State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
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91_HB0579

 
                                              LRB9100767JSpcA

 1        AN ACT concerning the delivery of health care services.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 1.  Short title.  This Act may be  cited  as  the
 5    Managed Care Patient Rights Act.

 6        Section 5.  Health care patient rights.
 7        (a)  A  patient  has  the  right  to care consistent with
 8    professional standards of practice to assure quality  nursing
 9    and  medical practices, to choose the participating physician
10    responsible for coordinating his  or  her  care,  to  receive
11    information  concerning  his  or  her  condition and proposed
12    treatment, to refuse any treatment to the extent permitted by
13    law, and to privacy and confidentiality of records except  as
14    otherwise provided by law.
15        (b)  A  patient  has  the  right, regardless of source of
16    payment, to examine and to receive a  reasonable  explanation
17    of his or her total bill for health care services rendered by
18    his  or  her physician or health care provider, including the
19    itemized charges for specific health care services  received.
20    A physician or health care provider shall be responsible only
21    for  a   reasonable explanation of those specific health care
22    services provided by the physician or health care provider.
23        (c)  A patient has the right to timely  prior  notice  of
24    the  termination  in  the event a health care plan cancels or
25    refuses to renew an enrollee's participation in the plan.
26        (d)  A   patient   has   the   right   to   privacy   and
27    confidentiality in health care. This right may  be  expressly
28    waived in writing by the patient or the patient's guardian.
29        (e)  An  individual  has the right to purchase any health
30    care services with that individual's own funds.
 
                            -2-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        Section 10.  Definitions:
 2        "Department" means the Department of Insurance.
 3        "Emergency medical condition" means a  medical  condition
 4    manifesting  itself  by acute symptoms of sufficient severity
 5    (including severe pain) such that a  prudent  layperson,  who
 6    possesses  an average knowledge of health and medicine, could
 7    reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical  attention
 8    to result in:
 9             (1)  placing  the health of the individual (or, with
10        respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the  woman  or
11        her unborn child) in serious jeopardy;
12             (2)  serious impairment to bodily functions; or
13             (3)  serious  dysfunction  of  any  bodily  organ or
14        part.
15        "Emergency services" means, with respect to  an  enrollee
16    of   a  health  plan,  transportation  services  and  covered
17    inpatient and outpatient hospital  services  furnished  by  a
18    provider  qualified to furnish those services that are needed
19    to evaluate or  stabilize  an  emergency  medical  condition.
20    "Emergency  services"  does  not  refer to post-stabilization
21    medical services.
22        "Enrollee" means any person and  his  or  her  dependents
23    enrolled in or covered by a health care plan.
24        "Health   care  plan"  means  a  plan  that  establishes,
25    operates, or maintains a network  of  health  care  providers
26    that  have  entered  into agreements with the plan to provide
27    health care services to enrollees to whom the  plan  has  the
28    ultimate  obligation  to  arrange  for  the  provision  of or
29    payment for services through organizational arrangements  for
30    ongoing  quality  assurance,  utilization review programs, or
31    dispute resolution.
32        For purposes of this definition, "health care plan" shall
33    not include the following:
34             (1)  indemnity health insurance  policies  including
 
                            -3-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        those using a contracted provider network;
 2             (2)  health  care  plans  that  offer only dental or
 3        only vision coverage;
 4             (3)  preferred provider administrators,  as  defined
 5        in Section 370g(g) of the Illinois Insurance Code;
 6             (4)  employee   or   employer   self-insured  health
 7        benefit  plans  under  the  federal  Employee  Retirement
 8        Income Security Act of 1974; and
 9             (5)  health care provided pursuant to  the  Workers'
10        Compensation  Act  or  the Workers' Occupational Diseases
11        Act.
12        "Health care provider" means  any  hospital  facility  or
13    other  person  that  is  licensed  or otherwise authorized to
14    deliver health care services.
15        "Health care services" means any services included in the
16    furnishing  to  any  individual  of  medical  care,  or   the
17    hospitalization or incident to the furnishing of such care or
18    hospitalization  as  well  as the furnishing to any person of
19    any and all other services for  the  purpose  of  preventing,
20    alleviating,  curing,  or  healing  human  illness  or injury
21    including  home  health  and  pharmaceutical   services   and
22    products.
23        "Medical  director"  means  a  physician  licensed in any
24    state to practice medicine in all its branches appointed by a
25    health care plan.
26        "Person" means a corporation,  association,  partnership,
27    limited  liability company, sole proprietorship, or any other
28    legal entity.
29        "Physician" means a person  licensed  under  the  Medical
30    Practice Act of 1987.
31        "Post-stabilization  medical  services" means health care
32    services provided to an enrollee  that  are  furnished  in  a
33    licensed hospital by a physician or health care provider that
34    is  qualified  to furnish such services, and determined to be
 
                            -4-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    medically necessary and directly  related  to  the  emergency
 2    medical condition following stabilization.
 3        "Primary  care"  means  the provision of a broad range of
 4    personal  health  care  services   (preventive,   diagnostic,
 5    curative,  counseling, or rehabilitative) in a manner that is
 6    accessible and comprehensive and coordinated by  a  physician
 7    licensed to practice medicine in all its branches.
 8        "Primary  care  physician"  means  a  physician  who  has
 9    contracted  with  a  health care plan to provide primary care
10    services as defined by the contract and who  is  a  physician
11    licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. Nothing
12    in  this  definition  shall be construed to prohibit a health
13    care plan from requiring a physician to meet  a  health  care
14    plan's criteria in order to coordinate access to health care.
15        "Stabilization"  means,  with  respect  to  an  emergency
16    medical  condition,  to provide such medical treatment of the
17    condition as may be necessary to  assure,  within  reasonable
18    medical  probability,  that  no material deterioration of the
19    condition is likely to result.
20        "Utilization review" means the evaluation of the  medical
21    necessity,  appropriateness,  and  efficiency  of  the use of
22    health care services, procedures, and facilities.
23        "Utilization review program" means a program  established
24    by a person to perform utilization review.

