End of Session Report

The democrat House and Senate leadership agreed to and passed a budget that they admitted was not balanced...republicans believe $2.5 billion out of whack. The budget sent to the Governor included expanded moneys for elementary and secondary education and Medicaid but no help to payment delays was included. It is uncertain as to how the Governor will react. It is anticipated that he will call them back in Special Session later this month to deal with a budget and possibly the capital program. Speaker Madigan’s rules amendment placed a large number of bills in limbo. Even bills “agreed to” have been caught up in concurrence either in the House or Senate.

Healthcare Bills Going to Governor

Marriage counselors: HB 953, sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Sen. James Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) requires reimbursement of marriage counselors under mental health services coverage.

Eating disorders: HB 1432, sponsored by Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) and Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) mandates coverage for anorexia and bulimia.

Shingles vaccine: HB 4602, sponsored by Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) and Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) mandates coverage for the “shingles” vaccine if the patient is age 60 and older and the vaccine is ordered by a physician.

Dependent Coverage: HB 5285, sponsored by Rep. Charles Jefferson (D-Rockford) and Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), extends coverage to a college student with health coverage that due to illness or injury must take a leave of absence or go to part-time status. The Chamber was able to negotiate an amendment that addressed our major problems to the bill.

Hospital billing for uninsured: SB 2840, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Skokie) and Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), creates the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act requiring a hospital to provide 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 (300% for a rural hospital or Critical Access Hospital) all medically necessary health care services exceeding $300 in any one inpatient admission or outpatient encounter.

Other Healthcare Issues Status

Wellness coverage: SB 2486, sponsored by Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and Rep. Sid Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) passed both chambers by wide margins but was caught up with the “rules” amendment. The Chamber will continue to pursue passage of SB 2486.

Autism: Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago) and Rep. Skip Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) sponsors of SB 1900 seek to require group and individual insurance policies to provide up to $36,000 of coverage for a wide range of services and providers to treat children with autism spectrum disorders. The Chamber pushed for an amendment that allowed employers of 50 and fewer employees an option to purchase this coverage, but the amendment was not added. This bill was held due to the Speaker’s rules amendment.

Habilitative care: Rep. Beth Coulson (R-Glenview) and Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) are sponsors of HB 5595 that requires payment for habilitative services which include occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy for children under the age of 19 with congenital or genetic defects existing at or from birth or with a defect acquired at a young age. An amendment was negotiated that removed our major objections. However the bill contained the Speaker’s “rules” amendment and was not sent to the Governor.

Independent External Review Process: The Illinois Chamber coordinated efforts to negotiate an agreement to require non-HMO health insurance plans to provide an independent external review process that meets URAC standards. The agreement was added to SB 874 sponsored by Sen. Jackie Collins (D-Chicago) and passed the Senate unanimously. It is sponsored in the House by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago). It is in House Rules Committee.

Dependent age: Legislation that requires coverage of dependents up to age 25 was never called for a vote in the Senate Insurance Committee despite several amendments being filed to SB 871. We will be meeting with Sen. Haine and Sen. Kotowski to discuss our concerns and alternative approaches.

PBM regulation: HB 5614, sponsored by Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville) and SB 2222, sponsored by Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) were not called for a vote in the second chamber after passing the first as “shell” bills. Both bills established regulation of pharmaceutical benefit managers and required burdensome notices from employers.

Cochlear ear transplants: HB 4824, sponsored by Rep. Coulson mandates coverage for cochlear ear transplants. It does not provide protection from payment of investigational or experimental treatments. It has been sent to the House Rules Committee.