 - HOSPITAL LICENSE-NOTIFY RIGHTS
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a nursing care committee must annually notify the hospital nursing staff of the staff's rights under provisions concerning nurse staffing. Requires the notice to provide a phone number and an email address for staff to report noncompliance with the nursing staff's rights. Provides that the notice shall be provided via email or by regular mail in a manner that effectively facilitates receipt of the notice.
HB3899 - MEDICAID-AUTISM TREATMENT
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the treatment of autism spectrum disorder through applied behavior analysis shall be covered under the medical assistance program for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder when ordered by a certified, registered, or licensed health care professional with expertise in treating the effects of autism spectrum disorders when the care is determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides that certain treatment shall be covered, including, but not limited to, psychiatric, psychological, rehabilitative, and therapeutic care. Effective July 1, 2023.
HB3900 - DHFS-PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, to allow for hospital presumptive eligibility for medical assistance for individuals presenting in hospital emergency rooms who are in a psychiatric crisis and meet the federal criteria for hospital presumptive eligibility. Requires the Department and the Division of Mental Health, with meaningful stakeholder input, to develop a process by which those individuals are referred to a community-based mental health provider, or any other appropriate organization, to facilitate enrollment in the medical assistance program immediately following hospital or emergency room discharge and a referral for community-based treatment. Provides that if the Department's Illinois Continuity of Care and Administrative Simplification 1115 Waiver, which includes waiving the federal requirement of hospital presumptive eligibility for medical assistance, is required to be amended to implement the amendatory Act, then the Department shall amend the 1115 Waiver within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act.
HB3937 - WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall direct the Illinois Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council to establish a framework and voluntary standard for mental health in the workplace that serves to reduce mental health stigma, increase public, employee, and employer awareness of recovery goals, and provide guidance to the Illinois employer community to put in place strategies and programs, as determined by the Illinois Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, to support the mental health and wellness of employees in this State. Provides that the Illinois Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council shall consult with the Department of Labor to develop the standard.
HB3955 - HOSPITALS-ER COPAYMENT
Amends the University of Illinois Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, hospitals organized or licensed under the Acts, in accordance with specified federal law, shall not delay provisions of a required appropriate medical screening examination or further medical examination and treatment for a patient in a hospital's emergency room in order to inquire about the individual's method of payment or insurance status.
HB4113 - ANNUAL HOSPITAL REPORT
Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that the State Board shall require each health care facility to submit an annual report of all capital expenditures (previously in excess of 200,000). Provides that if a hospital reports zero capital expenditures, a section detailing the hospital's total purchasing budget that encompasses all goods and services purchased by the hospital in the preceding fiscal year must still be included in the report.
HB4117 - MEDICAID-INPATIENT STAYS-DCFS
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to pay for all inpatient stays at a hospital beginning on the 3rd day a child is in the hospital beyond medical necessity, and the parent or caregiver has denied the child access to the home and has refused or failed to make provisions for another living arrangement for the child or the child's discharge is being delayed due to a pending inquiry or investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to pay the DCFS per diem rate for inpatient psychiatric stays at a free-standing psychiatric hospital or a hospital with a pediatric or adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit, requires the Department to pay the DCFS per diem rate effective the 3rd day (rather than the 11th day) when a child is in the hospital beyond medical necessity.
HB4121 - FOOD HANDLING-COTTAGE FOODS
Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that if a cottage food operation is located in another state, it must register with the local health department for the unit of local government where it will sell products. Provides that a cottage food product shall not be shipped out of State unless it is compliant with the laws of the state to which it is being shipped. Provides that a local health department may establish policies to allow for the indirect sale by retailers of food and drink produced by a cottage food operation within its jurisdiction. Makes conforming changes.
HB4262 - ABORTION-INFORMED CONSENT
Amends the Reproductive Health Act. Provides that consent to a termination of pregnancy is voluntary and informed only if: the physician who is to perform the procedure, or the referring physician, has, at a minimum, orally, while physically present in the same room, and at least 24 hours before the procedure, provided the woman with specified information; specified printed materials prepared and provided by the Department of Public Health have been provided to the pregnant woman, if she chooses to view these materials; and the woman acknowledges in writing, before the termination of pregnancy, that the information required to be provided has been provided. Provides that if a medical emergency exists and a physician cannot comply with the requirements for informed consent, a physician may terminate a pregnancy if he or she has obtained at least one corroborative medical opinion attesting to the medical necessity for emergency medical procedures and to the fact that to a reasonable degree of medical certainty the continuation of the pregnancy would threaten the life of the pregnant woman. Provides that a physician or other person who violates the provisions shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
HB4280 - COTTAGE FOOD OPERATIONS
Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that if the unit of local government in which the cottage food operation is located does not have a local health department, the cottage food operation must register with the nearest local health department. Makes a conforming change.
HB4350 - CHILD ABUSE NOTICE ACT
Creates the Child Abuse Notice Act. Requires certain businesses and establishments, including, but not limited to, day care centers, elementary and secondary schools, bus stations, and general acute care hospital emergency rooms, to post in a conspicuous place a notice developed by the Department of Children and Family Services that is aimed toward children under 18 and provides information on what constitutes physical and sexual abuse and how to report such abuse. Requires the notice to be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in size, written in a 16-point font, unless the notice is provided by electronic means. Requires the Department, in consultation with an accredited Children's Advocacy Center, to develop a model notice no later than 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Department to make the model notice available for download on the Department's Internet website and provide the notice upon request to eligible business, schools, and other establishments. Provides that the notice shall be printed in English, Spanish, and in one other language that is the most widely spoken language in the county where the establishment is located and for which translation is mandated by the federal Voting Rights Act, as applicable. Imposes certain penalties on those businesses and other establishments that are subject to the Act that fail to comply with the Act's requirements. Exempts school districts and personnel from the penalty provision.
HB4355 - IDPH-PUBERTY BLOCKER REPORT
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Provides that a health care professional shall report to the Department of Public Health each time the health care professional prescribes a puberty blocker to a person under the age of 18. Provides that the report shall be transmitted to the Department on a quarterly basis. Requires the Department to create forms to be used for the reports and that the forms shall not request or require identifying information of the patient or the health care provider. Requires the Department to ensure anonymity of all patients and health care professionals. Provides that all reports are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and are confidential and that access to the reports shall be limited to authorized Department staff for statistical purposes only. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act.
HB4356 - WOMEN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT
Creates the Women's Health Protection Act. Requires all abortion clinics to be licensed by the Department of Public Health. Sets forth provisions relating to application procedures, license issuance, denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal, administrative decisions, and the adoption of rules. Requires the Department to establish policies and procedures for conducting prelicensure and relicensure inspections of abortion clinics. Provides that the Director of the Department shall adopt rules relating to an abortion clinic's physical facilities, supply and equipment standards, and personnel. Provides for civil penalties, including a $5,000 civil penalty for operating an abortion clinic without a license, a $5,000 civil penalty for intentionally violating the Act, and a $1,000 civil penalty for a first violation of the Act and $5,000 for a subsequent violation. Allows both the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the State's Attorney for the county in which the violation occurred to initiate a legal action to enforce collection of civil penalties. Allows the Director to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an order enjoining any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of the Act. Provides that nothing in the Act makes lawful an abortion that is currently unlawful. Defines terms. States legislative findings and purposes. Effective one year after becoming law.
HB4472 - HEALTH CARE AVAILABILITY
Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Requires the Attorney General to enforce the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.
HB4509 - SOUTH SUBURBAN TRAUMA CENTER
Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Creates the South Suburban Trauma Center Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Specifies that certain toll surcharges are to be deposited in the Fund and used for a suburban trauma center to be situated on the border between Calumet City and the Village of Dolton. Describes additional duties of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board regarding the establishment of a south suburban trauma center. Amends the Toll Highway Act. Imposes a toll surcharge at a specific toll plaza. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB4541 - MENTAL HEALTH BOARD-ELECTIONS
Amends the Community Mental Health Act. In provisions concerning the election of officers to a community mental health board, provides that, if the community mental health board has already held or scheduled an election to take place prior to July 1, an additional election is not required on the basis of the appointment or reappointment of a member to the community mental health board.
HB4574 - CD CORR-AGGRAVATING FACTORS
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the defendant committed the offense in or on the grounds of a hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, physician's office, or other medical facility that treats patients and the offense was a crime of violence committed against a licensed health care professional or an employee of a hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, physician's office, or other medical facility that treats patients, this factor shall be accorded weight in favor of imposing a term of imprisonment or may be considered by the court as a reason to impose a more severe sentence.
