Subject Index Health Law

Nursing homes need not request criminal background checks on transferring residents who are immobile or moving into hospice

June
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Nursing Home Care Act has been amended to alter criminal background check requirements for transferring residents.

Hospital patients may be deemed presumptively eligible for Medicaid

May
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Department ("HFS") amended the Illinois Public Aid Code to create "Hospital Presumptive Eligibility" ("HPE") as required by the Affordable Care Act. 89 Ill. Adm. Code 120 (eff. Jan. 20, 2016).

Expanded list of medical events that must be reported under the Adverse Health Care Event Reporting Code

April
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department ("DPH") has adopted amendments to the Adverse Health Care Event Reporting Code, a Part requiring health care facilities to report to DPH any adverse health care events. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 235 (eff. Dec. 23, 2015).

Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act amended to restrict certain healthcare provider billing practices

April
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The new section of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) provides details on reimbursement procedures for services rendered by hospitals and healthcare professionals to sexual assault survivors.

Government medical assistance programs, employers, property and casualty insurers, and private health insurers are not required to reimburse medical cannabis costs

March
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 26
The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act was amended to change the entities required to reimburse a person for costs associated with medical cannabis.

Revisions to the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Code clarify distinctions and obligations between agencies

March
2016
Illinois Law Update
, Page 26
Amendments to 77 Ill. Adm. Code 245 (eff. Dec. 10, 2015) contain a number of substantive changes in the definitions and duties of the various home health care services covered by the Code.

The Narrow-Network Nightmare

By Janet L. Lerman & Frank E. Stepnowski
August
2015
Article
, Page 32
Many patients don't learn they're getting care from providers outside their narrow network until they received huge unexpected bills that aren't covered by insurance.

New rules for the stroke data collection fund

July
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Under this act, the Department of Public Health may designate hospitals as "acute stroke-ready hospitals" for providing emergent stroke care.

Reduced reimbursement rates and dispensing fees for healthcare providers

June
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Under this new addition to the Illinois Public Aid Code, nursing facility services, home health services, children's habilitation centers, specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities, supportive living facilities, ambulance services, pharmacy services, managed care entities...

Eligibility for health reimbursement arrangements

April
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Under this amendatory act, the Illinois Board of Trustees retains the power to institute a health reimbursement arrangement that can provide, among other things, that...

Estate Planners Adopt and Adapt the New HCPOA Form

By Ed Finkel
April
2015
Cover Story
, Page 20
Illinois has a new, plain-language statutory health care power of attorney, and lawyers are getting used to it – and, in some cases, tweaking it to suit their practices.
2 comments (Most recent March 27, 2015)

Anatomical pathology services may not be marked up in patient bills

February
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Physicians ordering anatomical pathology services for patients to be provided by a third party may not mark up the cost of such services.

Failure to report alleged abuse or neglect is now a Class A misdemeanor

December
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 572
The Department of Human Services ("DHS") has amended the regulations governing the investigation of alleged abuse or neglect in healthcare facilities and community agencies that are directly funded by DHS. 59 Ill. Adm. Code 50 (eff. Sept. 10, 2014).

New guidance for power of attorney in Illinois

December
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 572
The General Assembly added a definition of "health care agent" to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.

AIDS drug assistance program updated

November
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 524
The Department has amended its regulations governing the AIDS Drug Assistance Program ("ADAP") provided for by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.

Statutory category of surgical treatment centers expanded to include Medicare and Medicaid facilities

November
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 524
The category of facilities qualifying as "ambulatory surgical treatment centers" has been expanded to include any facility that qualifies under the rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Changes to public record access, timelines, and appeals

September
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 424
The Health Facilities and Services Review Board ("the Board") recently added a new Part titled "Public Information Access, Rulemaking, and Organization" to the Chapter governing the Health Facilities and Services Review Board. 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1925 (eff. June 30, 2014).

More family members may petition for medical information under the Adoption Act

September
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 424
This amendatory act to the Adoption Act adds several categories of people eligible to petition state courts for the appointment of a confidential intermediary to: (1) exchange medical and identifying information with mutually consenting biological relatives; and (2) arrange contact with consenting biological relatives.

No civil or criminal liability for good faith provision of healthcare to minors

September
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 424
The General Assembly recently added section 1.5 to the Consent by Minors to Medical Procedures Act.

Proof of health insurance required to participate in state-funded medical programs

September
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 424
In order to participate in State-funded hemophilia treatment and chronic renal disease programs, patients suffering from hemophilia and chronic renal disease must now provide proof of health insurance coverage.

Increased oversight for medical therapy and imaging services

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
New quality assurance and oversight standards for computed tomography ("CT"), radiation therapy, electronic brachytherapy, and digital imaging went into effect on May 29, 2014. 32 Ill. Adm. Code 360.

Medical marijuana implementation a work in progress

By Janan Hanna
August
2014
LawPulse
, Page 366
The law took effect January 1, but the rules that would make it available to patients were approved only last month.

Per-diem rate add-on payments for long-term stay hospitals

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
Long-term stay hospitals will have payments for all current claims beginning on November 16, 2013; paid as a per diem rate add-on rather than an annual supplemental payment. 89 Ill. Adm. Code 148 (eff. May 13, 2014).

Reimbursement for nursing costs at geriatric facilities

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
Pursuant to Pub. Act 98-104, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has established a new nursing component reimbursement methodology based on the Resource Utilization Group IV ("RUG") classification scheme. 89 Ill. Adm. Code 147 (eff. May 30, 2014).

Tax Penalties and ‘Dependents’ Under the Affordable Care Act

By Alice E. Keane
August
2014
Article
, Page 398
You must buy adequate health insurance for dependents under the Affordable Care Act or pay a penalty. But who is a "dependent"? A broader range of people than you might think.

Revised health care power of attorney awaits governor’s signature

By Janan Hanna
July
2014
LawPulse
, Page 314
The new law amends the Illinois HCPOA, with the goal of making it easier for patients to understand and fill out the short form so that more of them will.
3 comments (Most recent July 20, 2014)

Medical Marijuana Comes to Illinois

By Ed Finkel
April
2014
Cover Story
, Page 172
What will the Medical Cannabis Act mean for patients? For employers? Others? Prepare to advise clients about what some are calling the most restrictive medical marijuana law in the country.

A more user-friendly statutory POA for health care

By Janan Hanna
April
2014
LawPulse
, Page 162
Proposed legislation would revise the HCPOA form to make it easier to understand and help principals better communicate their wishes about end-of-life treatment.
1 comment (Most recent March 28, 2014)

Preserving the Peer Review Privilege in Med-Mal Cases

By Margaret J. Lowery
April
2014
Article
, Page 176
Properly performed peer review is not subject to discovery in med-mal litigation. But health care providers sometimes learn the hard way how the privilege can be lost.

The Medical Cannabis Act and Illinois DUI Law

By Larry A. Davis
March
2014
Article
, Page 128
The Medical Cannabis Act makes important changes to DUI law, some of which are likely to inspire litigation.

Select a Different Subject