Healthcare

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that a pharmacist who is exercising his or her professional judgment may add missing non-pharmaceutical devices or durable medical equipment that aid in the appropriate clinical usage of a medication or in achieving a positive therapeutic outcome to a prescription. Provides that a pharmacist may complete missing information on a prescription if there is evidence to support the change. Requires any adaptations to a prescription to be documented in the patient's record. In provisions concerning the distribution of a prescription drug for less than its fair market value, provides that it shall be unlawful to require a pharmacist or pharmacy to dispense a prescription drug for less than its fair market value, including the cost of dispensing. Provides that a payor that reimburses a pharmacy for less than fair market value, including the cost of dispensing, shall not be able to include the pharmacy toward any network adequacy requirements and shall not be deemed in compliance with any willing provider provisions.

Creates the Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the Nurse Practice Act or any rule of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to the contrary, delegation, including, but not limited to, delegation of the performance of central venous catheter procedures in a kidney disease treatment center, shall only be allowed if the individual receiving delegation is a licensed practical nurse who has obtained the proper training, education, and experience or a certified dialysis technician who currently holds, or is in the process of acquiring, the necessary experience to apply for and obtain certification as a certified clinical hemodialysis technician by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission or a Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology. Sets forth additional provisions concerning delegation of duties in a kidney disease treatment center. Provides that the Department is authorized to adopt rules for the administration and enforcement of the Act, and the rules may define standards and criteria for the necessary training, education, and experience for licensed practical nurses to obtain before receiving delegation under the Act. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a violation of the Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act is grounds for disciplinary action. Effective immediately.

Creates the Expanded Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require information and counseling concerning lung cancer screening to be made available to individuals accessing the tobacco quitline. Allows the Department to enter into contracts and agreements and award grants to persons operating the tobacco quitline. Requires the Department to develop signage that discloses referral information for lung cancer screening. Requires the Department to develop an educational insert to accompany the sale of tobacco products and nicotine replacement therapies by retailers. Provides that a retailer of tobacco products or nicotine replacement therapies who intentionally violates these provisions is guilty of a petty offense. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for medically prescribed seizure detection devices. Requires all covered seizure detection devices to be approved for use by individuals, and for the choice of device to be made based upon the individual's circumstances and medical needs in consultation with the individual's medical provider. Sets forth provisions prohibiting prior authorization and cost-sharing, as specified. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under the provisions of those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that an assisted living establishment or a shared housing establishment shall only make referrals to its residents for home services providers that are licensed under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Establishes penalties for violating the referral requirement. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, and the Life Care Facilities Act to require that the Department of Public Health to distribute to each establishment or facility a one-page, 8.5 by 11 inch public safety announcement flyer in at least 12-point type and that the each establishment or facility post the flyer in a prominent location for all visitors to see. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Replaces provisions concerning serious mental illness rescreening. Provides that all persons admitted to a nursing home facility with a diagnosis of serious mental illness shall receive a follow-up visit within 60 days after admission and shall receive a resident review by the Department of Human Services or its designee promptly after a significant change in the resident's physical or mental condition. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall ensure there are no conflicts of interest for pre-admission screeners.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Instructs the Department of Public Health to require a health care practitioner who is treating a patient diagnosed with epilepsy and at elevated risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient for epilepsy, other than a health care practitioner treating that patient in an emergency situation, to provide that patient with certain written information regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Requires the Department to provide that written information to health care practitioners and post the information on the Department's website. Requires the Department to ensure that the information is culturally and linguistically appropriate for all recipients. Allows a local or national organization that provides education or services related to epilepsy conditions to request that the Department include on its website the organization's informational material and contact information. Requires the Department to provide guidance to health care practitioners in determining whether a patient is at elevated risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Physician Assistance Practice Act to require licensees under the Acts to comply with the amendatory provisions in the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Provides that certain licensees under the Acts who violate the amendatory provisions shall be issued a warning by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and shall suffer no further penalty or discipline for a first offense if the violation was not committed willfully or knowingly. Provides that certain licensees under the Acts who commit a subsequent violation of the amendatory provisions shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, of no more than $10,000 to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for each subsequent violation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Expands the Act to include counseling, referral, and other supportive services for persons with gambling disorders. Requires the Department of Human Services to collaborate with the State Board of Education in the development of instructional resources for substance use or gambling disorder prevention and awareness that may be used by school districts. Permits the Department to cooperate with institutions of higher education in the development of programs on substance use and gambling disorders. Requires the Department to establish a toll-free hotline and website that provides crisis counseling and referral services for families experiencing difficulty related to a gambling disorder. Requires the Department to promote public awareness regarding the impact of gambling disorders on individuals, families, and communities. Makes other changes.

Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Provides that the use of genetic testing, biomarker testing, or both (rather than only genetic testing), and the information derived from testing is confidential and privileged and may be released only to the individual tested and persons specifically authorized in writing by the individual tested to receive the information. Provides that an insurer may not seek information derived from genetic or biomarker testing (rather than only genetic testing) for use in connection with a policy of accident or health insurance (unless the individual voluntarily submits the results and the results are favorable to the individual), for nontherapeutic purposes, or for underwriting purposes. In provisions concerning the use of testing information by employers, provides that an employer may release genetic testing or biomarker testing information (rather than only genetic testing information) under specified circumstances. Limits an employer's use of genetic information, genetic testing, biomarkers, and biomarker testing (rather than only genetic information and genetic testing). In provisions concerning testing, provides that no person may disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of any person upon whom a genetic test or biomarker test (rather than only genetic test) is performed or the results of a genetic test or biomarker test (rather than only genetic test) in a manner that permits identification of the subject of the test, except to the persons specified in the Act. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines "biomarker" and "biomarker testing". Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. In provisions concerning assessment and service plan requirements, provides that a comprehensive assessment shall be completed by a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse (instead of only a physician). In provisions concerning Alzheimer and dementia programs, provides that an assessment must be approved by a resident's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse (instead of only a physician) and shall occur prior to acceptance for residency, annually, and at such time that a change in the resident's condition is identified by a family member, staff of the establishment, or the resident's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse (instead of only a physician).