HB4632 - SOS-ADVANCE DIRECTIVE REGISTRY
Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall establish an electronic registry, to be known as the Advance Directive Registry, through which residents of the State of Illinois may deposit, with the Secretary of State, a completed Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Specifies that information in the Advance Directive Registry shall be made available to hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and hospitals organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Authorizes hospitals to rely on information obtained from the Advance Directive Registry as an accurate copy of the documents filed with the Advance Directive Registry. Directs the Secretary of State to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act and to provide information on the Secretary of State's website regarding use of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Secretary of State and employees of the Secretary of State are immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with the creation and maintenance of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that a person who knowingly submits a document to the Advance Directive Registry without authorization or assists in such submission shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
HB4663 - $GRANTS-HFS-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Appropriates the sum of $25,000,000, or so much of that sum as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide grants to certified community behavioral health clinics that have been selected to participate in the Department's certified community behavioral health clinic demonstration programs with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Effective July 1, 2024.
HB4664 - MEDICAID-COMM MENTAL HLTH CNTR
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, rates for psychiatric evaluations performed by community mental health centers and substance use disorder treatment providers and practitioners as set forth on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Practitioner Fee Schedule shall be increased to $237.57. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, rates for medication monitoring performed by community mental health centers and substance use disorder treatment providers and practitioners as set forth on the Department's Practitioner Fee Schedule shall be increased to $140.77 per quarter hour. Provides that no existing or future reimbursement rates or add-ons shall be reduced or changed to address these rate increases. Provides that no later than October 1, 2024, the Department shall submit any necessary application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or State Plan amendment to implement the requirements of the amendatory Act. Provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025, and every State fiscal year thereafter, reimbursement rates for those community-based mental health and substance use disorder services shall be adjusted upward by an amount equal to the Consumer Price Index-U from the previous year, not to exceed 5% in any State fiscal year. Effective immediately.
HB4665 - MENTAL HLTH PROFESSIONAL GRANT
Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program Act. Creates within the Department of Human Services a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program to provide grants to mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money in the Fund shall be used by the Secretary of the Department to make grants to eligible mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Requires grant recipients to use grant funds for expenses related to recruiting, retaining, and compensating licensed mental health or substance use disorder professionals. Provides that each grant recipient shall receive up to $200,000 in grant funding for each mental health or substance use disorder professional employed, engaged, or contracted by the recipient. Contains provisions concerning application requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Equity in Accessibility Law. Requires the Department to provide funding and reimbursement for those costs associated with the provision of American Sign Language services and interpretive services for non-English speaking patients at substance use disorder treatment programs and facilities. Provides that funding and reimbursement shall be based upon the actual cost incurred by the substance use disorder treatment program or facility and shall reflect regional differences in costs and expenses related to the provision of American Sign Language and interpretive services at each location. Contains provisions on applications requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
HB4666 - $DHS-MENTAL HLTH PROFESSIONALS
Appropriates $40,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program. Effective July 1, 2024.
HB4667 - HEALTH-BEHAVIORAL CLINIC GRANT
Amends the Illinois Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide grants to certified community behavioral health clinics that have been selected to participate in the Department's demonstration programs with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that grants awarded by the Department shall be used for expenses related to identifying, planning, preparing for, and implementing plans and operations in accordance with State and federal certification criteria. Provides that each recipient of a grant shall be eligible for up to $1,500,000 for each certified community behavioral health clinic operated by the recipient and approved by the Department. Provides that the Department shall prescribe the form and manner of application for a grant. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.
HB4679 - $DHS-MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services to provide mental health services to pre-incarcerated and post-incarcerated individuals. Effective July 1, 2024.
HB4694 - CONTROLLED SUB-CARFENTANIL
Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that if a controlled substance analog is at least 5 times as potent as the controlled substance of which it is an analog, then the weight of the controlled substance analog for purposes of the Act shall be deemed to be the weight of the controlled substance analog multiplied by the increase in potency. Provides that, in addition to any other penalties imposed for the manufacture or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years shall be imposed for any amount of carfentanil in excess of 150 milligrams that is stored or transmitted as a powder, blotter paper, tablet, patch, or spray if the product fails to include a warning label and an accompanying rescue level of naloxone. Provides that, in addition to any other penalties imposed, with respect to fentanyl or an analog thereof, an additional sentence of 5 years shall be imposed if the fentanyl or analog thereof is in certain forms. Establishes penalties. Contains a severability provision. Makes other changes.
HB4706 - MENTAL HEALTH-DEATH NOTICE
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that substance abuse programs and mental health or developmental disabilities facilities operating in the State shall provide verbal notice to the personal representative of the patient within 24 hours after the death of a patient and shall provide written notice to the personal representative of the patient within 5 days after the death of a patient. Effective immediately.
HB4741 - MEDICAID-SAFETY-NET HOSPITALS
Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create a pool of funding of at least $50,000,000 annually to be disbursed among safety-net hospitals that maintain perinatal designation from the Department of Public Health, provides that no safety-net hospital eligible for funds shall receive less than $5,000,000 annually.
HB4778 - DHFS-KIDS COMM HLTH CNTER-RATE
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2025, the Department of Children and Family Services shall reimburse Children's Community-Based Health Care Centers at the lower of the Children's Community-Based Health Care Center's usual and customary charge to the public or at the Department rate of $1650 (rather than $950). Effective January 1, 2025.
HB4823 - $IDPH-LOCAL HEALTH PROT GRANTS
Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2024.
HB4865 - LANDLORD-TENANT FEES
Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that a landlord, lessor, sublessor, or grantor may charge a fee or fees to reimburse costs associated with conducting a background check and credit check if the cumulative fee or fees for such checks are no more than the actual cost of the background check and credit check or $20, whichever is less. Allows this fee or fees if the potential tenant provides a copy of a background check or credit check conducted within the past 30 days. Prohibits a landlord from imposing a move-in fee that is in excess of the reasonable cost to the landlord of obtaining or providing the product or service for which the fee is imposed. Unless provided by law elsewhere, a landlord may not demand any charge for the processing, reviewing, or accepting of an application, or demand any other payment, fee, or charge before or at the beginning of the tenancy. Exempts entrance fees charged by nursing homes as defined by Nursing Home Care Act or similar institutions. Prohibits a landlord from renaming a fee or charge to avoid application of these provisions. Limits fees for the late payment of rent in certain situations. Any provision of a lease, rental agreement, contract, or any similar document purporting to waive or limit these provisions is void and unenforceable as against public policy.
HB4887 - $LOCAL HEALTH DEPT FUNDING
Appropriates $25,000,000 from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for capital infrastructure grants for statewide certified local health departments. Effective immediately.
HB4903 - SCH CD-AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. Provides that the State Board of Education shall compile these resources in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, or any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. Provides that, no later than 30 days after resources are compiled, the State Board of Education shall implement outreach strategies to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board of Education's website. Provides that the State Board of Education may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary. Effective January 1, 2025.
HB4923 - DHFS-MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health (the Departments), shall establish and administer a Medical-Legal Partnership Grant Program that awards annual grants to medical-legal partnerships that provide legal services without charge to assist low-income individuals and families in resolving legal matters or other needs that have a negative impact on their health. Provides that to be eligible for a grant under the program, a medical-legal partnership must demonstrate its ability and experience in providing high quality patient-centered legal services aimed at addressing their patient's health-harming social and legal needs. Requires selected medical-legal partnerships to also comply with standards and guidelines established by the Departments. Requires the Departments to seek input from legal services organizations, community health advocacy organizations, hospitals, and other health care providers in establishing such standards and guidelines. Provides that grant amounts may be used to expand the capacity of existing medical-legal partnerships to provide patients with wraparound services related to housing instability or homelessness, landlord-tenant mediation, income support and rental assistance, food insecurity, family stability, respite care, immigration, and mental health or substance use treatment. Provides that grant amounts may also be awarded to establish medical-legal partnerships in underserved communities. Provides that Community health centers, private or public hospitals, nonprofit legal aid organizations, behavioral health facilities, and other specified entities may apply for program grants. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules. Requires the Department to apply for all federal approvals and waivers necessary to cover wraparound services provided by medical-legal partnerships to medical assistance recipients who have chronic health conditions and health-harming social and legal needs. Creates the Medical-Legal Partnership Grant Program Fund under the State Finance Act.
