Rep. Dan Ugaste

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes changes to the compensation periods for accidental injuries resulting in the loss of or the permanent and complete loss of use of the thumb, fingers, or toes; the amputation of an arm, foot, or leg; the enucleation of an eye; and other injuries to reduce the compensation to the amounts in effect for injuries occurring before February 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, in computing the compensation to be paid to an employee who, before the accident for which the employee claims compensation, had before that time sustained an injury resulting in a permanency award or settlement, the award or settlement shall be deducted from any award made for the subsequent injury. Provides that, if an employee received an award or settlement for a shoulder injury between 2012 and the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the award or settlement shall be converted to the appropriate number of weeks for an arm and the credit taken against any award or settlement shall be taken on the arm. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act in relation to custom compound medications. Sets forth conditions for approval of payment. Provides that charges shall be based upon the specific amount of each component drug and its original manufacturer's National Drug Code number and also upon specified criteria. Provides that a provider may prescribe a one-time 7-day supply unless a prescription for more than 7 days is preauthorized by the employer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act concerning injuries sustained by employees during travel. Provides that accidental injuries sustained while traveling to or from work do not arise out of and in the course of employment, except under specified circumstances. Provides that the injury may arise out of and in the course of employment if, at the time of the injury, the employee was performing acts the employer instructed the employee to perform, acts that the employee had a common law or statutory duty to perform while performing duties for his employer, or acts that the employee might be reasonably expected to perform incident to his assigned duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an injury arises out of and in the course of employment only if the accident significantly caused or contributed to both the resulting condition and the disability. Provides that an injury does not arise out of and in the course of employment if (1) the hazard or risk was not incidental to employment and was a hazard or risk to which the general public is also exposed, (2) the injury did not occur at a time and place and under circumstances reasonably required by the employment, or (3) the disability resulted from a personal risk. Limits conditions under which repetitive or cumulative trauma is compensable. Provides that gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration of the body caused by aging is not compensable as repetitive or cumulative trauma. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes existing medical fee schedules inoperative after August 31, 2020. Provides that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission shall establish new medical fee schedules applicable on and after September 1, 2020 in accordance with specified criteria. Provides for 4 non-hospital fee schedules and 14 hospital fee schedules applicable to different geographic areas of the State. Sets forth a procedure for petitioning the Commission if a maximum fee causes a significant limitation on access to quality health care in either a specific field of health care services or a specific geographic limitation on access to health care. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that for purposes of awarding compensation for injuries, an injury to the shoulder shall be considered an injury to a part of the arm and an injury to the hip shall be considered an injury to a part of the leg. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, gender reassignment surgery, including, but not limited to, genital or breast-related surgery for persons diagnosed with gender dysphoria, shall not be a covered service under the medical assistance program.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who violates a provision in the Code governing the operation of a vehicle approaching a stationary emergency vehicle commits a petty (rather than business) offense punishable by a fine of not more than $75 (rather than a fine of not less than $100 or more than $10,000). Provides that a person who violates the provision and the violation results in damage to the property of another person commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $10,000. Provides that a person who violates the provision and the violation results in the injury or death of another person commits a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to employ an investigator who is required to devote at least 50% of his or her time to the investigation of complaints that allege a violation of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 or its rules.