HEALTH CARE

HB 502 - Background Checks for Nurses
Requires applicants for a nursing license to undergo a criminal background check. If a criminal conviction is indicated, the applicant then must undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check. P.A. 91-369; effective 1-1-2000.

HB 803 - Nursing Home Information on the Internet
Requires the Department of Public Health put certain information about nursing homes on the Internet for public inspection. P.A. 91-290; effective 1-1-00.

HB 1280 - Shock Treatment for Minor
Establishes requirements for minor to receive electro-convulsive therapy. It allows a parent or guardian, after approval of the court under the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Code, to provide consent for the minor if the parent or guardian deems it to be in the best interest of the minor. Two licensed psychiatrists, one of whom may be the minor's treating psychiatrist, must have examined the minor and concur in the decision that the electro-convulsive therapy is the best interest of the minor. P.A. 91-74; effective 7-9-99.

HB 1469 - Health Insurance Plan - State
The bill provides that a school district whose employees are covered by the State group health insurance plan does not need to include in the 85% enrollment threshold those full-time employees of the district who have waived coverage under the district's plan by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria plan. P.A. 91-311; effective 7-29-99.

HB 1622 - Health Care Coverage
The bill requires accident and health insurance providers to offer coverage for routine patient care in connection with approved cancer research trials and provides that the coverage may be limited to a $10,000 benefit per year. P.A. 91-406; effective 1-1-2000.

HB 1780 - Health Care Professionals and Credentials
Creates the Health Care Professional Credentials Data Collection Act. Creates the Health Care Credentials Council, which is to consult with the Department of Public Health in the development and use of uniform health care and hospital credentials forms. Makes other limitations against health care plans in the recredentialing process. P.A. 91-602; effective 8-16-99.

HB 2166 - Immunizations for Children/CHIPS
The bill amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Act to include physicals and immunizations for children under the age of 16 years. It makes several other changes to the CHIP program. P.A. 91-639; effective 8-20-99.

HB 2271 - Small Business Health Insurance
Creates the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act that applies to policies delivered or renewed after July 1, 2000. It limits the variations and increases in health insurance rates that may be charged to small employers. P.A. 91-510; effective 1-1-00.

HB 2713 - Timely Payment to Health Care Providers
Requires timely payment by those who pay for health care services, including insurers, HMOs, and PPOs. Failure to make timely payment entitles the health care professional or health care facility to nine percent interest from the date payment was required to be made. Provides that insurers must pay claims for health care services within 30 days after the insurer receives proof loss. Requires independent practice associations and physician-hospital organizations to make the payments within 60 days before January 1, 2001 and within 30 days after December 31, 2000. Provides that insurer payments to a health care professional and health care facility under capitation type plans or other plans that require periodic payments must begin within 60 days after an enrollee selects the health care professional and health care facility physician. P.A. 91-605; effective 12-14-99.

HB 2303 - Liability for Peer Review
Under current law, hospitals and those serving on peer review committees are immune from liability. This bill imposes liability for wilful or wanton misconduct only. P.A. 91-448; effective July 1, 1999.

SB 82 - Child Abuse Reporting
Requires home health aides and advanced practice nurses to report suspected child abuse or child neglect to DCFS. P.A. 91-516; effective 8-16-99.

SB 251 - Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act
This proposal establishes information and quality of care standards that a patient must receive and requires health care plans to disclose information about benefits, coverage and grievance procedures. Bans "gag" clauses in managed care contracts that lead to doctors not presenting all treatment options. Establishes requirements for access to specialists. Requires health plans to have a consumer advisory committee. Adds a new section to the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.8) to require municipal self-insured managed care and health care coverage to comply with the procedures in this Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to provide that no reimbursement of added costs is required from the State. Will appear at 215 ILCS 134/. P.A. 91-0617; effective 8-19-99, 1-1-2000 and 7-1-2000.

SB 322 - Resident Attendants in Nursing Homes
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Authorizes nursing facilities to employ resident attendants to assist residents with eating, drinking, and personal hygiene activities. Prohibits resident attendants from performing nursing services. Makes resident attendants subject to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. P.A.91-461; effective 8-6-99.

SB 323 - Required Reporting by Dentists and Hygienists
Any dentist or dental hygienist who willfully fails to report suspected child abuse or neglect as required by this Act shall be referred to the Department of Professional Regulation for action in accordance with paragraph of Section 23 of the Illinois Dental Practice Act. P.A. 91-197; effective 1-1-2000.

SB 541 - Hospital Records
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act to require a licensed hospital to develop a medical record for each of its patients as required by the Department of Public Health by rule. These records must be preserved for not less than 10 years, unless an attorney notifies the hospital in writing that there is litigation pending in court involving a patient. But the maximum length of time a hospital may be required to preserve the records is (1) until it is notified by the attorneys that it is no longer necessary or (2) 12 years from the date that the record was produced, whichever occurs first. Makes it a Class A misdemeanor for anybody to wilfully or wantonly disclose hospital or medical record information in violation of this Act. P.A. 91-526; effective 1-1-00.

SB 849 - Mental Health Omnibus Bill
Makes a number of changes to different statutes affecting mental health law. (1) Defines "adequate and humane care and services." (2) Defines as a "qualified examiner" as a licensed clinical professional counselor with a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or psychology or a similar master's or doctorate program from a regionally accredited institution who has at least three years of supervised post-master's clinical professional counseling experience that includes the provision of mental health services for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. (3) Expands what must be included in a treatment plan to be filed with the court for involuntary commitments. Copies of the treatment plan must also be sent to the State's Attorney, the recipient, the recipient's attorney, and the guardian ad litem of the recipient. The recipient or other interested party may ask the court to review the plan, have a hearing on it, or order an independent examination of the recipient, or all of them. (4) A criminal defendant who is still declared unfit for trial despite treatment and sent to the Department of Human Services must get a treatment plan within three days after admission. A report must also be filed in court every 90 days. Independent examinations may be ordered no more than once a year. (5) Jails must develop approved policies of confidentiality if the jails receive this kind of protected information as an interagency disclosure. P.A. 91-536; effective 1-1-2000.