HB4977 - DHFS-INPATIENT STABILIZATION
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes changes to provisions requiring Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) to make payments for emergency services. Requires an MCO to pay any provider of emergency services, including inpatient stabilization services provided during the inpatient stabilization period, that does not have in effect a contract with the MCO. Defines "inpatient stabilization period" to mean the initial 72 hours of inpatient stabilization services, beginning from the date and time of the order for inpatient admission to the hospital. Provides that when determining payment for all emergency services, including inpatient stabilization services provided during the inpatient stabilization period, the MCO shall: (i) not impose any service authorization requirements, including, but not limited to, prior authorization, prior approval, pre-certification, concurrent review, or certification of admission; (ii) have no obligation to cover emergency services provided on an emergency basis that are not covered services under the MCO's contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services; and (iii) not condition coverage for emergency services on the treating provider notifying the MCO of the enrollee's emergency medical screening examination and treatment within 10 days after presentation for emergency services. Provides that the determination of the attending emergency physician, or the practitioner responsible for the enrollee's care at the hospital, of whether an enrollee requires inpatient stabilization services, can be stabilized in the outpatient setting, or is sufficiently stabilized for discharge or transfer to another facility, shall be binding on the MCO. Provides that an MCO shall not reimburse inpatient stabilization services billed on an inpatient institutional claim under the outpatient reimbursement methodology and shall not reimburse providers for emergency services in cases of fraud. Requires the Department to impose sanctions on a MCO for noncompliance, including, but not limited to, financial penalties, suspension of enrollment of new enrollees, and termination of the MCO's contract with the Department. Effective immediately.
HB4978 - DHFS-EXTENDED HOSP STAYS
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to by rule implement a methodology to reimburse hospitals for inpatient stays extended beyond medical necessity due to the inability of the Department, the managed care organization (MCO) in which a medical assistance recipient is enrolled in, or the hospital discharge planner to find an appropriate placement after discharge from the hospital to the next level of care. Requires the Department to by rule implement a methodology effective for dates of service January 1, 2025 and later to reimburse hospitals for emergency department stays extended beyond medical necessity due to the inability of the Department, the MCO, or the hospital discharge planner to find an appropriate placement after discharge from the hospital setting to the next appropriate level of care. Provides that both methodologies shall provide reasonable compensation for the services provided attributable to the hours of the extended stay for which the prevailing rate methodology provides no reimbursement. Contains provisions concerning the rate for inpatient days of care; hourly rates of reimbursement for emergency department stays; a prohibition on MCOs restricting coverage due to delays caused by the Department or the MCOs in completing the pre-admission screening and resident review process; a prohibition on MCOs imposing authorization or documentation requirements and other conditions of reimbursement that are more restrictive than standards under the fee-for-service medical assistance program; sanctions on MCOs for noncompliance; and administrative rules. Effective immediately.
HB4993 - VITAL RECORDS-DEATH NOTICE
Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that, if a death occurs in this State in a county outside the deceased's county of residence, the local registrar of the district in which the death certificate was filed shall, within 7 days after its filing, send a copy of the death certificate to the local registrar in the district where the deceased's county of residence is located. Effective immediately.
HB5012 - NURSING FACILITY-RESIDENCY
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Adds provisions concerning involuntary terminations of residency, hearings when residency is involuntarily terminated, and readmission of residents. Provides that an establishment shall notify a resident when the establishment's ability to meet the resident's needs may be affected. Provides that if an establishment initiates a termination of residency, then the resident shall be provided with written notice. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall (rather than may) offer assistance to an establishment and resident in preparation for a residency termination. Provides that an establishment that improperly terminates the residency of a resident shall be assessed a violation. Makes additions to provisions concerning resident rights. Makes other changes. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning the involuntary transfer or discharge of a resident, hearings when a resident is involuntarily transferred or discharged, and the readmission of residents. Provides that a resident has a right not to be unlawfully transferred or discharged from a facility. Makes other changes. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that in certain circumstances the Department shall order immediate readmission of a resident. Provides that failure to readmit a resident after receiving an order to do so from the Department shall result in a specified daily fine. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules related to conflicts of interest for persons who conduct specified hearings.
HB5027 - NURSING HOMES-DIRECTORY
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Directory published each year by the Department of Public Health for each public health region listing facilities shall contain the facility website address, if any.
HB5052 - LOCAL FOOD-GOOD FOOD PROGRAM
Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Good Food Purchasing Law. Repeals provisions regarding procurement goals for local farm or food products. Provides that, no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, each State agency and State-owned facility that purchases food, including, without limitation, facilities for persons with mental health and development disabilities, correction facilities, and public institutions of higher education, including community colleges, shall have a timely plan for undergoing a Good Food Purchasing Program baseline assessment, conducted by the Center for Good Food Purchasing, to determine current alignment with Good Food Purchasing Program core values and Good Food Purchasing Program equity, transparency, and accountability and how better to meet Good Food Purchasing Program core values and Good Food Purchasing Program equity, transparency, and accountability. Provides that, no later than one year after completion of the baseline assessment, each State agency and State-owned facility shall develop and adopt a multi-year action plan with benchmarks to align food purchasing processes with Good Food Purchasing Program equity, transparency, and accountability and food purchases with Good Food Purchasing Program core values. Sets forth other provisions regarding the Program. Provides that the Good Food Purchasing Task Force created by House Joint Resolution 33 of the 102nd General Assembly is reestablished and shall continue with its study of current procurement of food within the State and to explore how good food purchasing can be implemented to maximize the procurement of healthy foods that are sustainably, locally, and equitably sourced. Provides that the Good Food Purchasing Fund is established as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to administer the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act and the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act to make conforming changes.
HB5074 - MEDICAL RECORDS-COPY EXPENSE
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Prohibits a health care provider from charging a handling fee for providing medical records to a patient or patient's representative if they are electronic records retrieved from a scanning, digital imaging, electronic information, or other digital format in an electronic document. Repeals the annual adjustment for the handling fee for inflation.
HB5086 - NURSE AGENCIES-NEGLIGENCE
Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that when a health care facility is found liable for an injury to a patient or resident because of a negligent act performed by a nurse or certified nurse aide employed, assigned, or referred by the nurse agency, the health care facility has a right to be compensated by the nurse agency for any and all expenses, fines, or damages (rather than any and all expenses) incurred related to any liability for the nurse agency's negligence, including negligent hiring (rather than the nurse agency's negligent hiring). Requires a contract entered into between the nurse agency and health care facility to contain a provision specifying that the health care facility has a right to be compensated by the nurse agency for any and all expenses, fines, or damages incurred related to any liability for a negligent act performed by a nurse or certified nurse aide employed, assigned, or referred by the nurse agency. Makes a grammatical change.
HB5095 - NURSING HOME-DISCHARGE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds (in addition to other criteria) that if a resident fails to pay or has a late payment and the facility follows the federal discharge and transfer requirements, including the issuance of a notice of facility-initiated discharge, then a facility that participates in the Medical Assistance Program may refuse to retain as a resident any person who resides in a part of the facility that does not participate in the Medical Assistance Program and who is unable to pay for his or her care in the facility without medical assistance.
HB5105 - PROHIBIT COVID-19 VAX MANDATE
Creates the COVID-19 Vaccination Employer Mandate Prohibition Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an employer in the State of Illinois to create, implement, or otherwise enforce a workplace vaccination program that requires any employee to demonstrate to the employer that he or she has received a vaccine or its related booster that was approved under emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Effective immediately.
HB5142 - PREGNANCY/POSTPARTUM CARE
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers shall cover all services for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care that are rendered by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives, including home births, home visits, and support during labor, abortion, or miscarriage. Provides that the required coverage includes the necessary equipment and medical supplies for a home birth. Provides that coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care shall include home visits by lactation consultants and the purchase of breast pumps and breast pump supplies, including such breast pumps, breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aides as recommended by the lactation consultant. Provides that coverage for postpartum services shall apply for at least one year after birth. Provides that certain pregnancy and postpartum coverage shall be provided without cost-sharing requirements. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that post-parturition care benefits shall not be subject to any cost-sharing requirement. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover home visits for lactation counseling and support services. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover counselor-recommended or provider-recommended breast pumps as well as breast pump supplies, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aides. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall limit the number of lactation encounters, visits, or services; breast pumps; breast pump supplies; breastfeeding supplies; or feeding aides a beneficiary is entitled to receive under the program. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB5208 - IEMA-DISASTER PROCLAMATION
Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that after an initial proclamation declaring that a disaster exists, the Governor may only extend that declaration or make further proclamations regarding the same disaster if the General Assembly passes a resolution within 5 calendar days that approves the extension or further proclamation. Provides that if, due to health or safety concerns, the General Assembly is unable to convene in either regular or special session to approve the extension or further proclamation, the extension or further proclamation may continue in effect until the General Assembly is able to convene in regular or special session if specified members of the General Assembly submit written certification to the Governor that the General Assembly is unable to convene to provide the necessary approval of the extension or further proclamation. Effective immediately.
