Good afternoon!
Illinois front:
Both Chambers will be in session through Monday. Some of the key outstanding issues include the budget, redistricting and energy. The end of session is Monday, May 31st. If the legislature remains in Springfield beyond May 31st, all legislation will require a three-fifths majority for passage.
Several bills the Healthcare Council has been tracking passed out of the Chamber/other actions including:
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HB 33 INS CD-SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT – 3rd Reading in Senate
- HB 135 INS CODE-BIRTH CONTROL – House – concurrence SA 1 and 2
- HB 711 Prior Authorization –passed both Houses
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HB 1745 Prescription Drugs – passed both Houses
- HB 1779 Biomarker Testing – passed both Houses
- HB 1955 Holding Company Systems – passed both Houses
- HB 1957 Ins – Various – passed both Houses
- HB 2109 REGULATION-TECH – 3rd Reading in Senate
- HB 2405 Insurance Guaranty Fund – passed both Houses
- HB 2554 TELEHEALTH-RULES-ACUPUNCTURE – postponed Senate Insurance
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HB 2589 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER-OPIOIDS – 3rd Reading in Senate
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HB 2595 INSURANCE-MENTAL HEALTH – 3rd Reading in Senate
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HB 3308 Telehealth – 3rd Reading in Senate
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HB 3598 INSURANCE-CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE – 3rd Reading in Senate
- HB 3709 INS CODE-INFERTILITY COVERAGE – passed both Houses
- SB 499 Health Care/TMJ Disorders – passed both Houses
- SB 1753 Surplus Line – passed both Houses
- SB 1876 Group Life Insurance – passed both Houses
Telehealth: A compromise was reached regarding HB 3308. The key provisions include:
- Coverage is mandatory (instead of permissive) for clinically appropriate and medically necessary telehealth services.
- Benefits for in-person and telehealth services must be covered at parity (existing provisions are strengthened to further prohibit insurers from placing unnecessary barriers to obtaining coverage for clinically appropriate, medically necessary telehealth services).
- Permanent payment parity for behavioral health with physical health payment parity subject to a 5-year sunset.
- Payment parity provisions are explicit that if the service cannot be billed as an in-person service, then it is not subject to parity. Additionally, provisions allow for negotiation of alternative reimbursement rates.
- Originating site reimbursement is permissive and may be considered (rather than shall) if the site is a facility.
- IDPH and DOI will commission a study on telehealth utilization, impact on access, outcomes, and health equity, as well as cost to be reported out in 2026 (before broad payment parity provisions expire in 2027).
- Medicaid will NOT be included since the coverage and reimbursement provisions for that program are already in permanent regulation.
Prior Authorization: HB 711 passed both Houses.
PBM Reform: SB 2008 was re-referred to Senate Assignments. No meetings are currently scheduled regarding this bill, and we see this as a good sign this bill will not be called this session.
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 we are tracking generally fall into the following categories: Health Care Reform, Telehealth, Prescription Drugs/PBMs, Medicaid reform, Behavioral Health, Utilization Management (including Prior Authorization reform), DOI Initiatives and Coverage Mandates.
List of key dates:
May 31 – Adjournment