25        Section 15. Provision of information.
26        (a)  A  health  care plan shall provide to enrollees and,
27    upon  request,   to   prospective   enrollees   a   list   of
28    participating  physicians  and  health  care providers in the
29    health care plan's service area and an evidence  of  coverage
30    that  contains  a  description  of  the  following  terms  of
31    coverage:
32             (1)  the service area;
33             (2)  covered benefits, exclusions or limitations;
 
                            -5-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1             (3)  precertification  and  other utilization review
 2        procedures and requirements;
 3             (4)  a description of the limitations on  access  to
 4        specialists;
 5             (5)  emergency coverage and benefits;
 6             (6)  out-of-area coverages and benefits, if any;
 7             (7)  the  enrollee's  financial  responsibility  for
 8        copayments,  deductibles,  and  any  other  out-of-pocket
 9        expenses;
10             (8)  provisions  for  continuity of treatment in the
11        event   a   physician's   or   health   care   provider's
12        participation  terminates  during  the   course   of   an
13        enrollee's  treatment  by  that  physician or health care
14        provider; and
15             (9)  the grievance process, including the  telephone
16        number   to   call   to  receive  information  concerning
17        grievance procedures.
18        (b)  Upon written  request,  a  health  care  plan  shall
19    provide   to   enrollees   a  description  of  the  financial
20    relationships between the health care plan and any  physician
21    or  health  care  provider,  except  that no health care plan
22    shall be  required  to  disclose  specific  reimbursement  to
23    physicians or health care providers.
24        (c)  A  participating  physician  or health care provider
25    shall provide all of  the  following,  where  applicable,  to
26    enrollees upon request:
27             (1)  Information   related  to  the  physician's  or
28        health   care    provider's    educational    background,
29        experience, training, specialty, and board certification,
30        if applicable.
31             (2)  The  names of licensed facilities on the health
32        care provider panel where the physician  or  health  care
33        provider  presently  has  privileges  for  the treatment,
34        illness, or procedure that is the subject of the request.
 
                            -6-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1             (3)  Information regarding the physician's or health
 2        care provider's  participation  in  continuing  education
 3        programs    and    compliance    with    any   licensure,
 4        certification,   or   registration    requirements,    if
 5        applicable.
 6        (d)  A  health  care  plan  shall provide the information
 7    required to be disclosed under this  Act  in  a  legible  and
 8    understandable format consistent with the standards developed
 9    for  supplemental insurance coverage under Title XVIII of the
10    federal Social Security Act.

11        Section 20.  Notice  of  nonrenewal  or  termination.   A
12    health  care  plan  must  give  at  least  60  days notice of
13    nonrenewal or termination  of  a  physician  or  health  care
14    provider  to the physician or health care provider and to the
15    enrollees served by the physician or  health  care  provider.
16    The  notice  shall  include  a  name  and address to which an
17    enrollee, physician,  or  health  care  provider  may  direct
18    comments   and   concerns   regarding   the   nonrenewal   or
19    termination. Immediate written notice may be provided without
20    60  days  notice when a physician's or health care provider's
21    license has been disciplined by a state licensing board.

22        Section 25.  Transition of services.
23        (a)  A health care plan shall provide for  continuity  of
24    care for its enrollees as follows:
25             (1)  If  an  enrollee's  physician leaves the health
26        care  plan's  network  of  physicians  or   health   care
27        providers   for  reasons  other  than  termination  of  a
28        contract in  situations  involving  imminent  harm  to  a
29        patient  or  a  final  disciplinary  action  by  a  State
30        licensing  board  and  the  physician  remains within the
31        health care plan's service area,  the  health  care  plan
32        shall  permit  the enrollee to continue an ongoing course
 
                            -7-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        of treatment with that physician  during  a  transitional
 2        period:
 3                  (A)  of  at  least 90 days from the date of the
 4             notice of physician's termination  from  the  health
 5             care   plan  to  the  enrollee  of  the  physician's
 6             disaffiliation from the  health  care  plan  if  the
 7             enrollee has an ongoing course of treatment; or
 8                  (B)  if  the  enrollee  has  entered  the third
 9             trimester  of  pregnancy  at   the   time   of   the
10             physician's   disaffiliation,   that   includes  the
11             provision of post-partum care  directly  related  to
12             the delivery.
13             (2)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions in item (1) of
14        this subsection, such care shall  be  authorized  by  the
15        health  care  plan during the transitional period only if
16        the physician agrees:
17                  (A)  to continue to accept  reimbursement  from
18             the  health  care plan at the rates applicable prior
19             to the start of the transitional period;
20                  (B)  to  adhere  to  the  health  care   plan's
21             quality assurance requirements and to provide to the
22             health   care  plan  necessary  medical  information
23             related to  such care; and
24                  (C)  to otherwise adhere  to  the  health  care
25             plan's  policies  and procedures,  including but not
26             limited  to  procedures  regarding   referrals   and
27             obtaining  preauthorizations for treatment.
28        (b)  A  health  care plan shall provide for continuity of
29    care for new enrollees as follows:
30             (1)  If a new enrollee  whose  physician  is  not  a
31        member  of  the  health care plan's physician or provider
32        network, but is within the  health  care  plan's  service
33        area,  enrolls  in  the health care plan, the health care
34        plan shall permit the enrollee  to  continue  an  ongoing
 