HB5320 - HOSPITAL STAFFING LEVELS
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that "hospital worker" means any person who receives an hourly wage directly or indirectly via a subcontractor by a hospital licensed under the Act. Replaces references to "nurse" with "hospital worker". Provides for additional staffing transparency and reporting requirements. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act must employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Provides that hospitals must make available, at the beginning of each calendar year and upon request, all staffing matrices and other staffing metrics, if any, used to assess and maintain safe staffing levels for hospital workers in each unit. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall produce an annual report based on staffing disclosures. Provides that the Department shall make recommendations for minimum staffing standards for hospital workers in each hospital unit. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall conduct, within the first month of employment and at no cost, a competency validation for each hospital worker hired. Provides that a hospital must submit documentation of each hospital worker's competency validation to the Department within 4 weeks after the worker's start date. Provides that hospitals shall conduct ongoing verification for each hospital worker employed during a given calendar year to determine each worker's continued competency to perform the worker's job and shall submit documentation of each worker's ongoing verification to the Department within 2 weeks of completion. Provides that hospitals shall submit a list of all competent employees currently employed at the end of each calendar year. Provides for a public registry of all competent employees to be maintained by the Department. Provides for the imposition of civil penalties for specified violations of the Act. Describes an assignment despite objection resolution process to be implemented by each hospital that is licensed under the Act. Provides for a Hospital Safety Advocate role to be created within the Department.
HB5352 - NURSING HOME-TRAINING
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that administrators of facilities licensed under those Acts shall ensure that all facility staff receive annual in-service training designed to prevent retaliation against patients and residents. Provides that the training must contain a discussion of certain specified topics. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman shall create, and periodically update as needed, a training manual for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities that provides guidance on structuring and implementing the training required. Effectively immediately.
HB5456 - HOSPITALS-FENTANYL TESTING
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that if an individual is treated at a hospital and the hospital conducts a urine drug screening to assist in diagnosing the individual's condition, the hospital shall include testing for fentanyl in the individual's urine screening. Provides that if the urine drug screening, conducted in accordance with the amendatory Act, detects fentanyl, the hospital shall report the test results, which shall be deidentified, to the Department of Public Health through the State-designated health information exchange. Provides that a hospital which does not have chemical analyzer equipment is not subject to the amendatory Act. Provides that the amendatory Act does not affect any State law which provides civil or criminal immunity to an individual who is in need of medical assistance after ingesting or using alcohol or drugs, or to an individual who, in good faith, assists another who is in need of medical assistance after ingesting or using alcohol or drugs. Effective immediately.
HB5537 - HEALTH FACILITY-NURSING HOME
Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Removes an exception for skilled and intermediate long-term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act from providing a Safety Net Impact Statement as part of its general review criteria. Includes nursing homes operated by a county in a list of safety net service providers. Provides that facilities operated by a county shall provide in the facility's Safety Net Impact Statement the number of the facility's Medicaid and Medicare certified beds for the 3 fiscal years prior to the application. Requires the State Board Staff Report to include a statement of findings regarding the project's safety net impact under specified circumstances, and that the State Board Staff's assessment shall be considered in determining whether the project fulfills the public interest requirements. Amends the County Homes Division of the Counties Code. Removes a requirement that two-thirds of the county board is required sell, dispose of, or lease for any term, any part of the home properties, and requires a referendum before selling any home (rather than requiring a referendum only for homes that were erected after referendum approval by the voters of the county). Adds referendum language for the selling, disposition of, or lease of a home.
HB5569 - HOSPITALS-OPIOID TREATMENT
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Requires the University of Illinois Hospital to provide patients who overdose or have symptoms of opioid use disorder with an opioid antagonist upon discharge. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals licensed under the Act to provide patients who overdose or have symptoms of opioid use disorder with an opioid antagonist upon discharge.
HB5645 - NURSING HOME-DISCHARGE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds (in addition to other criteria) that if a resident fails to pay or has a late payment and the facility follows the federal discharge and transfer requirements, including the issuance of a notice of facility-initiated discharge, then a facility that participates in the Medical Assistance Program may refuse to retain as a resident any person who resides in a part of the facility that does not participate in the Medical Assistance Program and who is unable to pay for his or her care in the facility without medical assistance.
SB0069 - HOSPITAL LICENSING-VACCINATION
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires every hospital to adopt an influenza and pneumococcal immunization policy that includes procedures for identifying patients age 50 or older for influenza immunization and 65 or older for pneumococcal immunization (rather than just for identifying patients age 65 or older).
SB0138 - PUBLIC HOSPITAL-INVESTMENT
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a municipality, political subdivision, State agency, or other governmental entity that owns or operates a hospital under any law authorizing or establishing a hospital or hospital district shall, relative to the delivery of health care services, have, in addition to any authority vested by law, the authority and legal capacity concerning the specified use and investment of funds. Provides that conversion of public funds for the benefit of any individual concerning the specified use and investment of funds shall constitute grounds for review and action by the Attorney General or the applicable State's Attorney. Provides that a municipality, political subdivision, State agency, or other governmental entity exercising the powers granted for the use and investment of funds shall be subject to all applicable public purchasing requirements and the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.
SB0179 - HOSPITALS-METAL DETECTORS
Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall maintain a metal detector at each point of entry into the hospital. Provides that a hospital shall ensure that all members of the public, other than the employees of the hospital who display proper credentials, who enter the hospital at a point of entry are subjected to screening by a metal detector. Provides that individuals subject to screening shall include, but not be limited to, individuals in wheelchairs. Defines "point of entry". Effective July 1, 2023.
SB0182 - IEMA-LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that, if the Governor has issued a statewide disaster proclamation under the Act, all local health departments shall, for the period during which that proclamation remains in effect, report to and be directed by the Department of Public Health.
SB0186 - ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH DATA
Creates the Access to Public Health Data Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services shall, at the request of a local health department in Illinois, make any and all public health data related to residents of that local health department's jurisdiction available to that local health department for the purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Exempts specified information from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act and makes a conforming change in that Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that no rule adopted by the Department of Public Health shall be construed as restricting access to vital records by any municipality, county, multicounty, public health district, or regional health officer recognized by the Department for the purposes described in specified provisions.
SB0188 - MED RECORDS-CONSENT
Amends the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act. Allows a parent who consents to the performance upon his or her child of a health care service to request to inspect and copy the child's records or any part thereof so long as it is related to the health care service the parent consented to. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Allows the personal representative under HIPAA of a recipient to request to inspect and copy a recipient's record or any part thereof, regardless of the age of the recipient.
SB0333 - ASSAULT SURVIVOR REPORTING
Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Creates procedures for a medical facility, physician, or nurse to report a sexual assault when the sexual assault survivor requests treatment at the medical facility.
SB0855 - RESIDENTIAL FACILITY SAFETY AND SUPPORT ACT
Amends the Native American Employment Plan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Senate Amendment 1:
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Residential Facility Safety and Support Act. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning investigative reports issued by the Department of Human Services' Inspector General that pertain to allegations of resident abuse or neglect at State-operated mental health facilities, expands the list of reportable conduct to include material obstruction of an investigation by a facility employee. Requires the Inspector General to report to the Department of Public Health's Health Care Worker Registry, the identity and finding of each employee of a facility or agency against whom there is a final investigative report prepared by the Office of the Inspector General containing a substantiated allegation of material obstruction of an investigation. Defines "material obstruction of an investigation" and "presenting untruthful information". Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Prohibits mental health facilities or agencies that are licensed, certified, operated, or funded by the Department of Human Services from employing any person identified by the Health Care Worker Registry as having been the subject of a substantiated finding of physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, egregious neglect, or material obstruction of an investigation (rather than abuse or neglect of a service recipient). Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits health care employers from hiring or retaining any individual in a position with duties involving direct care of clients, patients, or residents who has a finding by the Department of Human Services denoted on the Health Care Worker Registry of material obstruction of an investigation. Effective immediately.
