Healthcare

Amends the County Shelter Care and Detention Home Act, the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the Village Library Act, the Libraries in Parks Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act to require the placement of contact information for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Amends the School Code. With respect to the comprehensive health education program, provides that a school board shall require each public school serving students in any of grades 6 through 12 to assess courses and seminars available to those students through their regular academic experiences and implement age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention curricula if opportunities for integration exist. Further amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning an inmate's successful transition to the community, provides that release planning shall include access to suicide prevention resources.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Removes a requirement that at least one mental health examiner testify in person at an involuntary admission hearing.

Appropriates $1,600,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for the purpose of funding Duchenne muscular dystrophy screenings for newborn babies. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Establishes rights for a client who lives in a long-term care facility, or who receives home care services from a home care provider, from discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, actual or perceived gender expression, or actual or perceived HIV status. Provides that an aggrieved person may enforce violations of the Act against a long-term care facility or a home care provider and the staff of the long-term care facility or home care provider through a civil action. Sets forth provisions concerning gender identity in client records; required training for all long-term care facilities and home care providers; arbitration agreements; interpretation of the Act; and enforcement of rights, including civil penalties and other administrative actions. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act to require compliance with the Sexual orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act to include intentional misgendering and unlawful discrimination in the definition of "abuse".

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 Genetic Information Privacy Act. Removes language exempting insurers that are issuing a long-term care policy from specified provisions. Provides that, with regard to any policy, contract, or plan offered, entered into, issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 by a health insurer, life insurer, disability insurer, or long-term care insurer authorized to transact insurance in this State, a health insurer, life insurer, disability insurer, or long-term care insurer may not: (1) cancel, limit, or deny coverage or establish differentials in premium rates based on a person's genetic information; or (2) require or solicit an individual's genetic information, use an individual's genetic test results, or consider an individual's decisions or actions relating to genetic information or a genetic test in any manner for any insurance purpose. Provides that the provisions may not be construed as: (1) preventing a life insurer, disability insurer, or long-term care insurer from accessing an individual's medical record as part of an application; or (2) prohibiting a life insurer, disability insurer, or long-term care insurer from considering a clinical diagnosis, such as a manifest disease or disorder, included in an individual's medical record for insurance purposes to the extent otherwise allowable by law. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, in conducting utilization review of all covered health care services for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental, emotional, and nervous disorders or conditions, an insurer shall apply the criteria and guidelines set forth in the most recent version of the treatment criteria developed by an unaffiliated professional organization (instead of an unaffiliated nonprofit professional association) for the relevant clinical specialty or, for Medicaid managed care organizations, criteria and guidelines determined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services that are consistent with generally accepted standards of mental, emotional, nervous or substance use disorder or condition care. Provides that insurers may not apply utilization review criteria developed by any entity that has a financial stake in the outcome of the utilization review decisions. Makes changes to provisions concerning utilization review relating to level of care placement, continued stay, transfer, discharge, or any other patient care decisions that are within the scope of the specified sources.

Creates the Expanding Medical Residency Opportunities in Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish a grant program to provide funding for medical residency positions not funded by certain federal or other funding sources and to provide startup funding for entities that wish to establish a residency program. Provides for procedures, criteria, and other requirements for the grant program. Creates the Medical Residency Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.

Creates the Illinois Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall enter into partnerships with drug companies or manufactures to: (i) increase competition, lower prices, and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs; (ii) reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers; and (iii) increase patient access to affordable drugs. Provides that such partnerships shall be made with the intent to ensure the wide availability of generic prescription drugs to public and private purchasers, providers and suppliers, and pharmacies as appropriate. Requires that such drugs must be produced or distributed by a drug company or generic drug manufacturer that is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Sets forth price setting criteria and a list of the most common generic prescription drugs that are to be produced and distributed through the partnerships. Requires the Department to consult with other State agencies, licensed health care service plans, health insurers, hospitals, and pharmacy benefit managers in maintaining the list of generic prescription drugs. Contains provisions concerning minimum drug procurement thresholds; reporting requirements; and other matters. Makes implementation of the Act subject to appropriation. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions take effect on January 1, 2029.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, whichever is applicable, shall not consider veterans' disability benefits as countable income when determining an individual's eligibility for medical assistance, child care assistance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Requires the Departments to apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement this income exemption.