|
Bills of Interest Signed into Law
HB 579, State-Based Exchange signed into law. This bill sets forth provisions concerning the Marketplace Director of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Sets forth provisions concerning an exemption regarding any procurements necessary for the Department of Insurance to implement the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law. Amends the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall operate the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange as a State-based exchange using the federal platform by plan year 2025 and as a State-based exchange by plan year 2026. Provides that, except where inconsistent with State law, the Department shall enforce health plan coverage requirements under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that apply to the individual and small group markets. Provides that the Director of Insurance may elect to add a small business health options program to the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange. Provides that the General Assembly shall appropriate funds to establish the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange. Provides that issuers must remit an assessment in monthly installments to the Department. Sets forth provisions concerning State medical assistance program coordination and provisions concerning the authority of the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that through the adoption of rules, the Director of Insurance may require that plans offered on the exchange conform with standardized plan designs. Makes a change concerning the purpose of the assessment. Provides that in no case shall the assessment be applied at a rate that exceeds 3.5%.
HB 1186, Insurance/Referral-Support signed into law. This bill provides that the powers of a health maintenance organization include the voluntary use of a referral system for enrollees to access providers under contract with or employed by the health maintenance organization. Provides that the provisions shall not be construed as requiring the use of a referral system to obtain a certificate of authority. Provides that the Director may prescribe by rule the language that must be included in the plan name, marketing, advertising, or other consumer disclosure requirements to differentiate a health care plan that does not use a referral system for such providers from a health care plan that does use a referral system for such providers. Provides that the provisions shall not be construed as requiring the use of a referral system with the health maintenance organization's contracted or employed providers to obtain a certificate of authority.
HB 1364, 988 Task Force signed into law. This bill 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.
HB 2296, Health Insurance signed into law. This bill provides that beginning before or on May 1, 2026, and each May 1 thereafter, the Department of Insurance shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on health insurance coverage, affordability, and cost trends. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any forms and rates filed for large employer group accident and health insurance shall be automatically deemed approved after 90 days after filing. Provides that beginning plan year 2026, rate increases for all individual and small group accident and health insurance policies must be filed with the Department for approval. Provides that unreasonable rate increases or inadequate rates shall be modified or disapproved. Provides that beginning plan year 2025, the Department shall post all insurers' rate filings and summaries on the Department's website. Provides that the Department shall open a 30-day public comment period on the date that a rate filing is posted on the website. Provides that after the close of the public comment period, the Department shall issue a decision to approve, disapprove, or modify a rate filing within 60 days, and post the decision on the Department's website. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules implementing specified procedures.
HB 3296, Credit Unions signed into law. This bill provides that an annual regulatory fee paid by a credit union to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall not be more than $210,000 (rather than $141,875).
HB 3902, Drones as First Responders signed into law. Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Drones as First Responders Act. Amends the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. Defines the terms "parade", "routed event", and "special event". Authorizes the use of drones for additional specified law enforcement purposes. Prohibits the use of weapons and facial recognition technology on drones. Makes changes concerning the retention and disclosure of drone-acquired data. Makes changes to annual reporting requirements. Adds enforcement provisions. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB 1298, Medicaid Omnibus was signed into law. This bill Creates the Substance Use Disorder Residential and Detox Rate Equity Act. Requires the General Assembly to appropriate sufficient funds to the Department of Human Services, for State Fiscal Year 2024 and for each State fiscal year thereafter, to ensure reimbursement rates will be increased and subsequently 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, for licensed or certified community-based substance use disorder treatment providers under community service grant programs for persons with substance use disorders, including, but not limited to, certain residential and withdrawal management services provided in accordance with criteria established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In the Medical Assistance Article of the Code, provides that on and after January 1, 2024, the inpatient, per diem rate to be paid to a hospital for inpatient psychiatric services shall be not less than 90% of the per diem rate established under a specified provision of the Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning funding to the human poison control center designated under the Poison Control System Act; hospital reimbursement rates for specified inpatient and outpatient services; medical assistance coverage for cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment; the supportive living program rate for dementia care; and Prospective Payment System rates increases for federally qualified health centers. Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that beginning July 1, 2023, for improving the quality of life and the quality of care at specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities, a payment of no less than $10.50 per day, per single room occupancy shall be added to the existing $15 additional per day, per single room occupancy rate for a total of at least $25.50 per day, per single room occupancy. Sets forth a rate increase for each Medicaid-occupied bed in dual-occupancy rooms. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2023, the reimbursement rates paid to providers of private duty nursing services for medically fragile and technology dependent children shall be at a specified percentage rate higher than the reimbursement rates in effect for nursing services on June 30, 2023. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Increases rates for homemaker services, subject to federal approval. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Increases the reimbursement rate for ventilator services, speech therapy services, physical therapy services, and occupational therapy services. Establishes a $60 personal needs allowance for nursing home residents who are eligible for medical assistance. Amends the Rebuild Illinois Mental Health Workforce Act. Increases the Mobile Crisis Response Medicaid Payment rate, the Crisis Intervention Medicaid Payment rate, and other specified rates. In a provision concerning reimbursement rates for ambulance services, provides that ambulance services includes medical transportation services provided by means of air ambulance. Provides for an increase in the base rate for both base charges and mileage charges for medical transportation services provided by means of an air ambulance. In a provision concerning the tiered exceptional care per diem rates for medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities, provides that, subject to federal approval, each tier rate shall be increased 6% over the amount in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that, subject to federal approval, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the base rate of reimbursement for both base charges and mileage charges for ground ambulance service providers not participating in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Program for medical transportation services provided by means of a ground ambulance to a level not lower than 140% (rather than 112%) of the base rate in effect as of January 1, 2023 (rather than July 30, 2018).
| 
