Healthcare

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for cleft lip and cleft palate, provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for the medically necessary care and treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate for children or adults (instead of only for children under the age of 19). Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Includes the care and treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate in provisions concerning coverage for dental services. Effective immediately.

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 State Finance Act to create the Women's Reproductive Health Care Fund. Amends the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. Makes a protocol provision mandatory (instead of at the request of the patient or legal representative of the patient) that the health care facility, physician, or health care personnel must: (i) refer the patient to, or (ii) transfer the patient to, or (iii) provide in writing information to the patient about other health care providers who they reasonably believe may offer the health care service the health care facility, physician, or health personnel refuses to permit, perform, or participate in because of a conscience-based objection. Provides that the injured person shall recover $5,000 in damages, and the violator shall pay to the circuit court clerk a penalty of $5,000 that is to be remitted as soon as practicable to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for deposit into the Women's Reproductive Health Care Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Provides that, subject to appropriation and as directed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, all monies in the Fund shall be expended to improve women's reproductive health care and for no other purpose.

Urges the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to consult with nonprofit safety net hospitals, including those in Chicago Community Area No. 33 (Near South Side), and craft a report for the General Assembly in which the Director recommends policies and legislation to establish one or more programs to curb the price that manufacturers charge certain hospitals for certain medical devices.

Amends the School Code. Allows a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school to authorize a school nurse or trained personnel to: (1) provide undesignated ready-to-use glucagon to authorized personnel to administer ready-to-use glucagon to a student that meets the student's prescription on file; (2) administer undesignated ready-to-use glucagon that meets the prescription on file to any student who has a plan that authorizes the use of ready-to-use glucagon; and (3) administer undesignated ready-to-use glucagon to any person that the school nurse or trained personnel believes in good faith is having a severe hypoglycemia emergency. Makes conforming changes regarding liability, where and when the undesignated ready-to-use glucagon may be administered, supply maintenance, notification of administration to the student's parent or guardian or emergency contact, training, and reports of administration to the State Board of Education, General Assembly, and Department of Public Health.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall not require any medical assistance recipient to pay a co-payment for services or prescription medications. Requires the Department to apply for any State Plan amendment or federal approval necessary to implement the amendatory Act, if required.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits an insurer, dental service plan corporation, professional service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any other company or its contracted vendor that amends, delivers, issues, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act from requiring a dental care provider to only accept payment from a credit card or electronic funds transfer, in addition to the existing prohibition on incurred fees to access and obtain payment or reimbursement for services provided. Provides that any insurer, dental service plan corporation, professional service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any other company or its contracted vendor that amends, delivers, issues, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance may initiate or change payment methodology to a dental care provider using electronic funds transfer payments, including virtual credit card payments, if the specified conditions are met. Sets forth provisions concerning claim payment methodologies and fees for transmitting payments. Provides that the specified dental coverage reimbursement provisions shall not be waived by contract. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows for the issuance of the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois decal. Provides that for the original issuance of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $10 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $15 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that for the renewal of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $23 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $2 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Creates the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

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 a 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 State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that, by no later than January 1, 2028, the Department of Central Management Services shall, by rule, establish a program to allow the active members of TRS and their dependent beneficiaries to participate in the program of group health benefits made available under the Act to TRS benefit recipients and TRS dependent beneficiaries, including the program of group health benefits for Medicare-primary members and their Medicare-primary dependents, in lieu of health benefits otherwise provided by the school district. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the program, including, but not limited to, the manner of electing to participate in the program, eligibility for participation in the program, and contributions for coverage through the program. Effective immediately.