Amends the Open Meetings Act, Counties Code, and Illinois Insurance Code. Allows certain counties to create a risk retention trust for the pooling of risks to provide professional liability coverage for physicians and health care professionals. Authorizes a county board to incur indebtedness to ensure the availability of and improve hospital and health services. Makes changes concerning medical liability insurance rates and regulation. Requires the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to create a Professional Liability Insurance Resource Center on the World Wide Web. Requires insurers to report medical liability insurance claims to the Secretary. Provides that, for a medical liability insurance rate increase filing, the Secretary may hold a hearing and receive testimony. Requires court clerks to provide information to the Secretary to verify reports made to the Secretary, and amends the Clerks of Courts Act accordingly. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides for appointment of at least 2 deputy medical coordinators, and not less than one full time investigator for every 2,500 physicians. Makes changes concerning discipline, disciplinary proceedings, records, disclosures, incidents to which the Act applies, and immunity. Amends the Health Care Arbitration Act. Provides that: a copy of a health care arbitration agreement shall be given to a patient or his or her representative upon signing; no agreement is valid after 4 years from the date of execution; and an agreement may be canceled under specified circumstances. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure by: adding provisions concerning naming a respondent in discovery as a defendant; changing provisions concerning the affidavit and report based on the determination of a reviewing health professional; exempting a hospital from liability for medical care provided by a non-employee member of the medical staff under a claim based upon apparent or ostensible agency under specified conditions; providing that a statement that a health care provider is "sorry" for an outcome is not admissible as evidence under specified conditions; and changing provisions concerning expert witness standards. Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act to expand immunity from civil damages for services performed without compensation at, or upon referral from, free medical clinics. Creates the Sorry Works! Pilot Program Act under which hospitals and physicians may acknowledge and apologize for mistakes in patient care and offer fair settlements. Provides that, if the costs of cases handled under the Sorry Works! protocol by a hospital exceed the costs that would have been incurred otherwise, the hospital may apply for a grant from the Sorry Works! Fund. Creates the Medical Malpractice Working Study Committee Act and establishes a committee to research, assess, and report on other states' efforts in addressing caps on non-economic damages and annuities to pay medical malpractice judgments or settlements. Makes other changes. Contains severability provisions. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title and purpose of the Act.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Medical Malpractice Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a drug testing program.
Creates the Fair Juries Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibitions.
Amends the Adoption Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning who may be adopted.
Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall create a pilot program that allows Illinois residents to purchase Illinois lottery tickets on the Internet. Provides that the Act and the rules adopted pursuant to the Act pertaining to the sale of lottery tickets apply to the sale of lottery tickets under this program. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the exemption from conviction of gambling for lotteries when conducted by the State of Illinois in accordance with the Illinois Lottery Law includes any activity conducted by the Department of Revenue to sell lottery tickets pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Lottery Law and its rules. Provides that persons who purchase lottery tickets through the Internet in connection with the Department of Revenue's pilot program shall not be convicted of gambling.
Amends the County Jail Good Behavior Allowance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.