Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act and Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that a health care provider may not bill patients for services except for applicable deductibles or copayments or for services not covered when the health care provider has provided the services under a contract with an insurance company or health maintenance organization under which the health care provider has agreed not to seek payment from patients. Provides for enforcement by the Director of Insurance. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that a provider of medical services or related services or items to an injured employee agrees to be bound by charges or payment levels allowed by the Industrial Commission. Provides that disputes regarding reasonableness of fees or charges shall be resolved in accordance with the Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Prohibits a provider, employer, or insurance carrier from seeking payment for services or items from an employee. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Creates the Opticians Licensing Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Provides that an enrollee may waive the right to a receive a statement, in printed form, concerning the nature of the health services to be provided and the period during which the certificate shall be effective if the information is readily accessible on the health care plan's Internet site. Provides that the enrollee may revoke the waiver at any time by notifying the health care plan by telephone or in writing, and any enrollee who does not execute a waiver must receive a statement in printed form. Effective immediately.
Amends the Township Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the office of the township enforcement officer.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Reduces the amounts various fees to be collected by the Environmental Protection Agency. Sets forth new procedures for the collection of NPDES fees and requires that all moneys collected from the fees be deposited into the Illinois Clean Water Fund. Repeals Sections concerning air pollution operating permit fees and fees for water quality certification. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Clean Water Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Act, and the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. In the definition of "gross charge", with respect to charges for the portion of the interstate inter-office channel provided in Illinois, provides that, prior to January 1, 2004 (now, prior to June 1, 2003), any apportionment method consistent with the provisions set forth shall be accepted as a reasonable method to determine the charges. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Removes provisions allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to assess and collect NPDES discharge fees. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, on and after June 1, 2004, neither a county board nor the corporate authorities of a municipality nor a retailer may enter into any agreement to share or rebate any portion of retailers' occupation taxes generated by retail sales of tangible personal property if: (1) the tax on those retail sales, absent the agreement, would have been paid to another unit of local government; and (2) the retailer maintains, within that other unit of local government, a retail location or a warehouse from which the tangible personal property is delivered to purchasers. Authorizes any unit of local government denied retailers' occupation tax revenue because of such an agreement to file an action in circuit court against the municipality or the county. Provides that if the unit of local government prevails in the circuit court action, it is entitled to damages in the amount of the tax revenue it was denied as a result of the agreement, statutory interest, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and an amount equal to 50% of the tax. Provides that any agreement to share or rebate retailers' occupation taxes entered into prior to June 1, 2004 is not affected by the provisions of the amendatory Act. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in each county in which a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion program has been created, a county may adopt a mandatory fee of up to $5 to be assessed as provided and deposited into an account specifically for the operation and administration of a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion program. Provides that the fee must be paid (1) by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision for violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or violations of similar provisions in county or municipal ordinances committed in the county and (2) by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision under Section 5-9-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections for a felony; for a Class A, Class B, or Class C misdemeanor; for a petty offense; and for a business offense. Provides that the fees assessed must be deposited monthly by the circuit clerk into an account specifically for the operation and administration of youth diversion programs, less 5%, which is to be retained as fee income to the office of the clerk of the circuit court.
Mourns the death of Franklin L. Gossell of Wauconda.