                            -8-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        course of treatment with the enrollee's current physician
 2        during a transitional period:
 3                  (A)  of  at  least  90  days from the effective
 4             date of enrollment if the enrollee  has  an  ongoing
 5             course of treatment; or
 6                  (B)  if  the  enrollee  has  entered  the third
 7             trimester of pregnancy  at  the  effective  date  of
 8             enrollment,   that   includes   the   provision   of
 9             post-partum care directly related to the delivery.
10             (2)  If  an  enrollee  elects to continue to receive
11        care from such physician pursuant to  item  (1)  of  this
12        subsection,  such  care shall be authorized by the health
13        care  plan  for  the  transitional  period  only  if  the
14        physician agrees:
15                  (A)  to accept reimbursement  from  the  health
16             care  plan  at  rates established by the health care
17             plan; such rates shall be the level of reimbursement
18             applicable to similar physicians within  the  health
19             care plan for such services;
20                  (B)  to   adhere  to  the  health  care  plan's
21             quality assurance requirements and to provide to the
22             health  care  plan  necessary  medical   information
23             related to such care; and
24                  (C)  to  otherwise  adhere  to  the health care
25             plan's policies and procedures  including,  but  not
26             limited   to   procedures  regarding  referrals  and
27             obtaining  preauthorization for treatment.
28        (c)  In no event  shall  this  Section  be  construed  to
29    require  a health care plan to  provide coverage for benefits
30    not otherwise covered or to diminish or   impair  preexisting
31    condition limitations contained in the enrollee's  contract.

32        Section 30.  Restraints on communications prohibited.
33        (a)  No  health  care  plan  or  its  subcontractors  may
 
                            -9-               LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    prohibit  or  discourage  physicians or health care providers
 2    from discussing any  health  care  services,  physicians  and
 3    health   care   providers,  utilization  review  and  quality
 4    assurance policies, terms and conditions of  plans  and  plan
 5    policy   with   enrollees,   prospective   enrollees,   other
 6    physicians, other health care providers, or the public.
 7        (b)  No  health  care plan or its subcontractors shall by
 8    contract, policy, or procedure impose any restrictions on the
 9    physicians or health care providers who treat  its  enrollees
10    as  to  recommended  health care services.  Restrictions with
11    respect  to  the  services  for  which  the   plan   or   its
12    subcontractors  will  pay may be imposed.  These restrictions
13    shall not affect the ability of a physician  or  health  care
14    provider to provide services to an enrollee.
15        (c)  Any  violation  of  this Section shall be subject to
16    the penalties under this Act.

17        Section   35.  Medically    appropriate    health    care
18    protection.
19        (a)  No  health  care  plan  shall  retaliate  against  a
20    physician   or   health   care  provider  who  advocates  for
21    appropriate health care services for patients.
22        (b)  It is the public policy of  the  State  of  Illinois
23    that  a  physician  or  health care provider be encouraged to
24    advocate for medically appropriate health care  services  for
25    his  or  her  patients.   For  purposes  of this Section, "to
26    advocate for  medically  appropriate  health  care  services"
27    means  to appeal a decision to deny payment for a health care
28    service  pursuant  to  the  reasonable  grievance  or  appeal
29    procedure established by a health care plan or to  protest  a
30    decision,  policy,  or  practice that the physician or health
31    care provider, consistent with that degree  of  learning  and
32    skill  ordinarily  possessed  by  physicians  or  health care
33    providers practicing in the same or a  similar  locality  and
 
                            -10-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    under  similar circumstances, reasonably believes impairs the
 2    physician's or health  care  provider's  ability  to  provide
 3    appropriate health care services to his or her patients.
 4        (c)  This  Section  shall  not be construed to prohibit a
 5    health care plan from making a determination not to pay for a
 6    particular health care  service  or  to  prohibit  a  medical
 7    group,  independent  practice association, preferred provider
 8    organization, foundation, hospital  medical  staff,  hospital
 9    governing  body or health care plan from enforcing reasonable
10    peer review or utilization review  protocols  or  determining
11    whether a physician or health care provider has complied with
12    those protocols.
13        (d)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
14    prohibit  the  governing  body  of a hospital or the hospital
15    medical staff from  taking  disciplinary  actions  against  a
16    physician as authorized by law.
17        (e)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
18    prohibit  the  Department  of  Professional  Regulation  from
19    taking  disciplinary  actions  against  a physician or health
20    care provider under the appropriate licensing Act.