SB1426 - DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM
Amends the Drug Take-Back Act. Removes language providing that all potential authorized collection sites that offer to participate in a drug take-back program shall be counted towards meeting the minimum number of authorized collection sites within a drug take-back program. Removes language providing that, if the Environmental Protection Agency receives more than one proposal for a drug take-back program, the Agency shall review all proposals in conjunction with one another to ensure the proposals are coordinated to achieve the authorized collection site coverage. In provisions regarding drug take-back program promotion, provides that if there is more than one drug take-back program operated by more than one manufacturer program operator, the provisions shall be implemented individually by each drug take-back program, except that approved drug take-back programs shall coordinate to provide and maintain a single toll-free number and website publicizing collection options and collection sites (rather than implemented by all drug take-back programs collectively using a single toll-free number and website and similar education, outreach, and promotional materials). Makes other changes.
SB1497 - NURSING HOMES-RESIDENT CONSENT
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that "emergency" means a situation, physical condition, or one or more practices, methods, or operations that present imminent danger of death or serious physical or mental harm to residents of a facility and that are clinically documented in the resident's medical record (rather than only a situation, physical condition or one or more practices, methods or operations that present imminent danger of death or serious physical or mental harm to residents of a facility). Requires the need for positioning devices to be demonstrated and documented in the resident's care plan. Requires that assessment to be revisited in every comprehensive assessment of the resident. Provides that psychotropic medication shall be administered to a resident only if clinical documentation in the resident's medical record supports the benefit of the psychotropic medication over contraindications related to other prescribed medications and supports the diagnosis of the resident. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a resident is in a state of emergency, the emergency shall be clinically documented in the resident's medical record.
Senate Amendment 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that devices used for positioning, including, but not limited to, bed rails, gait belts, and cushions, shall not be considered to be physical restraints for purposes of the Act unless the device is used to restrain or otherwise limit the patient's freedom to move. Provides that the need for a device used for positioning must be physically demonstrated by the resident and documented in the resident's care plan. Specifies that the physically demonstrated need of the resident for a device used for positioning must be revisited in every comprehensive assessment of the resident. Provides that psychotropic medication shall only be given in both emergency and nonemergency situations if the diagnosis of the resident supports the benefit of the medication and clinical documentation in the resident's medical record supports the benefit of the medication over the contraindications related to other prescribed medications. Removes a provision requiring a resident's medical emergencies to be documented.
Senate Amendment 2: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that devices used for positioning, including, but not limited to, bed rails and gait belts, shall not be considered to be physical restraints for purposes of the Act unless the device is used to restrain or otherwise limit the patient's freedom to move. Provides that a device used for positioning must be requested by the resident, the resident's guardian, or the resident's authorized representative, or the need for that device must be physically demonstrated by the resident and documented in the resident's care plan. Specifies that the physically demonstrated need of the resident for a device used for positioning must be revisited in every comprehensive assessment of the resident. Provides that psychotropic medication shall only be given in both emergency and nonemergency situations if the diagnosis of the resident supports the benefit of the medication and clinical documentation in the resident's medical record supports the benefit of the medication over the contraindications related to other prescribed medications. Removes a provision requiring a resident's medical emergencies to be documented.
SB1523 - WATER QUALITY ASSURANCE ACT
Creates the Water Quality Assurance Act. Provides that new and existing health care facilities and buildings containing health care facilities shall develop and implement water management programs with specified elements to control the growth and spread of opportunistic waterborne pathogens. Requires specified persons to develop and implement a routine culture sampling plan for all building water systems. Requires health care facilities to perform remediation of identified opportunistic waterborne pathogens. Provides that the Department of Public Health or agent health departments may enter at reasonable times upon private or public property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions relating to the enforcement of the Act. Requires health care facilities to register with the Department all building water systems within 120 days of the Act's effective date and to provide specified information. Contains other provisions. Establishes the Water Quality Assurance Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall implement, administer, and enforce the Act and may adopt rules it deems necessary to do so. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code shall not apply to procurement expenditures necessary for the Department to respond to an infectious disease outbreak response or to procurement expenditures that are necessary for a State agency's facility to implement critical recommendations provided by the Department in response to an infectious disease outbreak. Effective January 1, 2024
SB1617 - HEALTH CARE CREDENTIALING
Amends the Health Care Professional Credentials Data Collection Act. Provides that "recredentialing" and "single credentialing cycle" must be undertaken for a period not to exceed 3 years (rather than once every 2 years).
SB1636 - DHFS-SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for the purpose of removing barriers to the timely treatment of serious mental illnesses, prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls shall not be imposed under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs on any FDA-approved prescription drug that is recognized by a generally accepted standard medical reference as effective in the treatment of conditions specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. Provides that the following shall be permitted for prescription drugs covered under the amendatory Act: (i) clinically appropriate drug utilization review (DUR) edits, including, but not limited to, drug-to-drug, drug-age, and drug-dose; (ii) generic drug substitution if a generic drug is available for the prescribed medication in the same dosage and formulation; and (iii) any utilization management control that is necessary for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to comply with any current consent decrees or federal waivers. Defines "serious mental illness".
SB1696 - PFAS REDUCTION-WASTEWATER
Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules that require: (1) the owner or operator of each landfill in the State to establish and implement a plan to identify and address PFAS-contaminated leachate that is generated at the landfill before it migrates off site or is sent off site for treatment or disposal and (2) the owner or operator of each wastewater treatment facility in the State to establish and implement a plan to treat PFAS-contaminated wastewater prior to its discharge from the facility. Provides that owners or operators of landfills or wastewater treatment plants who violate the rules are subject to the same penalties as provided for manufacturers under other provisions of the Act. Authorizes these penalties to be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois by the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred or by the Attorney General. Specifies that any penalties collected in an action in which the Attorney General has prevailed shall be deposited in the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act.
SB1999 - ABANDONED INFANTS
Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Replaces all instances of "child-placing agency" or "child placing agency" with "child welfare agency". In provisions concerning the Department of Children and Family Services' State Central Registry of child welfare agencies willing to take legal custody of relinquished newborn infants, provides that within 3 business days after accepting a referral from the Department, the child welfare agency shall file a petition for custody and request that the agency be given the authority to place the infant in an adoptive home, foster home, child care facility, or other facility appropriate for the needs of the infant. Prohibits filing or appearance fees for the petitioner. Provides that any issued custody order shall grant the child welfare agency the authority to make medical and health-related decisions for the infant. Provides that any health care provider or child welfare agency that provides medical services to an infant under the Act shall send all bills related to those medical services directly to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for reimbursement. Makes conforming changes to the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to submit for federal approval any waiver application or State Plan amendment as may be necessary to implement the presumptive eligibility provisions of the amendatory Act. Provides that if the person who relinquished or a person claiming to be the parent of a newborn infant returns to reclaim the infant within 30 days after the infant was relinquished to a fire station, emergency medical facility, or police station, then the fire station, emergency medical facility, or police station must inform such person of the name and location of the hospital to which the infant was transported. Requires a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility that accepts a relinquished infant to offer the relinquishing person information about the relinquishment process and other information. Provides that the failure to provide such information or the failure of the relinquishing person to accept such information shall not invalidate the relinquishment under the Act. In a provision concerning relinquished infants eligibility for medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, requires a hospital to complete and submit an application for medical assistance on behalf of a relinquished infant and permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules. behalf of a relinquished infant and permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules. Amends the Immunization Data Registry Act, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, and the Adoption Act by replacing instances of "child-placing agency" or "child placing agency" with "child welfare agency.” Makes other changes.
SB2157 - MEDICAID-SAFETY-NET-PSYCH RATE
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Specifies that the rate of reimbursement for inpatient psychiatric services for safety-net hospitals shall be no less than $800 per day.
SB2341 - MEDICAID-SUPP LIVING FACILITY
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the supportive living facilities program, provides that a facility selected by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to participate in the supportive living facilities program may employ direct support persons who are at least 18 years of age and have successfully completed a direct support persons training program, approved by the Department of Human Services, within 120 days of their date of hire or the date they were first assigned direct support responsibilities at the facility. Requires the facility to check the Department of Public Health's Health Care Worker Registry to verify that an individual hired to provide direct support services is listed on the Registry as eligible to work for a health care employer. Provides that the responsibilities of a direct support person hired in accordance with the amendatory Act shall include, but not be limited to: (i) following and helping to carry out a facility resident's written service plan; (ii) providing personal care services to facility residents, including, but not limited to, bathing, eating, dressing, personal hygiene, grooming, toileting, ambulation, medication reminders, and assistance with transfer; (iii) observing a facility resident's functioning, maintaining written records of those observations, and reporting any changes to a licensed nurse on duty at the facility; and (iv) attending initial training and in-service training sessions and staff conferences.
