Lori Cowdrey Benso | Executive Director, Healthcare Council | 217-725-6522
April 19, 2021
The purpose of the Healthcare Council is to develop and take actions to achieve affordable, accessible, efficient, high-quality healthcare options for the employers and residents of our state. We advocate for market-based solutions that encourage innovation in healthcare delivery – and work against costly mandates and burdensome regulations. Through quarterly meetings, the Council brings together the diverse voices of the healthcare community and provides a forum to interact with government and private sector leaders at the highest levels.
Good morning and hope everyone had a great weekend!

Illinois front:

The Senate is scheduled to return on April 20th and the House currently doesn’t have any days scheduled to be in session this week. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to continue to hold virtual Committee hearings Monday – Friday.
 
Several bills the Healthcare Council has been tracking passed out of Committee/other actions including:
 
  • SB 2420 Medicaid MCO – Pharmacy Fee
  • HB 711 Prior Authorization – Amendment 1 Adopted by Human Services
  • HB 1745 Prescription Drug Benefits – held on Calendar Order of Second Reading
  • HB 2405 Insurance Guaranty Fund – held on Calendar Order of Second Reading
  • SB 2006 Medicaid MCO PPO – placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading
  • HB 1779 Biomarker Testing – placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
  • HB 3709 Infertility Coverage – placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
  • SB 332 Insurance – Telehealth Provider Information
  • SB 1592 Insurance – Denial based on site of treatment
  • SB 2294 Increase the wellness coverage cap
  • SB 2408 Insurance Guaranty Fund
  • SB 2409 Holding Company Systems
  • SB 2411 Reinsurance Credits 

There are a number of bills in committee the week of April 19th. Please see the list below. Also the Senate Committee deadline was extended on several bills.
 
Telehealth: The Chamber has requested to participate in the telehealth stakeholder meetings.
 
Prior Authorization: The stakeholder groups met last week regarding HB 711 and it appears the groups have reached a compromise.
 
PBM Reform: The Chamber continues to monitor SB 2008/HB 3630, and SB 2420 that passed out of Committee this week. SB 2420 may become an omnibus PBM reform bill. The Chamber is concerned about the estimated costs related to SB 2008, and the possible impact on health insurance premiums. We are encouraging the various stakeholders to meet regarding this bill. Additionally, rules have not been finalized regarding the previous omnibus reform bill, Public Act 101-452. We are finalizing an action plan and will post more information soon. 
 
Please see the Chamber website for a complete list of the key bills the individual councils are monitoring. Bill Tracking | Illinois Chamber Action (ilchamberaction.org). The bills fall into several general categories: Health Care Reform, Telehealth, Prescription Drugs/PBMs, Medicaid reform, Behavioral Health, Utilization Management (including Prior Authorization reform), DOI Initiatives and Coverage Mandates.

Healthcare Committees Scheduled the Week of April 19th:

04-20-21             Senate - Health 4:00 pm
                             Virtual Room 2: www.ilga.gov                                       
                             
04-21-21              Senate – Insurance 5:00 pm
                             Virtual Room 1: www.ilga.gov
                             SB 2008 – PBMs

                                          
Federal front: 
On Tuesday, the FDA and CDC announced a pause in the vaccine rollout of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19v vaccine. The announcement was prompted by extremely rare cases of blood clots in people receiving the vaccine. Vaccine rollout hits a snag | TheHill

The Wall Street Journal is reporting federal regulators said healthcare pricing data that health insurers must post under a new requirement should not be blocked from web searches. Coding to Hide Health Prices from Web Searches Is Barred by Regulators - WSJ
 
List of key dates:

April 23 –     Bill Crossover Deadline
May 31 –      Adjournment 
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