21        Section 40.  Access to specialists.
22        (a)  All health care plans that require each enrollee  to
23    select  a  health  care  provider  for  any purpose including
24    coordination of care shall allow all enrollees to choose  any
25    primary  care  physician licensed to practice medicine in all
26    its branches or any health care provider participating in the
27    health care plan for that purpose. The health care plan shall
28    provide the enrollee with a choice of  licensed  health  care
29    providers who are accessible and qualified.
30        (b)  A  health  care  plan shall establish a procedure by
31    which an enrollee who has a condition that  requires  ongoing
32    care  from a specialist physician or health care provider may
33    apply for a standing referral to a  specialist  physician  or
 
                            -11-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    health  care provider if a referral to a specialist physician
 2    or  health  care  provider  is  required  for  coverage.  The
 3    application shall be made  to  the  enrollee's  primary  care
 4    physician.  This  procedure  for  a  standing  referral  must
 5    specify  the  necessary  criteria and conditions that must be
 6    met in order for an enrollee to obtain a standing referral. A
 7    standing referral shall be effective for the period necessary
 8    to provide the referred services or one year. A primary  care
 9    physician may renew a standing referral.
10        (c)  The enrollee may be required by the health care plan
11    to  select a specialist physician or health care provider who
12    has a referral arrangement with the enrollee's  primary  care
13    physician or to select a new primary care physician who has a
14    referral  arrangement with the specialist physician or health
15    care provider chosen by the enrollee.  If a health care  plan
16    requires  an  enrollee  to  select a new physician under this
17    subsection, the health care plan must  provide  the  enrollee
18    with both options provided in this subsection.
19        (d)  When the type of specialist physician or health care
20    provider  needed  to  provide  ongoing  care  for  a specific
21    condition is  not  represented  in  the  health  care  plan's
22    network  of  physicians or health care providers, the primary
23    care physician shall arrange for the enrollee to have  access
24    to  a  qualified  non-participating  physician or health care
25    provider within a reasonable distance and travel time.
26        (e)  The enrollee's primary care physician  shall  remain
27    responsible  for coordinating the care of an enrollee who has
28    received a standing referral to  a  specialist  physician  or
29    health  care  provider. If a secondary referral is necessary,
30    the specialist physician or health care provider shall advise
31    the primary care physician.  The primary care physician shall
32    be  responsible  for  making  the  secondary   referral.   In
33    addition,  the  health care plan shall require the specialist
34    physician or health care provider to provide regular  updates
 
                            -12-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    to the enrollee's primary care physician.
 2        (f)  If  an  enrollee's  application  for any referral is
 3    denied, an enrollee  may  appeal  the  decision  through  the
 4    health  care  plan's medical necessity second opinion process
 5    in accordance with Section 45 of this Act.

 6        Section 45.  Medical necessity; second opinion.  A health
 7    care plan shall provide a mechanism for the timely review  by
 8    a physician or health care provider holding the same class of
 9    license  as  the patient's physician or health care provider,
10    who is  unaffiliated  with  the  health  care  plan,  jointly
11    selected  by  the  patient  (or  the patient's next of kin or
12    legal representative if the patient  is  unable  to  act  for
13    himself),  the  patient's  physician or health care provider,
14    and the health care plan in the event of  a  dispute  between
15    the  patient's  physician  or  health  care  provider and the
16    health care plan regarding the medical necessity of a service
17    or a referral. If the  reviewing  physician  or  health  care
18    provider  determines the service to be medically necessary or
19    the referral to be appropriate, the health  care  plan  shall
20    pay for the service.  Future contractual or employment action
21    by  the health care plan regarding the patient's physician or
22    health care  provider  shall  not  be  based  solely  on  the
23    physician's  or  health care provider's participation in this
24    procedure.

25        Section 50.  Choosing a physician.
26        (a)  A health care plan may also offer other arrangements
27    under which enrollees may access health  care  services  from
28    contracted  physicians  or  health  care  providers without a
29    referral or authorization.
30        (b)  The enrollee may be required by the health care plan
31    to select a specialist physician or health care provider  who
32    has  a  referral arrangement with the enrollee's primary care
 
                            -13-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    physician or to select a new primary care physician who has a
 2    referral arrangement with the specialist physician or  health
 3    care  provider chosen by the enrollee.  If a health care plan
 4    requires an enrollee to select a  new  physician  under  this
 5    subsection,  the  health  care plan must provide the enrollee
 6    with both options provided in this subsection.
 7        (c)  The Director of  Insurance  and  the  Department  of
 8    Public Health each may promulgate rules to ensure appropriate
 9    access  to and quality of care for enrollees in any plan that
10    allows  enrollees  to  access  health  care   services   from
11    contracted  physicians  and  health  care providers without a
12    referral or authorization from the  primary  care  physician.
13    The  rules may include, but shall not be limited to, a system
14    for the  retrieval  and  compilation  of  enrollees'  medical
15    records.

