Urges the United States Senate to pass H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging by providing that, beginning July 1, 2004, vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services shall receive a rate increase of $1.16 per hour if at least $0.86 of that increase is used to increase the wages of homemakers and chore housekeepers. Provides that vendors receiving this increase must submit proof to the Department, either (i) by a an audited supplemental to the Direct Service Workers cost report or (ii) by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, that they have increased homemakers' and chore housekeepers' wages by $0.86 per hour. Effective on July 1, 2004.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Director of Aging, in coordination with the Director of Public Aid and the Director of Public Health, to analyze the distribution of housing, health services, and supportive services for seniors in each geographic area of the State and to identify and designate critical access service areas. Provides that, at the end of each State fiscal year, any unspent and unencumbered General Revenue Fund appropriations for long-term care for seniors shall be deposited into the Alternative Long-Term Care Services for Seniors Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to fund specified alternative long-term care services with priority given to the distribution of funds for services in critical access service areas. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Alternative Long-Term Care Services for Seniors Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.
Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Creates a separate circuit court within each appellate district solely for medical malpractice actions. Requires that the Supreme Court appoint a selection panel to recommend medical malpractice circuit judges from among circuit judges who possess specified qualifications. The Supreme Court then assigns judges to the medical malpractice court. Provides for jury pools to be drawn from the entire appellate district. Effective July 1, 2004.
Creates the Medical Care Development and Retention Tax Credit Act. Contains a short title only. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change to the short title Section.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides standards for determining economic and non-economic damages in medical malpractice actions. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change concerning the Act's purpose.
Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In provisions concerning the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Board, adds 3 public members and makes related changes, removes language allowing the Director of Professional Regulation to determine the per diem stipend for ex-officio members, and requires the Director to employ not less than one full-time investigator for every 1,000 (rather than 5,000) physicians licensed in this State. Provides that the list of names of persons disciplined under the Act, the process for filing complaints against physicians, and the process of disciplinary action under the Act be available on the Department of Regulation's website. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nursing Home Care Act, and the Hospital Licensing Act to require that licensees under those Acts provide information to their patients or residents regarding the process of filing complaints against physicians and the process for disciplinary action under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. In campaign contribution disclosure reports filed on or after July 1, 2004, requires that a judicial candidate's political committee disclose which contributors, if any, or a contributor's employer appeared in an action before the judge as a party or the attorney of a party. Effective immediately.
Creates the Medical Malpractice Reform Study Act and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Medical Malpractice Reform. Provides for composition of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall study the advisability of implementing an alternative system for the resolution of medical malpractice disputes that incorporates elements of the workers' compensation system, including but not limited to the administrative adjudication of disputes by qualified arbitrators, and shall also consider funding mechanisms, constitutional and other legal issues, economic issues, and other matters. Provides that the Commission shall report its findings and specific recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2005. Effective July 1, 2004.
