Lori Cowdrey Benso | Executive Director, Healthcare Council | 217-725-6522
March 5, 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 afternoon!

Illinois front:

There are a number of bills in committee next week. Please see the list below.

The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to meet next week.

The Chamber is posting a list of the key bills the individual councils are monitoring on the Chamber website, so I will not include the list of key bills in this week’s newsletter. We are currently tracking approximately 120 bills. 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 Next Week:

03-08-21             House Insurance 11:00 am
                             Virtual Room 3: WWW.ILGA.GOV, IL
                             HB 33 - Insurance Code (Substance Abuse Treatment)
                             HB 61 - Insurance Code (Inhalants)
                             HB 146 – Individual & Small Group Rates
                             HB 228 - Insurance Code (Discrimination – Felony)
                             HB 241 – Insurance Code (Education by Webinar)
                             HB 242 – Insurance Code (Guaranty Association)
                             HB 317 – Insurance Code (Air Ambulance Services)
                             HB 339 – Limited Duration Health Insurance
                             HB 707 – Telehealth Insurance Coverage

03-09-21            House Health Care Availability & Accessibility 9:00 am
                             Virtual Room 2: WWW.ILGA.GOV, IL
                             HB 62 - Health Care for All

03-09-21            Human Services 3:00 pm
                             Virtual Room 2: WWW.ILGA.GOV, IL
HB 711 – Prior Authorization Reform Act

03-10-21             House Labor & Commerce 12:00 pm
                             Virtual Room 1: WWW.ILGA.GOV, IL
                             HB 580 – Nurse Licensure Compact Act

                           
Federal front: 

The House passed the latest COVID-19 relief package, the American Rescue Plan, on February 27th. The Senate is in a marathon “vote-a-rama” before passing the massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

NBC news is reporting the coronavirus relief package would make one of the biggest changes to the Affordable Care Act in over a decade. The reforms include a two-year temporary expansion of subsidies to purchase insurance and making subsidies available to people of all incomes for the first time. Obamacare would get a big (and quiet) overhaul in the Covid relief bill (nbcnews.com)

List of key dates:

March 9 -           Scheduled return date of the Senate
April 23 –           Bill Crossover Deadline
May 31 –            Adjournment
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