Quarterly Meeting on Implementation of Recreational Marijuana
The Illinois Chamber's Healthcare Council and Employment Law Council are hosting a panel briefing on how the new Illinois recreational marijuana law will impact the workplace. We will hear from the legislative sponsors, Sen. Steans and Rep. Cassidy, on the legislation and from Employment Council member, Epstein Becker Green, on the details of the workplace protections that were negotiated between the sponsors and the Illinois Chamber.
This free event for Healthcare Council members is being held September 6th from 10 am to noon at the Illinois Chamber's 8th floor conference room, 300 S. Wacker in Chicago. Click here to register now - space is limited and filling up fast.
Recreational Marijuana Trailer Bill Expected in Veto Session
Speaking of marijuana, the Chamber anticipates that a trailer bill to the recently passed recreational marijuana legalization bill will receive action during this fall's Veto Session. If your organization has specific concerns you'd like to see addressed in a potential trailer bill, please let us know.
Healthcare Council Exploring Cost of Insurance Mandates Study
The Healthcare Council, through the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Foundation, is exploring a potential study to help determine what legislatively-mandated health insurance coverage mandates add to consumer health insurance premiums. Similar studies have been conducted by Rhode Island and Maryland. We will be issuing a request for proposals in the near term, but we welcome any initial feedback concerning the effort, as well as if your organization has experience with similar studies and you'd be interested in submitting a proposal.
Trump Administration Proposes New Health Care Transparency Rule
Since our last update the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a draft rule that among other requires would make public hospital "standard charges" for all items and services provided by the hospital, as well as making public payer-specific negotiated charges for common shoppable services. There is a sixty-day comment period for the rule.
The Chamber supports efforts to increase consumer choice in the healthcare marketplace, but we have concerns regarding the disclosure of competitive information. If you have specific feedback on the proposed rule, please pass your comments along to us. Chamber President Todd Maish is traveling to Washington, DC later this month to discuss this issue and other healthcare-related items with the White House.
JCAR Update
There was one new healthcare-related rule since our last update.
IDPH proposed amendments to Hospital Licensing Requirements (77 IAC 250; 43 Ill Reg 7919) implementing Public Acts 100-99 and 100-306 as well as federal regulations. Incorporated standards for infection control issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been updated, and CDC standards for antibiotic stewardship (practices intended to prevent unnecessary or inappropriate use of antibiotics) have also been incorporated. Hospitals must include antibiotic stewardship programs in their policies concerning control of infections and communicable diseases.
Annual Meeting Registration Now Open
Join us at this year's Annual Luncheon to celebrate the IL Chamber's 100th birthday. Keynote speaker is Michelle Peluso, SVP Digital Sales & Chief Marketing Officer of IBM, along with a special guest speaker, George McCaskey, Chairman of the Chicago Bears. September 26, 2019 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago from 1030 am - 130 pm. Register here.
Healthcare In the News
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