16        Section 55. Emergency services prior to stabilization.
17        (a)  A health care plan that provides or that is required
18    by  law  to  provide  coverage  for  emergency services shall
19    provide coverage such that payment under this coverage is not
20    dependent upon whether the services are performed by  a  plan
21    or  non-plan  physician  or  health care provider and without
22    regard to prior authorization. This coverage shall be at  the
23    same  benefit  level as if the services or treatment had been
24    rendered by the health care plan  physician  or  health  care
25    provider.
26        (b)  Prior  authorization  or  approval by the plan shall
27    not be required for emergency services.
28        (c)  Payment shall not be  retrospectively  denied,  with
29    the following exceptions:
30             (1)  upon    reasonable   determination   that   the
31        emergency services claimed were never performed;
32             (2)  upon   determination   that    the    emergency
33        evaluation and treatment were rendered to an enrollee who
 
                            -14-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        sought  emergency services and whose circumstance did not
 2        meet the definition of emergency medical condition;
 3             (3)  upon determination that the  patient  receiving
 4        such  services  was  not  an  enrollee of the health care
 5        plan; or
 6             (4)  upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee
 7        or health care  provider;  "material"  means  a  fact  or
 8        situation  that  is  not  merely  technical in nature and
 9        results or could result in a substantial  change  in  the
10        situation.
11        (d)  When  an  enrollee  presents  to  a hospital seeking
12    emergency services, the determination as to whether the  need
13    for  those  services  exists  shall  be  made for purposes of
14    treatment by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all
15    its branches or, to the extent permitted by  applicable  law,
16    by   other   appropriately   licensed   personnel  under  the
17    supervision of a physician licensed to practice  medicine  in
18    all   its   branches.  The  physician  or  other  appropriate
19    personnel shall indicate in the patient's chart  the  results
20    of the emergency medical screening examination.
21        (e)  The  appropriate  use of the 911 emergency telephone
22    system or its local equivalent shall not  be  discouraged  or
23    penalized  by  the health care plan when an emergency medical
24    condition exists. This provision shall not imply that the use
25    of 911 or its local equivalent is a factor in determining the
26    existence of an emergency medical condition.
27        (f)  The medical director's  or  his  or  her  designee's
28    determination  of  whether the enrollee meets the standard of
29    an emergency medical condition shall be based solely upon the
30    presenting symptoms documented in the medical record  at  the
31    time care was sought.
32        (g)  Nothing   in   this   Section   shall  prohibit  the
33    imposition of deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance.
 
                            -15-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        Section 60. Post-stabilization medical services.
 2        (a) If prior authorization for covered post-stabilization
 3    services is required by the health care plan, the plan  shall
 4    provide  access  24  hours  a  day,  7 days a week to persons
 5    designated by the plan to make such determinations.
 6        (b) The treating physician or health care provider  shall
 7    contact the health care plan or delegated physician or health
 8    care   provider   as  designated  on  the  enrollee's  health
 9    insurance  card   to   obtain   authorization,   denial,   or
10    arrangements  for  an alternate plan of treatment or transfer
11    of the enrollee.
12        (c)  The treating physician licensed to practice medicine
13    in all its branches or health care provider shall document in
14    the  enrollee's  medical  record  the  enrollee's  presenting
15    symptoms; emergency medical condition; and time, phone number
16    dialed, and result  of  the  communication  for  request  for
17    authorization  of  post  stabilization  medical services. The
18    health care plan  shall  provide  reimbursement  for  covered
19    post-stabilization medical services if:
20             (1)  authorization  to  render them is received from
21        the health care plan or its delegated physician or health
22        care provider; or
23             (2)  after 2  documented  good  faith  efforts,  the
24        treating  physician or health care provider has attempted
25        to  contact  the  enrollee's  health  care  plan  or  its
26        delegated  physician  or   health   care   provider,   as
27        designated  on  the enrollee's health insurance card, for
28        prior   authorization   of   post-stabilization   medical
29        services and neither the plan nor designated persons were
30        accessible or the authorization was not denied within  60
31        minutes  of  the  request.  "Two  documented  good  faith
32        efforts"  means the physician or health care provider has
33        called the telephone  number  on  the  enrollee's  health
34        insurance  card  or other available number either 2 times
 
                            -16-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        or one time and an additional call to any referral number
 2        provided. "Good faith" means honesty of purpose,  freedom
 3        from  intention  to  defraud, and being faithful to one's
 4        duty or obligation. For the purpose  of  this  Act,  good
 5        faith shall be presumed.
 6        (d)  After   rendering   any  post-stabilization  medical
 7    services, the treating  physician  or  health  care  provider
 8    shall continue to make every reasonable effort to contact the
 9    health  care  plan  or its delegated physician or health care
10    provider regarding authorization, denial, or arrangements for
11    an alternate plan of treatment or transfer  of  the  enrollee
12    until the treating physician or health care provider receives
13    instructions from the health care plan or delegated physician
14    or  health  care  provider  for continued care or the care is
15    transferred to another physician or health care  provider  or
16    the patient is discharged.
17        (e)  Payment  for covered post-stabilization services may
18    be denied:
19             (1)  if  the  treating  physician  or  health   care
20        provider   does  not  meet  the  conditions  outlined  in
21        subsection (c);
22             (2)  upon determination that the  post-stabilization
23        services claimed were not performed;
24             (3)  upon  determination that the post-stabilization
25        services rendered were contrary to  the  instructions  of
26        the health care plan or its delegated physician or health
27        care  provider  if contact was made between those parties
28        prior to the service being rendered;
29             (4)  upon determination that the  patient  receiving
30        such  services  was  not  an  enrollee of the health care
31        plan; or
32             (5)  upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee
33        or health care  provider;  "material"  means  a  fact  or
34        situation  that  is  not  merely  technical in nature and
 
                            -17-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        results or could result in a substantial  change  in  the
 2        situation.
 3        (f)  Nothing in this Section prohibits a health care plan
 4    from  delegating  tasks  associated with the responsibilities
 5    enumerated  in  this  Section  to  the  health  care   plan's
 6    contracted  physicians  or  health care providers or an other
 7    entity.
 8        (g)  Coverage and payment for post-stabilization  medical
 9    services  for which prior authorization or deemed approval is
10    received shall not be retrospectively denied.
11        (h)  Nothing  in  this   Section   shall   prohibit   the
12    imposition of deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance.