SB2375 - NURSING HOME CARE-VIOLATIONS
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that, if there is a violation by a facility of the Act's minimum staffing requirements, then the facility must display a notice of noncompliance during the calendar quarter in which the facility is notified of the violation (rather than during the period of time the facility is out of compliance). Makes conforming changes to the required notice. Effective immediately.
SB2584 - ANNUAL HOSPITAL REPORT
Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that the State Board shall require each health care facility to submit an annual report of all capital expenditures (previously in excess of 200,000). Provides that if a hospital reports zero capital expenditures, a section detailing the hospital's total purchasing budget that encompasses all goods and services purchased by the hospital in the preceding fiscal year must still be included in the report.
SB2600 - MEDICAL PATIENTS RIGHTS-FEES
Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that, except as otherwise required by law, health care providers shall not charge a patient or require the payment of a fee for a missed or late appointment. Provides that nothing shall be construed to limit health care providers from developing and implementing any incentive program to encourage patient adherence to scheduled appointments. Provides that any health care provider that violates the provision is guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined $500 per violation.
SB2617 - COTTAGE FOOD OPERATIONS
Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that if a county government does not have a local health department, the county government shall enter into an agreement or contract with an adjacent local health department to register cottage food operations in the county's jurisdiction. Provides that the adjacent local health department where the cottage food operation registers has the power to take specified actions pertaining to complaints, inspections, fees, and penalties. Makes a conforming change.
SB2641 - NETWORK ADEQUACY-SPECIALISTS
Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall determine whether the network plan at each in-network hospital and facility has a sufficient number of hospital-based medical specialists to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to such in-network physicians and the services they direct or supervise. Defines "hospital-based medical specialists".
SB2644 - SOS-ADVANCE DIRECTIVE REGISTRY
Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall establish an electronic registry, to be known as the Advance Directive Registry, through which residents of the State of Illinois may deposit, with the Secretary of State, a completed Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Specifies that information in the Advance Directive Registry shall be made available to hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and hospitals organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Authorizes hospitals to rely on information obtained from the Advance Directive Registry as an accurate copy of the documents filed with the Advance Directive Registry. Directs the Secretary of State to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act and to provide information on the Secretary of State's website regarding use of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Secretary of State and employees of the Secretary of State are immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with the creation and maintenance of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that a person who knowingly submits a document to the Advance Directive Registry without authorization or assists in such submission shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
SB2653 - OPERATING ROOM SAFETY ACT
Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2026 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an individual from performing surgical technology services if the individual is acting within the scope of the individual's license or registration or is a student or intern under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider. Provides that a health care facility may employ or otherwise contract with an individual to perform surgical technology services and functions who does not meet those requirements if the health care facility makes a diligent and thorough effort and, after such an effort is completed, the facility is unable to employ or contract with a sufficient number of qualified surgical technologists who satisfy the requirements of the Act. Provides that the health care facility shall maintain documentation of its efforts.
SB2670 - COMMUNITY MENT HLTH BD
Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Provides that in any county with a county executive form of government, if applicable, the county executive shall appoint the community mental health board with the advice and consent of the county board.
SB2768 - INDEMNIFY COUNTY PATHOLOGIST
Amends the Coroner Division of the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State's Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the pathologist.
SB2779 - CNTY-BD-CERTIFIED PATHOLOGISTS
Amends the Counties Code and the Autopsy Act. Provides that autopsies must be performed by board-certified forensic pathologists or, if under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist, pathology residents or forensic pathology fellows (rather than a licensed physician must perform autopsies). In the Autopsy Act, further provides that other qualified personnel or other qualified personnel selected by a board-certified forensic pathologist (rather than a physician) may perform (rather than assist) an autopsy. Further amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a board-certified forensic pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a board-certified forensic pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a board-certified forensic pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State's Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the board-certified forensic pathologist. Effective immediately.
SB2795 - SAFE PATIENT LIMITS ACT
Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in the Act. Provides that the maximum patient assignments may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules governing the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides requirements for the Act's implementation. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides rights and protections for nurses. Contains a severability provision and other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Makes changes concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Requires the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice to be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
SB2938 - MOSQUITO ABATE DIST-POWERS
Amends the Mosquito Abatement District Act. Provides that the board of trustees of a mosquito abatement district shall have power to take all necessary or proper steps for the surveillance, monitoring, and extermination of mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and vectors within the district (rather than for the extermination of mosquitoes, files and other insects within the district), and, subject to the paramount control of the municipal or other public authorities, to abate as nuisances all stagnant pools of water and other breeding places for mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and vectors (rather than mosquitoes and other insects) within the district. Provides that a district may annex territory by ordinance whenever a mosquito abatement district operating within territory predominantly in a municipality or 2 or more municipalities that would become coterminous or nearly coterminous with the municipality or municipalities upon the annexation of additional territory within the municipality or municipalities (rather than whenever a mosquito abatement district contains over 90% of territory of a specific city or village, the mosquito abatement district may annex additional adjacent and contiguous territory within that city or village). Requires the ordinance to describe the territory annexed together with an accurate map of the annexed territory and that, if the ordinance becomes effective 30 days after the date of publication or is approved by referendum, a copy of the ordinance shall be filed in the offices of the county clerk and recorder of each county in which the annexation takes place. Removes a prohibition to annexing territory until more than one year after territory has first been included in a municipality unless the territory annexed is 50 acres or less. Makes other changes.
SB2941 - PUBLIC HOSPITAL-INVESTMENT
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a municipality, political subdivision, State agency, or other governmental entity that owns or operates a hospital under any law authorizing or establishing a hospital or hospital district shall, relative to the delivery of health care services, have, in addition to any authority vested by law, the authority and legal capacity concerning the specified use and investment of funds. Provides that conversion of public funds for the benefit of any individual concerning the specified use and investment of funds shall constitute grounds for review and action by the Attorney General or the applicable State's Attorney. Provides that a municipality, political subdivision, State agency, or other governmental entity exercising the powers granted for the use and investment of funds shall be subject to all applicable public purchasing requirements and the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.
SB2945 - NURSING HOME-DISCHARGE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds (in addition to other criteria) that if a resident fails to pay or has a late payment and the facility follows the federal discharge and transfer requirements, including the issuance of a notice of facility-initiated discharge, then a facility that participates in the Medical Assistance Program may refuse to retain as a resident any person who resides in a part of the facility that does not participate in the Medical Assistance Program and who is unable to pay for his or her care in the facility without medical assistance.
SB2950 - VETS-MENTAL HLTH CASE MANAGER
Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that a veterans case manager shall be appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Secretary of Human Services, to assist veterans in obtaining the greatest degree of mental health care and mental health care benefits available and to promote policies that would benefit veterans seeking mental health care. Provides that the case manager shall serve at the pleasure of the Director of Veterans' Affairs. Sets forth the duties of the veterans case manager, including, to: (i) act as an intermediary between health care facilities and veterans health care facilities; (ii) provide information to veterans and health care facilities regarding mental health services available to veterans; (iii) apply for, receive, and administer federal aids, grants, and gifts relating to inpatient mental health services for veterans; (iv) encourage physicians, nurses, and other individuals working in mental health care who have military experience to work in Illinois; and (v) collaborate with health care facilities in identifying, upon a person's admission to a health care facility, the person's eligibility for federal veterans benefits, including prescription drug benefits. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt rules requiring hospitals, upon identifying a person requiring mental health services as a veteran, to establish and implement certain protocols including (1) contacting the veterans case manager regarding the veteran's admission, (2) identifying whether the veteran is at risk for causing harm to the veteran's self or others, and (3) preventing the hospital from treating a veteran with less or different care than nonveteran patients solely because of a person's veteran status. Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish rules requiring licensed health care professionals, as specified, to receive continuing education credits regarding the treatment of veterans as a condition of license renewal.
SB2964 - CORONER-FENTANYL POISONING
Amends the Coroner Division of the Counties Code. In provisions regarding preliminary investigations where a drug overdose is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in a death, modifies the definition of "overdose" to exclude death caused by fentanyl, which shall be considered poisoning. Provides that, in every case in which fentanyl is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in the death, the coroner or medical examiner shall report the death to the Department of Public Health as "fentanyl poisoning". Provides that, in the monthly report of overdose deaths, the Department shall also report on fentanyl poisoning deaths.
