Healthcare

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient enrolled in the medical assistance program to select an Illinois Medicaid certified and enrolled doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth, and during the patient's entire postpartum stay. Provides that the doula shall be considered part of the patient's care team and shall not be counted as a support person or against any guest quota. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to provide a written copy of their policies and procedures to maternity patients, the facilities' maternity health care providers, and any other person at the patient's request. Requires publication of the written policies on each facility's website. Contains provisions concerning hospital and birthing center liaisons and doulas certification acknowledgment requirements. Permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Public Health to establish standing recommendations to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements and ensure access to preventive services, including Medicaid-covered maternal and reproductive health supports and services.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for an extended hospital stay beyond medical necessity due to multiple failed attempts to place an emergency room patient who presented for dementia or other long-term care needs into a nursing or other long-term care facility, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse the hospital at a rate calculated to cover the entire hospital stay if (i) the hospital presents documentation, as prescribed by the Department, of multiple unsuccessful attempts to place the patient in a nursing or other long-term care facility and (ii) if each nursing or long-term care facility the hospital solicited for placement gave a substantially similar reason for denying the patient admission.

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that every health care facility in this State shall permit the next of kin of a patient who is on life support to remain with the patient, at the patient's bedside, irrespective of regular hours of visitation. Provides that health care facilities may institute reasonable policies, including reasonable requirements that promote the health, safety, and welfare of the next of kin, the patient, and the employees and other patients of the health care facility without revoking the basic right afforded to the next of kin of a patient who is on life support. Defines "next of kin".

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $9,358,579,800; Other State Funds $35,543,402,100; Federal Funds $400,000,000; Total $45,301,981,900.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

Encourages all residents to follow the prevention guidance provided by the Melanoma Research Foundation. Urges Illinois healthcare providers to promote early skin checks and educate patients on both UV safety and genetic risk factors for melanoma. Supports increased funding for melanoma education, outreach, and screening programs throughout the State.

Amends the Community Benefits Act. Provides that, in order to increase transparency and accessibility of charity care and financial assistance data, a hospital shall make the annual hospital community benefits plan report submitted to the Attorney General available to the public by publishing the specified information on the hospital's website in the same location where annual reports are posted or on a prominent location on the homepage of the hospital's website. Provides that a hospital is not required to post its audited financial statements. Requires the Attorney General to provide notice on the Attorney General's website informing the public that, upon request, the Attorney General shall provide the annual reports filed with the Attorney General, and requires the notice to include contact information for a request. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that residents of nursing home facilities have the right to outdoor access. Provides that residents of nursing home facilities and consumers served by mental health rehabilitation facilities shall be free to enter and leave the facilities as they choose. Provides that a facility may suspend this right only if the resident's or consumer's physician examines the resident or consumer and determines that leaving the facility would pose a danger to other residents or consumers or an immediate and substantial danger to the resident's or consumer's safety and well-being, which shall be explained to the resident or consumer and documented in the resident's or consumer's medical chart.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than July 1, 2025, over-the-counter choline dietary supplements for pregnant persons shall be covered under the medical assistance program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that upon application to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, supportive living program settings may convert non-dementia care setting units to dementia care setting units. Provides that all conversions must be operational within one year of approval and meet criteria specific to certification for dementia care setting units outlined in the Illinois Administrative Code.