13        Section 65.  Consumer advisory committee.
14        (a)  A  health  care  plan  shall  establish  a  consumer
15    advisory  committee.   The  consumer advisory committee shall
16    have the authority to identify and review  consumer  concerns
17    and  make  advisory  recommendations to the health care plan.
18    The health care plan may also make requests of  the  consumer
19    advisory committee to provide feedback to proposed changes in
20    plan  policies  and  procedures  which will affect enrollees.
21    However, the consumer advisory committee shall not  have  the
22    authority   to   hear   or  resolve  specific  complaints  or
23    grievances,  but  instead  shall  refer  such  complaints  or
24    grievances to the health care plan's grievance committee.
25        (b)  The  health  care  plan  shall  randomly  select   8
26    enrollees  meeting  the requirements of this Section to serve
27    on the consumer advisory committee.  Upon  initial  formation
28    of  the  consumer  advisory  committee,  the health care plan
29    shall appoint 4 enrollees to a 2 year term and 4 enrollees to
30    a one year term.  Thereafter, as an enrollee's term  expires,
31    the  health care plan shall re-appoint or appoint an enrollee
32    to serve on the consumer advisory  committee  for  a  2  year
33    term.  Members  of  the  consumer advisory committee shall by
 
                            -18-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    majority vote elect a member of the  committee  to  serve  as
 2    chair of the committee.
 3        (c)  An  enrollee  may not serve on the consumer advisory
 4    committee  if  during  the  2  years  preceding  service  the
 5    enrollee:
 6             (1)  has been an employee, officer, or  director  of
 7        the  plan,  an  affiliate  of  the plan, or a provider or
 8        affiliate  of  a  provider  that  furnishes  health  care
 9        services to the plan or affiliate of the plan; or
10             (2)  is a relative of a  person  specified  in  item
11        (1).
12        (d)  A  health  care  plan's  consumer advisory committee
13    shall meet not less than quarterly.
14        (e)  All meetings shall  be  held  within  the  State  of
15    Illinois.   The  costs  of the meetings shall be borne by the
16    health care plan.

17        Section 70.  Quality assessment program.
18        (a)  A health care plan shall  develop  and  implement  a
19    quality  assessment  and  improvement  strategy  designed  to
20    identify  and evaluate accessibility, continuity, and quality
21    of care.  The health care plan shall have:
22             (1)  an   ongoing,   written,    internal    quality
23        assessment program;
24             (2)  specific  written guidelines for monitoring and
25        evaluating the quality and appropriateness  of  care  and
26        services  provided to enrollees requiring the health care
27        plan to assess:
28                  (A)  the accessibility to physicians and health
29             care providers;
30                  (B)  appropriateness of utilization;
31                  (C)  concerns identified  by  the  health  care
32             plan's   medical   or   administrative   staff   and
33             enrollees; and
 
                            -19-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1                  (D)  other aspects of care and service directly
 2             related to the improvement of quality of care;
 3             (3)  a  procedure  for  remedial  action  to correct
 4        quality problems that have been  verified  in  accordance
 5        with   the   written  plan's  methodology  and  criteria,
 6        including  written  procedures  for  taking   appropriate
 7        corrective action;
 8             (4)  follow-up  measures implemented to evaluate the
 9        effectiveness of the action plan.
10        (b)  The health care plan  shall  establish  a  committee
11    that oversees the quality assessment and improvement strategy
12    which includes physician and enrollee participation.
13        (c)  Reports   on   quality  assessment  and  improvement
14    activities shall be made to the governing body of the  health
15    care plan not less than quarterly.
16        (d)  The  health  care  plan  shall  make  available  its
17    written  description of the quality assessment program to the
18    Department of Public Health.
19        (e)  With the exception of subsection (d), the Department
20    of Public Health shall accept evidence of accreditation  with
21    regard  to  the  health  care  network quality management and
22    performance improvement standards of:
23             (1)  the National Commission  on  Quality  Assurance
24        (NCQA);
25             (2)  the     American    Accreditation    Healthcare
26        Commission (URAC);
27             (3)  the  Joint  Commission  on   Accreditation   of
28        Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); or
29             (4)  any  other  entity  that the Director of Public
30        Health deems has substantially similar or more  stringent
31        standards than provided for in this Section.

