Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that services provided, under the program established by the Department on Aging to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, shall be consumer directed and client focused. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois for a forensic psychiatry fellowship training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid rates for nursing homes, provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities, the support component of the rates taking effect on July 1, 2008 shall be computed using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2006, updated for inflation to January 1, 2007. Provides that facilities shall have the support component of their Medicaid rate computed every year using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2 years prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect, updated for inflation to January 1 of the year prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department, subject to appropriation, to develop and maintain a system for physicians and hospitals to voluntarily report their patients' serious adverse prescription drug effects. Requires that the system must include an Internet website where reports can be made and searched.

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Provides that any screening services provided under the Children's Mental Health Plan must be voluntary and conducted with parental consent and in accordance with the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the Medicaid program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse psychiatrists for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. Requires the Department to adopt rules establishing a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry. Provides that the reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Department for other services provided by telemedicine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. For taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2008, allows small businesses that provide health care insurance for their employees to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to $100 for each employee covered, $50 for each spouse covered, and $40 for each dependent (up to 2 dependents) covered. Provides that the taxpayer may not carry the credit forward or back and that the credit may not reduce a taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Urges the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to seek approval of a Medicaid demonstration project waiver to expand health insurance for low-income persons.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to electronically verify the medical assistance program's primacy among all health care plans available to a medical assistance recipient before making payment for goods or services on behalf of the recipient. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that any district lands incorporated into a municipality organized after January 1, 2007 shall be deemed to be disconnected from the municipality unless the district gives express consent within 90 days after a court order declaring the municipality to be incorporated.