Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to permit medical assistance recipients, including those enrolled in managed care, to obtain pharmacy services from the pharmacy of their choice if the pharmacy is licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act and accepts the professional dispensing fee for pharmacy services as determined by the Department. Provides that no managed care organization that contracts with the Department to provide services to recipients may restrict a recipient's access to pharmacy services to a selected group of pharmacies. Provides that if a managed care organization merges with or is acquired by another entity, the resulting entity may not restrict a recipient's access to pharmacy services to a selected group of pharmacies. Permits the Department to renegotiate with the resulting entity the terms of the managed care contract the Department had with the original managed care organization prior to the merger or acquisition. Requires the Department to contract with an independent research organization to conduct a study and submit a report on those managed care organizations that are contracted to provide services to recipients. Requires the report to include an analysis of pharmacy access for medical assistance recipients with the aim of identifying "pharmacy deserts"; an analysis of the costs and benefits of having managed care organizations administer health care services, including pharmacy services, to recipients; and other matters. Prohibits the Department from entering into any new contract with a managed care organization before the report has been received and analyzed by the Department and posted on its website. Effective immediately. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 591 as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, it has been determined that the proposed legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 591 will not have any impact on any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 591 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Healthcare & Family Services) The bill would require the Department to accept claims from any provider licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act for services provided to recipients under the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) program or through a contractual managed care organization (MCO) entity. There would be a significant impact to liability for the MCO capitation rates. This bill has a total fiscal impact of $186 million.
Sponsored bills
Creates the Metro East Development Act. States legislative findings for the need to create a Metro East Development Authority, including the need to develop and revitalize depressed areas of the Metro East. Defines "Metro East" as Madison, Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties. Provides for the creation of the Authority, including the appointment of 12 members by the chairperson of each Metro East county; by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; by the executive directors of the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Illinois Finance Authority; and by the Governor. Allows the Authority to hire an executive director. Lists the rights, powers, and duties of the Authority, including the power to borrow money and to issue bonds. Provides that the Authority shall perform an initial study and survey to determine what areas will be considered depressed areas that contain a commercially, industrially, residentially, recreationally, educationally, or other blighted area. Provides for requirements related to meetings, public hearings, and administrative and judicial review of Authority projects. Provides for limitations on the Authority's powers. Describes procedures for procurement of debt and bonds, execution of deeds, demolition and removal of buildings, purchase of property, contracts, and costs of projects. Gives the Authority the power to investigate the conditions of any project in which it has an interest. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an apprentice who is hired by the taxpayer through the United States Department of Defense SkillBridge internship program is considered a qualifying apprentice for the purpose of the apprenticeship education expense credit. Provides that, in the case of an employee participating in the SkillBridge program, the credit shall be equal to $3,500 per qualifying apprentice. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes provisions of the introduced bill providing that, in the case of an employee participating in the SkillBridge program, the credit shall be equal to $3,500 per qualifying apprentice.
Amends "An Act making appropriations" (Public Act 101-637). Appropriates $1,500,000 (rather than $15,000) to the Office of the Secretary of State from the Alzheimers Awareness Fund for grants to the Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, for Alzheimers care, support, education, and awareness programs. Effective immediately.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires perinatal doula services and evidence-based home visiting services to be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance. Provides that perinatal doula services include regular visits beginning in the prenatal period and continuing into the postnatal period, inclusive of continuous support during labor and delivery, that support healthy pregnancies and positive birth outcomes. Provides that perinatal doula services may be embedded in an existing program, such as evidence-based home visiting. Provides that perinatal doula services provided during the prenatal period may be provided weekly, services provided during the labor and delivery period may be provided for the entire duration of labor and the time immediately following birth, and services provided during the postpartum period may be provided up to 12 months postpartum. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules. Requires the Department, during the rulemaking process, to consider the expertise of and consult with doula program experts, doula training providers, practicing doulas, and home visiting experts, along with State agencies implementing perinatal doula services and relevant bodies under the Illinois Early Learning Council. Requires the Department to seek any State plan amendments or waivers necessary to implement the amendatory Act and to secure federal financial participation for expenditures made by the Department for perinatal doula services and evidence-based home visiting services. Effective July 1, 2022.
Supports the creation of a guaranteed income pilot program for women at or below the poverty line in the communities of East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights. Urges this guaranteed pilot program be funded by the Department of Human Services through cannabis revenue.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a 2-year Guaranteed Income for Women Pilot Program to provide guaranteed monthly income for women who reside in the cities of East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights. Provides that under the pilot program, 650 eligible women with income at or below the poverty line shall receive an $850 cash payment each month for the duration of the pilot program. Provides that there shall be no application process, instead the Department shall identify eligible individuals and invite such individuals to participate in the pilot program. Permits the Department to contract with a non-profit organization that is concerned with ameliorating economic insecurity and wealth disparities in the cities of East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights to identify eligible individuals for the pilot program. Provides that to the extent permitted under federal regulations and notwithstanding any other State law or rule, any payment made to a participating eligible individual under the pilot program shall not be taken into account as income and shall not be taken into account as resources for a period of 12 months from receipt for purposes of determining the eligibility of such eligible individual (or any other individual) for benefits or assistance (or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance) under any federal or State program. Creates the Guaranteed Income for Women Pilot Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that as soon as practicable after July 1, 2023, $6,630,000 shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Guaranteed Income for Women Pilot Program Fund to be used by the Department of Human Services for the purposes of the pilot program. Requires the same funds transfer after July 1, 2024. Amends the State Finance Act. In provisions concerning the Cannabis Regulation Fund, provides that before any transfers are made from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to other specified funds as required under the Act, the transfers specified under the Department of Human Services Act for the Guaranteed Income for Women Pilot Program Fund shall be made. Effective July 1, 2023.
Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Requires that at least one registered pharmacy technician be on duty whenever the practice of pharmacy is conducted. Requires that pharmacies fill no more than 10 prescriptions per hour. Requires 10 pharmacy technician hours per 100 prescriptions filled. Prohibits pharmacies from requiring pharmacists to participate in advertising or soliciting activities that may jeopardize patient health, safety, or welfare and any activities or external factors that interfere with the pharmacist's ability to provide appropriate professional services. Provides that a pharmacist shall receive specified break periods. Provides that a pharmacy may not require a pharmacist to work during a break period, shall make available a break room meeting specified requirements, shall keep a complete and accurate record of the break periods and may not require a pharmacist to work more than 8 hours a workday. Provides for enforcement and penalties. Provides whistleblower protections for an employee of a pharmacy if the pharmacy retaliates against the employee for certain actions. Requires pharmacies to maintain a record of any errors in the receiving, filling, or dispensing of prescriptions.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not hold an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle. Provides that a person who holds an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine of $50. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because the driver holds an animal on the lap or is suspected of doing so. Makes corresponding changes in the Illinois Criminal Code.
Appropriates funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family Services for grants to the Illinois Court Appointed Special Advocates. Effective July 1, 2021.