SB3072 - MENTAL HEALTH TRANSPARENCY
Creates the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Program Transparency Act. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the Act, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Department of Human Services, shall compile a report concerning all substance use disorder and mental health programs in the State. Provides that the report shall identify each State-funded substance use disorder and mental health program in the State and provide specified information about each program. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Department of Human Services, shall collaborate with relevant State agencies to ensure the timely and accurate collection of information required for the report. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in coordination with the Department of Human Services, shall submit the report to the General Assembly and make the report accessible to the public on the Departments' website no later than 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.
SB3080 - HEALTH DATA PRIVACY ACT
Creates the Protect Health Data Privacy Act. Provides that a regulated entity shall disclose and maintain a health data privacy policy that clearly and conspicuously discloses specified information. Sets forth provisions concerning health data privacy policies. Provides that a regulated entity shall not collect, share, or store health data, except in specified circumstances. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to sell or offer to sell health data concerning a consumer without first obtaining valid authorization from the consumer. Provides that a valid authorization to sell consumer health data must contain specified information; a copy of the signed valid authorization must be provided to the consumer; and the seller and purchaser of health data must retain a copy of all valid authorizations for sale of health data for 6 years after the date of its signature or the date when it was last in effect, whichever is later. Sets forth provisions concerning the consent required for collection, sharing, and storage of health data. Provides that a consumer has the right to withdraw consent from the collection, sharing, sale, or storage of the consumer's health data. Provides that it is unlawful for a regulated entity to engage in discriminatory practices against consumers solely because they have not provided consent to the collection, sharing, sale, or storage of their health data or have exercised any other rights provided by the provisions or guaranteed by law. Sets forth provisions concerning a consumer's right to confirm whether a regulated entity is collecting, selling, sharing, or storing any of the consumer's health data; a consumer's right to have the consumer's health data that is collected by a regulated entity deleted; prohibitions regarding geofencing; and consumer health data security. Provides that any person aggrieved by a violation of the provisions shall have a right of action in a State circuit court or as a supplemental claim in federal district court against an offending party. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce a violation of the provisions as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
SB3108 - HEALTH CARE AVAILABILITY
Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Requires the Attorney General to enforce the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.
SB3135 - HEALTH-BEHAVIORAL CLINIC GRANT
Amends the Illinois Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide grants to certified community behavioral health clinics that have been selected to participate in the Department's demonstration programs with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that grants awarded by the Department shall be used for expenses related to identifying, planning, preparing for, and implementing plans and operations in accordance with State and federal certification criteria. Provides that each recipient of a grant shall be eligible for up to $1,500,000 for each certified community behavioral health clinic operated by the recipient and approved by the Department. Provides that the Department shall prescribe the form and manner of application for a grant. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.
SB3137 - MENTAL HEALTH-DEATH NOTICE
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that substance abuse programs and mental health or developmental disabilities facilities operating in the State shall provide verbal notice to the personal representative of the patient within 24 hours after the death of a patient and shall provide written notice to the personal representative of the patient within 5 days after the death of a patient. Effective immediately.
SB3182 - BIRTH CERTIFICATE-STILLBIRTH
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital having custody of a fetus following a spontaneous fetal death occurring during or after a gestation period of at least 20 completed weeks must notify the gestational parent of the parent's right to receive a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that after each fetal death that occurs in the State after a gestation period of at least 20 (rather than 26) completed weeks, or in cases where gestational age is uncertain, where the fetus weighs at least 350 grams, the person who files a fetal death certificate shall also prepare a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Requires the person who files a fetal death certificate to notify the gestational parent of the stillborn of that parent's right to request and receive a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB3210 - OPIOID ANTAGONIST FUND
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund. Provides that the Fund may receive gifts, grants, bequests, donations, and moneys from any other lawful source, public or private. Requires any interest earned on moneys in the Fund to be deposited into the Fund. Provides that subject to appropriation, moneys in the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund shall be used by the Department of Human Services for bulk purchasing of opioid antagonists and for the making of grants for the distribution of opioid antagonists. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules establishing requirements for the distribution of grant moneys and the determination of which persons or entities are eligible for and most in need of those grants, and gives it authority to adopt any other rules necessary to implement the provisions and administer the Fund. Effective immediately.
SB3217 - HOSPITAL LICENSING-FINES
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Increases the fine for a hospital that fails to implement a written staffing plan for nursing services from a fine of up to $500 per occurrence to a fine of up to $5,000 per occurrence. Increases the fine for a hospital that demonstrates a pattern or practice of failing to substantially comply with a plan of correction within 60 days from a fine of up to $500 per occurrence to a fine of up to $10,000 per occurrence. Specifies that the Department of Public Health may revoke or suspend a license under the Act for the second or subsequent time that a hospital demonstrates a pattern or practice of failing to substantially comply with a plan of correction within 60 days (now, the hospital is issued a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence for such a violation).
SB3256 - NURSING HOME-DISCHARGE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds (in addition to other criteria) that if a resident fails to pay or has a late payment and the facility follows the federal discharge and transfer requirements, including the issuance of a notice of facility-initiated discharge, then a facility that participates in the Medical Assistance Program may refuse to retain as a resident any person who resides in a part of the facility that does not participate in the Medical Assistance Program and who is unable to pay for his or her care in the facility without medical assistance.
SB3265 - ACCESS TO NUTRITION PROGRAM
Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall conduct an access to nutritious food program to establish and operate projects and strategies within food deserts that focus on: (1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and (2) education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall promote the sharing of information concerning best practices and programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall convene an annual meeting of nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to share best practices and information on programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Defines "food desert" and "program".
SB3279 - IEMA-GROUNDWATER-LOCAL
Amends the Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Control Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security may approve a request for license termination following adoption and implantation by the municipality or county in which the material milling facility is located of one or more ordinances restricting the use of groundwater on the property that has been licensed for the milling of source material and any property downgradient from that property if the ordinance ensures public health and safety and is in effect at the time of license termination. Requires the ordinances adopted for the purpose of terminating a license to remain in effect until the Agency approves in writing that the ordinances are no longer needed.
SB3301 - $IDPH-LOCAL HEALTH PROT GRANTS
Appropriates $ 10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1,2024.
SB3350 - FENTANYL TEST STRIPS
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that specified hospitals and other organizations deemed eligible by the Department of Public Health shall be enrolled to receive fentanyl test strips from the Department and distribute fentanyl test strips upon enrollment in the Drug Overdose Prevention Program. Removes a provision requiring every law enforcement agency and fire department that responds to emergency medical calls to possess fentanyl test strips and to distribute fentanyl test strips to the public at no charge. Removes a provision requiring every health care facility to possess fentanyl test strips and to make available fentanyl test strips to the public. Provides that the needle and hypodermic syringe access program shall provide access to fentanyl test strips if feasible.
SB3411 - YOUTH VAPING PREVENTION
Amends the Preventing Youth Vaping Act. Provides that any distributor, secondary distributor, or retailer who sells, offers for sale, or distributes electronic cigarettes shall (i) obtain certification by the manufacturer stating that the electronic cigarettes are not adulterated; (ii) not sell, offer for sale, or distribute any electronic cigarettes for which it has not obtained a certification; (iii) maintain, for at least 2 years, a copy of any certification provided to it by a manufacturer; and (iv) produce a copy of any certification provided by a manufacturer upon request by the Department of Revenue, the Attorney General, or any entity with enforcement authority under the Act. Provides that no manufacturer of electronic cigarettes shall provide any false or misleading statement in any certification.
SB3424 - HOSPITAL STAFFING LEVELS
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that "hospital worker" means any person who receives an hourly wage directly or indirectly via a subcontractor by a hospital licensed under the Act. Replaces references to "nurse" with "hospital worker". Provides for additional staffing transparency and reporting requirements. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act must employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Provides that hospitals must make available, at the beginning of each calendar year and upon request, all staffing matrices and other staffing metrics, if any, used to assess and maintain safe staffing levels for hospital workers in each unit. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall produce an annual report based on staffing disclosures. Provides that the Department shall make recommendations for minimum staffing standards for hospital workers in each hospital unit. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall conduct, within the first month of employment and at no cost, a competency validation for each hospital worker hired. Provides that a hospital must submit documentation of each hospital worker's competency validation to the Department within 4 weeks after the worker's start date. Provides that hospitals shall conduct ongoing verification for each hospital worker employed during a given calendar year to determine each worker's continued competency to perform the worker's job and shall submit documentation of each worker's ongoing verification to the Department within 2 weeks of completion. Provides that hospitals shall submit a list of all competent employees currently employed at the end of each calendar year. Provides for a public registry of all competent employees to be maintained by the Department. Provides for the imposition of civil penalties for specified violations of the Act. Describes an assignment despite objection resolution process to be implemented by each hospital that is licensed under the Act. Provides for a Hospital Safety Advocate role to be created within the Department.