32        Section 75.  Complaints.
33        (a)  A  health  care  plan shall establish and maintain a
 
                            -20-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    complaint  system   providing   reasonable   procedures   for
 2    resolving  complaints  initiated  by  enrollees (complainant)
 3    which  shall  provide  for  an  expedited  review  of   cases
 4    involving  imminent  threat  to  the  health  of an enrollee.
 5    Nothing in  this  Act  shall  be  construed  to  preclude  an
 6    enrollee  from  filing  a complaint with the Department or as
 7    limiting the Department's ability to investigate  complaints.
 8    In  addition,  any  enrollee  not  satisfied  with the plan's
 9    resolution of  any  complaint  may  appeal  that  final  plan
10    decision to the Department.
11        (b)  When   a   complaint  against  a  health  care  plan
12    (respondent) is received by the  Department,  the  respondent
13    shall be notified of the complaint.  The Department shall, in
14    its  notification,  specify  the  date when a report is to be
15    received from the respondent, which shall be no later than 21
16    days after notification is sent to the respondent.  A failure
17    to reply by the date specified may be followed by  a  collect
18    telephone  call  or  collect telegram.  Repeated instances of
19    failing to reply by the date specified may result in  further
20    regulatory action.
21        (c)  The   respondent's   report  shall  supply  adequate
22    documentation that explains all actions taken  or  not  taken
23    and  that were the basis for the complaint.  The report shall
24    include  documents  necessary  to  support  the  respondent's
25    position and any information requested by the Department. The
26    respondent's reply  shall  be  in  duplicate,  but  duplicate
27    copies  of  supporting  documents shall not be required.  The
28    respondent's reply shall include the name, telephone  number,
29    and  address  of  the  individual  assigned to investigate or
30    process the complaint.   The  Department  shall  respect  the
31    confidentiality  of  medical reports and other documents that
32    by law are confidential.  Any other information furnished  by
33    a respondent shall be marked "confidential" if the respondent
34    does not wish it to be released to the complainant.
 
                            -21-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        (d)  The  Department  shall  review  the plan decision to
 2    determine whether it is consistent with the plan and Illinois
 3    law and rules.
 4        (e)  Upon  receipt  of  the  respondent's   report,   the
 5    Department shall evaluate the material submitted; and
 6             (1)  advise  the complainant of the action taken and
 7        disposition of its complaint;
 8             (2) pursue further investigation with respondent  or
 9        complainant; or
10             (3)   refer   the   investigation   report   to  the
11        appropriate branch  within  the  Department  for  further
12        regulatory action.
13        (f)  The  Department  of  Insurance and the Department of
14    Public Health  shall  coordinate  the  complaint  review  and
15    investigation  process.   The Department of Insurance and the
16    Department of Public Health  shall  jointly  establish  rules
17    under  the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act implementing
18    this complaint process.

19        Section 80.  Record of complaints.
20        (a)  The Department shall maintain records concerning the
21    complaints  filed  against  health  care   plans   with   the
22    Department  and  shall  require health care plans to annually
23    report complaints made to  and  resolutions  by  health  care
24    plans  in  a manner determined by rule.  The Department shall
25    make a summary of all data collected available  upon  request
26    and publish the summary on the World Wide Web.
27        (b)  The  Department shall maintain records on the number
28    of complaints filed against each health care plan.
29        (c)  The Department shall  maintain  records  classifying
30    each complaint by whether the complaint was filed by:
31             (1)  a consumer or enrollee;
32             (2)  a physician or health care provider; or
33             (3)  any other individual.
 
                            -22-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        (d)  The  Department  shall  maintain records classifying
 2    each complaint according to the nature of the complaint as it
 3    pertains to a specific function of the health care plan.  The
 4    complaints  shall   be   classified   under   the   following
 5    categories:
 6             (1)  denial of care or treatment;
 7             (2)  denial of a diagnostic procedure;
 8             (3)  denial of a referral request;
 9             (4)  sufficient  choice  and accessibility of health
10        care providers;
11             (5)  underwriting;
12             (6)  marketing and sales;
13             (7)  claims and utilization review;
14             (8)  member services;
15             (9)  provider relations; and
16             (10)  miscellaneous.
17        (e)  The Department shall  maintain  records  classifying
18    the  disposition  of  each complaint.  The disposition of the
19    complaint  shall  be  classified  in  one  of  the  following
20    categories:
21             (1)  complaint referred to the health care plan  and
22        no further action necessary by the Department;
23             (2)  no  corrective  action  deemed necessary by the
24        Department; or
25             (3)  corrective action taken by the Department.
26        (f)  No Department publication or release of  information
27    shall identify any enrollee, physician, health care provider,
28    or individual complainant.

29        Section 85.  Utilization review program registration.
30        (a)  No  person  may conduct a utilization review program
31    in this State unless once every 2 years the person  registers
32    the  utilization  review  program  with  the  Department  and
33    certifies  compliance  with  all  of  the  Health Utilization
 
                            -23-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    Management Standards of the American Accreditation Healthcare
 2    Commission (URAC) or submits evidence of accreditation by the
 3    American Accreditation Healthcare Commission (URAC)  for  its
 4    Health Utilization Management Standards.
 5        (b)  In  addition,  the  Director  of  the Department, in
 6    consultation with the Director of the  Department  of  Public
 7    Health,  may certify alternative utilization review standards
 8    of national accreditation organizations or entities in  order
 9    for  plans  to  comply  with  this  Section.  Any alternative
10    utilization review  standards  shall  meet  or  exceed  those
11    standards required under subsection (a).
12        (c)  The provisions of this Section do not apply to:
13             (1)  persons  providing  utilization  review program
14        services only to the federal government;
15             (2)  self-insured health  plans  under  the  federal
16        Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, however,
17        this   Section   does   apply  to  persons  conducting  a
18        utilization review program  on  behalf  of  these  health
19        plans;
20             (3)  hospitals   and   medical   groups   performing
21        utilization   review  activities  for  internal  purposes
22        unless the utilization review program  is  conducted  for
23        another person.
24        Nothing in this Act prohibits a health care plan or other
25    entity  from  contractually requiring an entity designated in
26    item (3) of this subsection  to  adhere  to  the  utilization
27    review program requirements of this Act.
28        (d)  This registration shall include submission of all of
29    the   following   information  regarding  utilization  review
30    program activities:
31             (1)  The  name,  address,  and  telephone   of   the
32        utilization review programs.
33             (2)  The organization and governing structure of the
34        utilization review programs.
 
