Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Adds failure to inform the Medical Disciplinary Board that another physician has committed a violation of the Act or its rules that raises a substantial question as to that physician's ability to practice medicine to the grounds for disciplinary action under the Act.
Amends the Good Samaritan Act. Provides that any physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and any licensed hospital and any of the hospital's employees, agents, apparent agents, and independent contractors who in good faith provide emergency care or services to a person who is in need of emergency medical treatment and has presented to a hospital for emergency medical care shall not be liable for civil damages as a result of his, her, or its acts or omissions, except for willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the physician, the hospital, or any of the hospital's employees, independent contractors, agents, or apparent agents, in providing the care.
Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Professional Regulation shall create a program for the State fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 to reimburse physicians licensed under the Act in specific high-risk specialties for a portion of their medical malpractice premiums. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires the Department of Insurance to perform a study to determine the causes and trends of increases in medical malpractice insurance premiums over the last 10 years. Provides certain factors to be included in the study. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, unless a continuation in effect requirement is included in an annexation agreement entered into after the effective date of this amendatory Act, municipal ordinances relating to subdivision controls, zoning, official plan, and building, housing and related restrictions, as changed and amended by the municipality after the date of the annexation agreement, shall apply to the annexation property.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, if a judge in a civil case has received campaign contributions from any party or the attorney of any party in the case, the judge shall disclose to all of the parties and the attorneys for the parties the fact that a campaign contribution has been made to the judge and the party or attorney who made the contribution.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires payors to notify individual insureds or enrollees within 30 days if the chosen health care physician no longer participates in the physician network. Requires payors to notify insureds or enrollees of their right to transition services under Section 25 of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the creation of the Property Tax Appeal Board.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires the Director of Insurance to establish a Medical Liability Insurance Resource Clearinghouse containing the names, street addresses, telephone numbers, and company website addresses of all licensed, certified, or registered companies and insurance producers providing medical liability insurance to health care professionals or health care providers in this State. Requires the Department to provide the public with access to the information contained in the Clearinghouse upon written request and posting it on the Department's website. Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department to include a link on the Department's website to the Medical Liability Insurance Resource Clearinghouse and to include a written notice about the Clearinghouse with any license renewal information for all health care professions regulated by the Department. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Public Health to include a link on the Department's website to the Medical Liability Insurance Resource Clearinghouse and to include a written notice about the Clearinghouse with any license renewal information for all facilities, equipment, or providers regulated by the Department. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that every medical malpractice action must be commenced in the country where the medical care that is the subject of the cause of action took place. Changes the standards to determine if a witness qualifies as an expert witness. Provides that an expert witness shall provide proof of active practice, teaching, or engagement in university-based research and must provide, if retired, proof of continuing education. Provides that an expert who has not actively practiced, taught, or been engaged in university-based research within the 10 years previous to giving testimony may not be qualified as an expert witness. Provides that an affidavit from a reviewing health professional must contain his or her name, address, profession, and professional license number. Provides that, to qualify as a reviewing health professional for purposes of giving an affidavit for a petitioner in a pro se action, the professional must meet the expert witness standards. Provides that a reviewing health professional who provides a frivolous or improper review of a case is liable to the parties for the reasonable costs and attorneys' fees expended in resolving the case. Provides that a review is frivolous if it is substantially lacking in factual support, is based upon a standard of care or practice that lacks substantial use in the relevant specialty or field of practice, or is made for an improper purpose, such as to harass or cause needless increase in the cost of litigation. Amends the Good Samaritan Act. Provides that a licensed physician and a licensed hospital and the hospital's employees, agents, apparent agents, and independent contractors who in good faith provide emergency care or services to a person who is in need of emergency medical treatment and has presented to a hospital for emergency medical care is not liable for civil damages as a result of acts or omissions, except for willful or wanton misconduct in providing the care. Effective July 1, 2004.