SB3446 - NURSING HOMES-GHOST SCHEDULE
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall conduct 3 unannounced visits to a facility per quarter to determine bedside care staffing levels. Provides that a facility that does not meet established bedside care staffing levels has committed a type "B" violation and is subject to a fine under the Act. Provides that the Department shall conduct a physical roll call during an inspection. Provides that employee identification cards must belong to the employee with the identification in the employee's possession. The employees present at the facility must match the published shift schedule. Provides that management shall not be considered as part of a shift schedule, unless the manager was added to the schedule no later than the start of the shift or in the case of an emergency and a manager is needed for bedside care. Provides that, for a facility that is not in compliance, the Department may remove the facility operator or assess a fine of no more than $10,000. Provides that an operator of a facility that is not in compliance must submit a plan of correction to the Department which the Department shall consider upon review of the facility's noncompliance. Provides that the Department shall post a notice about ghost schedules on its public Internet website and in common areas of a facility that is not compliant. Effective immediately.
SB3486 - MEDICAID-SAFETY-NET PROVIDERS
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to enter into one or more cooperative arrangements with safety-net providers to provide primary, secondary, or tertiary managed health care services as a managed care community network with a monthly total capitation amount not to exceed $100,000,000. Defines "safety-net provider" to mean a non-government owned managed care community network operating and located in Cook County with at least 80% ownership by one or more safety-net hospitals. Provides that a safety-net provider shall be deemed a managed care community network for purposes of the Code only to the extent that it provides services to participating individuals. Provides that a non-government owned safety-net provider is entitled to contract with the Department with respect to Cook County only. Provides that a safety-net provider is not required to accept enrollees who do not reside within Cook County.
SB3521 - DHS-DHFS-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a 5-year Behavioral Health Recovery Center Grant Pilot Program and to issue, no later than July 1, 2024, a request for proposals to award a grant to one or more counties to develop and implement a behavioral health recovery center project. Provides that the purpose of the behavioral health recovery center project is to (1) increase access to mental health crisis services for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use disorder crisis and (2) reduce the number of individuals in the State who are incarcerated or in a hospital emergency room while experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use disorder crisis. Sets forth grant application information requirements. Requires the Department to consider the cost of the proposed project, the extent to which the proposed project will fulfill stated purposes and benefit the targeted population, and other matters when evaluating a grant application. Requires the Department to report to specified House and Senate committees (i) before June 30, 2025 regarding each county awarded a grant under the pilot program and the details of each project and (ii) before June 30, 2027 regarding data gathered on each project, recommendations for future use of mental health crisis services and substance use disorder crisis services in behavioral health recovery centers, and other matters. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply, no later than July 1, 2024, for a waiver or State Plan amendment to offer a program that provides reimbursement through a bundled daily rate for crisis management services that are delivered to an individual during the individual's stay at a behavioral health recovery center. Requires the Department to implement the program upon federal approval and to require certain managed care organizations to provide coverage for behavioral health crisis management services at a behavioral health recovery center. Permits the Department to elect to integrate payment for physical health services provided in a behavioral health recovery center. Effective immediately.
SB3528 - $ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for purposes of implementing a reproductive endocrinologist fellowship program at hospitals in Illinois.
SB3544 - COTTAGE FOOD OPERATIONS
Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that, if a county government does not have a local health department, the county government shall enter into an agreement or contract with an adjacent local health department to register cottage food operations in the county's jurisdiction. Provides that the adjacent local health department where the cottage food operation registers has the power to take specified actions pertaining to complaints, inspections, fees, and penalties. Specifies, in a provision requiring cottage food operations to sell directly to consumers, that sales directly to consumers include, among other things, sales at or through mobile farmers markets with the consent of the third-party property holder. Defines "mobile farmers market".
SB3559 - ANTI-RETALIATION NURSING HOMES
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that a facility shall not take any retaliatory action against a resident of the facility because the resident (1) complains, discloses, or threatens to disclose to a supervisor, a public body, or any other person an activity, inaction, policy, or practice implemented by a facility that the resident reasonably believes is in violation of a law or rule, or regulation or that the resident believes to be problematic; (2) provides information to or testifies before any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry into any violation of a law, rule, or regulation by a nursing home administrator; (3) assists or participates in a proceeding to enforce the provisions of the Act; (4) seeks assistance for himself or herself or others to transition to independent living or another setting outside of their current nursing home; (5) makes a request of the facility related to the resident's care; (6) becomes a member of a resident council, resident union, or similar organization; or (7) takes any other good faith action in support of any other right or remedy provided by law. Describes remedies that may be awarded to a resident of a facility for a violation of these requirements. Authorizes a claim of retaliation under the Act to be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction or any administrative hearing process conducted by the State and its agencies or departments with jurisdiction to hear complaints by employees or residents against nursing homes.
SB3689 - MEDICAID-HOSPITAL RATES
Amends the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, reimbursement rates for inpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2024 under the All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Groups system shall be increased by 10%; and reimbursement rates for outpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2024 under the Enhanced Ambulatory Procedure Grouping system shall be increased by 10%. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take all actions necessary to ensure the rate increases are in effect for dates of service on and after January 1, 2025, including publishing all appropriate public notices, applying for federal approval of amendments to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan, and adopting administrative rules if necessary. Effective immediately.
SB3709 - HOSPITAL STAFFING PLANS ACT
Creates the Hospital Staffing Plans Act. Provides that for each hospital there shall be established a hospital professional and technical staffing committee. Sets forth requirements and makeup of committee members and cochairs. Directs the professional and technical staffing committee to develop a written hospital-wide professional and technical staffing plan. Sets forth committee rules of operation. Requires the plan to be consistent with the approved nurse staffing plan for the hospital and takes into account the hospital service staffing plan for the hospital. Provides that if the committee does not adopt a staffing plan, or adopts only part of a plan, then either cochair may invoke an additional 60 day period to continue to develop the plan. Sets forth opportunities to extend the discussion, amendment, or adoption timeframe of the staffing plan. Provides that the committee must meet 3 times per year and additionally at the call of either cochair. Sets forth open meeting and record-keeping requirements. Requires the hospital to submit the staffing plan to the Department of Public Health. Provides for a hospital service staffing plan in the same manner and methods as the professional and technical staffing committee. Provides that hospitals may combine 2 or more staffing committees into one committee in particular circumstances. Provides for a nurse staffing committee as the same manner and methods of the professional and technical staffing committee. Provides that hospitals may combine 2 or more staffing committees into one committee in particular circumstances. Sets forth the roles and responsibilities of a nurse in a hospital setting. Sets forth arbitration and complaint resolution. Sets forth required periodic reviews. Provides for penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department of Labor may grant a variance to a written hospital-wide staffing plan. Provides for emergency staffing variances. Establishes the Nurse Staffing Advisory Board within the Department of Public Health. Effective immediately.
SB3723 - NURSING FACILITY-RESIDENCY
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Adds provisions concerning involuntary terminations of residency, hearings when residency is involuntarily terminated, and readmission of residents. Provides that an establishment shall notify a resident when the establishment's ability to meet the resident's needs may be affected. Provides that if an establishment initiates a termination of residency, then the resident shall be provided with written notice. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall (rather than may) offer assistance to an establishment and resident in preparation for a residency termination. Provides that an establishment that improperly terminates the residency of a resident shall be assessed a violation. Makes additions to provisions concerning resident rights. Makes other changes. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning the involuntary transfer or discharge of a resident, hearings when a resident is involuntarily transferred or discharged, and the readmission of residents. Provides that a resident has a right not to be unlawfully transferred or discharged from a facility. Makes other changes. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that in certain circumstances the Department shall order immediate readmission of a resident. Provides that failure to readmit a resident after receiving an order to do so from the Department shall result in a specified daily fine. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules related to conflicts of interest for persons who conduct specified hearings.