Healthcare Council Policy Review
January Edition 2009
The following two new healthcare laws went into effect in December (December 12 and 22, respectively):
SB 934 Mandated Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Coverage – requires private health insurers to extend coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders to individuals under 21 years of age. The maximum yearly benefit for this coverage is $36,000. P.A. 95-1005
SB 2380 Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act – requires a hospital to provide a discount from its charges to any uninsured patient who applies for a discount and has met certain income and healthcare services guidelines. P.A. 95-0965
The following new healthcare laws took effect January 1, 2009:
HB 1432 Mandated Coverage for the Treatment of an Eating Disorder – requires private insurers to extend coverage for the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. P.A. 95-0973
HB 4602 Mandated Coverage for Shingles Vaccination – requires private insurers to extend coverage for an FDA-approved vaccine for shingles that is ordered by a physician for an enrollee 60 years of age or older. P.A. 95-0978
HB 5121 Order of Protection Submission to Healthcare Provider – allows a petitioner to request that a notice of an outstanding order of protection be sent to a specified healthcare practitioner or facility; prohibits the healthcare practitioner or facility from providing any access to health records to a respondent upon receipt of the order. P.A. 95-0912
The following new healthcare laws take effect June 1, 2009:
HB 1533 ALL KIDS Reporting/Audit – requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to annually publish on the state website, as well as in newspapers throughout the state the premiums and other cost sharing requirements of the Covering All Kids Health Insurance Program. The new law also requires the Department to provide a copy of all contracts awarded for the administration of the Program to the General Assembly and the Auditor General to perform an annual audit of the Program. P.A. 95-0985
HB 3286 Illinois Health Policy Center – creates a new Health Policy Center to be co-sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs to provide support and guidance in matters related to the development and implementation of health policy and to provide ongoing health policy research. P.A. 95-0986
HB 5285 Insurance Coverage for Students on Medical Leave/Extended Coverage for Dependents – requires continuation of coverage for dependent students who take a medical leave of absence or reduce course load to part-time status because of a catastrophic illness or injury. This new law also requires private insurers to extend coverage to unmarried dependents through the age of 25 (or 30 years of age for unmarried veterans). P.A. 95-0958
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