Healthcare

Appropriates $600,000 from the Illinois Opioid Remediation State Trust Fund to the Department of Human Services to supply free fentanyl testing strips to public institutions of higher education. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Community Supported Living Arrangement Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities shall work in coordination with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, implement, and operate, and to submit, through the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, amendments to the Illinois Adults with Developmental Disabilities Section 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Provides for establishment of provider licensing, certification, and oversight standards for Community Supported Living-24 Hour services consistent with existing State authority for community-based residential services, but with the person's own home not requiring licensing or Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure and Certification reviews. Provides for 24-hour availability of trained personnel for individuals with intense physical, medical, or behavioral support needs. Contains provisions regarding: covered services; enrollment; the use of tools such as the Health Risk Screening Tool; housing independence; staffing and workforce standards; phased implementation; Person-Centered Plans; dignity of risk; compliance with mandates; quality assurance; evaluations; a Community Supported Living Advisory Council; reports; fiscal issues; administrative issues; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any person who was initially determined to be eligible for medical assistance and is receiving institutional services or home and community-based services as authorized under the Article shall be presumed eligible for a continuation of coverage for such services during any redetermination process. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue to make payments for such services unless the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility. Provides that if the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility, the person, or the person's designated caregiver or responsible party, shall notify the Department. Provides that if the Department subsequently conducts a redetermination of eligibility, the Department must provide written notice to the person (i) before the commencement of the redetermination; and (ii) upon conclusion of the redetermination. Requires the Department to develop a process to facilitate the written notifications. Provides that no later than October 1, 2026, the Department shall seek federal authorization to exempt persons with disabilities who are eligible for medical assistance from annual redeterminations of eligibility, except that a full redetermination shall be conducted at least once every 5 years, regardless of whether a material change in financial circumstances has occurred. Effective immediately.

SB 4075 is a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill that allocates specific state funds to various agencies and programs. It provides $2 million to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for operational costs, $100 million to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for rural healthcare transformation, and $10 million to the Department of Human Services for healthcare access grants to 15 clinics (including Cook County Health and Access DuPage). Additional funding includes $2.4 million for natural resources projects and $10 million for corrections electronic healthcare records. The bill directly affects state agencies, healthcare providers, and natural resource programs by authorizing specific spending from designated funds like the General Revenue Fund and Illinois Forestry Development Fund.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the End-of-life Care Peer Support Program. Provides that the program is available to terminally ill persons committed to the Department of Corrections. Provides that the program shall be administered by the Department of Corrections in partnership with certain health care providers. Provides that individual patients may accept or decline care or participation in the program. Provides that individual patients shall define the scope of peer support, including the option to opt out of certain aspects of support. Provides that patient care plans shall be developed with the individual patient, the patient's peer support attendants, and the interdisciplinary team. Provides that participating patients shall be subject to the least restrictive security measures possible, with access to comfort items such as blankets, memorabilia, music, and books. Provides that participating patients shall have the following rights: (1) the right to dignity, privacy, respect, and culturally competent care; (2) the right to request peer support services; (3) the right to refuse services; and (4) the right to request family visitation. Provides that all participants in the program, including patients and peer support attendants, shall have access to grief counseling and mental health care services as needed. Provides that the program shall be funded through: (1) the Individual Benefit Fund; (2) direct appropriations from the General Revenue Fund; and (3) federal appropriations if applicable.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Mental Health Parity for All Act. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a program that provides grants to community-based organizations to develop and establish mental health wellness hubs in communities disproportionately impacted by the closure of mental health clinics, hospitals, and schools. Provides that the goal of the program is to provide immediate and accessible behavioral health services and supports to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or distress prior to the need for psychiatric hospitalization. Requires program grants to be awarded to community-based organizations with a demonstrable history of providing behavioral health services and supports to persons experiencing mental health-related stress. Requires the mental health wellness hubs to provide an array of services aimed at promoting emotional and psychological well-being, including, but not limited to: (1) crisis prevention and intervention; (2) psychiatric assessments and evaluations; (3) individual and group therapy; (4) medication monitoring; (5) nutrition education; and (6) referrals to community resources. Requires the services to be tailored to the community's needs and to be available year-round on a walk-in basis or by appointment to community members regardless of age or insurance coverage. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.

Amends the Newborn Screening Act. Changes the title of the Act and the short title. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, an additional newborn screening fee of at least $45, determined by the Department by rule, may be collected and deposited into the Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund for specified purposes. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to override, replace, preempt, or supersede any provision, requirement, or other duty or prohibition under the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. Limits the application of certain provisions to hearing screenings and makes technical and conforming changes. Makes conforming changes in the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Procurement Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act. Provides that all individual in the State have the right to wear protective medical equipment in any place of public accommodation where they have a lawful right to be without obligation to disclose health status or any other protected information, and no person, entity, or authority shall deny, restrict, or infringe upon this right. Provides that operators and public officials shall not discriminate against or penalize medical device wearers for exercising their right to wear protective medical equipment. Provides that discrimination under the Act includes, but is not limited to: denial of service; eviction from premises; any form of harassment to remove or refrain from wearing such equipment for any amount of time; specified actions taken by employers; and provision of unequal goods, services, facilities, advantages, or accommodations. Sets forth provisions concerning the protection against retaliation, the exceptions for security requirements, operational safety, age and identity restricted products, and financial institution customer identification, and an undue hardship exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Sets per diem add-on rates, beginning January 1, 2027, for nursing facilities based on a facility's STRIVE study staffing levels. Provides that no nursing facility's variable staffing per diem add-on shall be reduced by more than 5% in 2 consecutive quarters; and that no facility below 73% of the staffing indicated by the STRIVE study shall receive a variable per diem staffing add-on after December 31, 2026. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must split the support rate into its cost report based parts, general services and general administration. Provides that the general services portion shall be referred to as "Support - non-nurse staff" and the general administration portion shall be referred to as "Support - Administrative". Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act. Provides that no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee, except for: (i) services provided on a hospital's campus; (ii) services provided at a facility that includes a licensed hospital emergency department; or (iii) emergency services provided at a freestanding emergency center. Provides that, except as specified, no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee for: (i) outpatient evaluation and management services; or (ii) any other outpatient, diagnostic, or imaging services identified by the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to annually identify services subject to the limitations on specified facility fees that may reliably be provided safely and effectively in settings other than hospitals. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting, rulemaking, and enforcement of the Act. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who violates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act commits an unlawful practice.