Healthcare

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for all dental services for children shall be increased 50% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Changes the definition of "patient". Specifies that each patient has the right to be informed of additional information. Adds a right of each patient to be treated with courtesy and respect, to have the patient's human and civil rights maintained, and to have the patient's basic human needs accommodated in a timely manner. Adds a right of each patient to have the patient's medical directives reviewed with the health care provider before any procedures are scheduled or decisions are made. Adds a right of each patient to continuity and coordination of care among and between all disciplines serving the patient's needs. Adds a right of each patient who receives services from an outside provider to be told the identity of the provider. Updates the right of each patient to privacy and confidentiality, adding that (1) the patient shall be given current information in writing concerning certain aspects of the patient's care, (2) the patient may opt out, either digitally or in writing, from certain sharing of health information, and (3) the patient shall not be denied access to care if opting out. Makes changes to provisions regarding experimental procedures. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In a provision regarding student athletes and concussions and head injuries, further defines "physician" to include a chiropractic physician as defined in the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In a provision regarding health examinations and immunizations, allows a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to be responsible for the performance of an athletic physical examination and requires the chiropractic physician to sign all report forms required for the athletic physical examination. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, for a person who is a resident in a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the MC/DD Act for whom payments are made under the Article throughout a month and who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance, the State shall pay an amount in addition to the minimum monthly personal needs allowance authorized under the Social Security Act so that the person's total monthly personal needs allowance from both State and federal sources equals $90. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the personal needs allowance described in the amendatory Act shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.

Amends the County Department of Corrections Division of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act. Provides that, upon the release of a prisoner or committed person from a county correctional institution, county jail, or Department of Corrections correctional institution or facility, the sheriff, warden, or Department shall provide the prisoner or committed person with an opioid antagonist if the prisoner was incarcerated for drug-related charges or was identified as having a substance abuse disorder.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no provision of the Illinois Insurance Code, or any other law, prohibits assignability rights to an insured under any policy of dental insurance (in addition to accident and health insurance). Provides that if an enrollee or insured of an insurer, health maintenance organization, managed care plan, health care plan, preferred provider organization, dental service plan corporation, dental insurer, or third party administrator assigns a claim to a health care professional, or health care facility, a dental care provider, or a dental care facility, then payment shall be made directly to the health care professional, or health care facility, dental care provider, or dental care facility, including any required interest. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a certified nurse midwife with full practice authority may enter into a written collaborative agreement with an advanced practice registered nurse. Provides that an advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife may enter into a written collaborative agreement with an advanced practice registered nurse with full practice authority who is certified as a nurse midwife or a physician. Provides that, for an advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife, the clinical experience shall be in collaboration with a certified nurse midwife with full practice authority. Makes conforming changes in provisions concerning written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority under a written collaborative agreement, and full practice authority.

Amends the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a covered individual's defined cost sharing for each prescription drug shall be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80% of all rebates received, or to be received, or to be received, in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug. Provides that a health insurer or its agents shall not publish or otherwise reveal information regarding the actual amount of rebates a health insurer receives on a product or therapeutic class of products, manufacturer-specific basis, or pharmacy-specific basis and that the information is confidential. Defines terms. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that a pharmacist may substitute a biological product (instead of an interchangeable biological product) if, among other requirements, the product being considered for substitution is either the reference product or a product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a biosimilar of the prescribed biological product (instead of if the substituted product has been determined by the United States Food and Drug Administration to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Removes a prohibition against performance of a physical examination by a health care professional under the Act by remote means, including telemedicine.

Creates the Complex Wheelchair Right to Repair Act. Provides that, for complex wheelchairs and parts for complex wheelchairs sold or used in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall make available to an independent repair provider, solely for the purpose of repairing complex wheelchairs, on fair and reasonable terms, any documentation, parts, service access methods, and tools, including, but not limited to, any updates to information, firmware, or embedded software that is needed for purposes of repair of complex wheelchairs and training courses and materials on the operation, inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of complex wheelchairs. Provides that a violation of any of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides for penalties. Provides that nothing in the Act shall require an original equipment manufacturer to divulge a trade secret to an independent repair provider. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2024.