Summary as Introduced
Amends the Community Benefits Act. Provides that the Act applies to all nonprofit and public hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act (rather than not applying to a hospital operated by a unit of government, a hospital located outside of a metropolitan statistical area, or a hospital with 100 or fewer beds). Requires community benefits plans to describe activities the hospital is undertaking to address health equity, reduce health disparities, and improve community health. Provides that, in order to increase transparency and accessibility of charity care and financial assistance data, the Attorney General shall post on the Attorney General's website: all community benefits plans contained in reports submitted by hospitals; and a compiled report that summarizes information from completed community benefits plans. Provides that an electronic version of the compiled report shall be sent to the Governor and each member of the General Assembly. Provides a late filing fee for nonprofit hospitals for community benefits plans of $2,500 per month that the report is late (rather than $100). Makes other changes. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that hospitals, other than a rural hospital or Critical Access Hospitals, shall provide a discount from charges to specified uninsured patients for all medically necessary health care services exceeding $150 (rather than $300) in any one inpatient admission or outpatient encounter. Provides civil monetary penalties of not$1,000 to $5,000 (rather than $500). Requires the Attorney General to publish an annual report that outlines complaints received related to hospital uninsured discount programs and financial assistance applications. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Staff Analysis
Amends the Community Benefits Act. Provides that the community benefits plans developed by a nonprofit hospital must describe activities the hospital is undertaking to address health equity, reduce health disparities, and improve community health. Provides that the annual report for the community benefits plan must include details about specified financial assistance applications received and processed by the hospital. Provides that, for a health system that includes more than one hospital, charity care spending and financial assistance application data must be reported separately for each individual hospital within the health system. Provides that a hospital shall make the annual hospital community benefits plan report submitted to the Attorney General available to the public by publishing the information on the hospital's website in the same location where annual reports are posted or on a prominent location on the homepage of the hospital's website. Provides that a hospital is not required to post its audited financial statements. Requires the Attorney General to provide notice on the Attorney General's website informing the public that, upon request, the Attorney General will provide the annual reports filed with the Attorney General. Makes changes concerning definitions. Makes other changes. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that a hospital meeting specified requirements shall provide: (1) a discount from its charges to any uninsured patient who applies for a discount and has family income of not more than 600% of the federal poverty income guidelines for all medically necessary health care services exceeding $150 (rather than $300) in any one inpatient admission or outpatient encounter; and (2) a charitable discount of 100% of its charges for all medically necessary health care services exceeding $150 (rather than $300) in any one inpatient admission or outpatient encounter to any uninsured patient who applies for a discount and has family income of not more than 200% of the federal poverty income guideline. Provides that the maximum amount that may be collected in a 12-month period for health care services provided by a hospital from a patient determined by that hospital to be eligible under specified provisions is 20% (rather than 25%) of the patient's family income. Requires hospital financial assistance applications to include language that directs the uninsured patient to contact the hospital's financial counseling department with questions or concerns, along with contact information for the financial counseling department, and a specified statement. Provides that a hospital shall permit an uninsured patient to apply for a discount within 90 (rather than 60) days of the date of discharge or date of service. Provides that a hospital shall offer specified uninsured patients an opportunity to be screened for and assistance with applying for public health insurance programs if there is a reasonable basis to believe that the uninsured patient may be eligible for a public health insurance program. Provides that, no later than September 1, 2022, the Attorney General shall provide data on the Attorney General's website regarding enforcement efforts performed under the Act from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Provides that, no later than September 1 of each year through September 1, 2027, the Attorney General shall annually provide data on the Attorney General's website regarding enforcement efforts performed under the Act from July 1 through June 30 of each year. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2022.