                            -24-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1             (3)  The  number  of  lives  for  which  utilization
 2        review is conducted by each utilization review program.
 3             (4)  Hours  of  operation of each utilization review
 4        program.
 5             (5)  Description of the grievance process  for  each
 6        utilization review program.
 7             (6)  Number  of  covered lives for which utilization
 8        review was conducted for the previous calendar  year  for
 9        each utilization review program.
10             (7)  Written  policies and procedures for protecting
11        confidential information according  to  applicable  State
12        and federal laws for each utilization review program.
13        (e)  If  the  Department  finds that a utilization review
14    program  is  not  in  compliance  with  this   Section,   the
15    Department  shall  issue a corrective action plan and allow a
16    reasonable amount of time for compliance with the plan.    If
17    the utilization review program does not come into compliance,
18    the  Department  may  issue a cease and desist order.  Before
19    issuing a cease and desist  order  under  this  Section,  the
20    Department  shall provide the utilization review program with
21    a written notice of the reasons for the  order  and  allow  a
22    reasonable  amount  of  time to supply additional information
23    demonstrating compliance with requirements  of  this  Section
24    and  to  request a hearing.  The hearing notice shall be sent
25    by certified mail, return receipt requested, and the  hearing
26    shall   be   conducted   in   accordance  with  the  Illinois
27    Administrative Procedure Act.
28        (f)  A utilization review program subject to a corrective
29    action  may  continue  to  conduct  business  until  a  final
30    decision has been issued by the Department.

31        Section 90.  Prohibited activity.  No health care plan or
32    its subcontractors by contract, written policy, or  procedure
33    shall   contain   any   clause   attempting  to  transfer  or
 
                            -25-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    transferring to  a  physician  or  health  care  provider  by
 2    indemnification  or  otherwise,  any  civil  or  professional
 3    liability  relating  to  activities, actions, or omissions of
 4    the health care plan or its officers, employees, or agents as
 5    opposed to those of the health care provider.  A health  care
 6    plan  shall  be  responsible  for  any  civil or professional
 7    liability relating to activities, actions,  or  omissions  of
 8    the  plan  or  its  officers,  employees,  or  agents.   If a
 9    physician or health  care  provider  performs  activities  on
10    behalf  of the plan or its subcontractors, then the physician
11    or health care provider is acting as agent of the plan.

12        Section  95. Prohibition of waiver of rights.  No  health
13    care plan or contract shall contain any provision, policy, or
14    procedure that limits, restricts, or waives any of the rights
15    set forth in this Act.  Any such policy or procedure shall be
16    void and unenforceable.

17        Section   100.  Administration   and   enforcement.   The
18    Director  of Insurance may adopt rules necessary to implement
19    the Department's responsibilities under this Act.
20        To enforce the provisions of this Act, the  Director  may
21    issue  a cease and desist order or require a health care plan
22    to submit a plan of correction for violations of this Act, or
23    both.   Subject   to   the   provisions   of   the   Illinois
24    Administrative Procedure Act,  the  Director  may  impose  an
25    administrative  fine  on  a health care plan or a utilization
26    review program of up  to  $5,000  for  failure  to  submit  a
27    requested plan of correction, failure to comply with its plan
28    of correction, or repeated violations of the Act.

29        Section  105.  Applicability and scope.  This Act applies
30    to policies and  contracts  amended,  delivered,  issued,  or
31    renewed  on or after the effective date of this Act. This Act
 
                            -26-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    does  not  diminish  a  health   care   plan's   duties   and
 2    responsibilities  under  other  federal or State law or rules
 3    promulgated thereunder.

 4        Section   110.  Effect   on   benefits   under   Workers'
 5    Compensation Act  and  Workers'  Occupational  Diseases  Act.
 6    Nothing  in this Act shall be construed to expand, modify, or
 7    restrict the health care benefits provided to employees under
 8    the  Workers'  Compensation  Act  and  Workers'  Occupational
 9    Diseases Act.

10        Section 115.  Severability.  The provisions of  this  Act
11    are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

12        Section  200.  The State Employees Group Insurance Act of
13    1971 is amended by adding Section 6.12 as follows:

14        (5 ILCS 375/6.12 new)
15        Sec. 6.12.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act.  The program
16    of health benefits  is  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the
17    Managed Care Patient Rights Act.

18        Section 205.  The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
19    Section 8.23 as follows:

20        (30 ILCS 805/8.23 new)
21        Sec.  8.23.  Exempt  mandate.  Notwithstanding Sections 6
22    and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is  required
23    for  the  implementation  of  any  mandate  created  by  this
24    amendatory Act of 1999.

25        Section  210.  The  Counties  Code  is  amended by adding
26    Section 5-1069.8 as follows:
 
                            -27-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        (55 ILCS 5/5-1069.8 new)
 2        Sec. 5-1069.8.  Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   All
 3    counties,  including  home  rule counties, are subject to the
 4    provisions of the  Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   The
 5    requirement  under  this  Section  that  health care benefits
 6    provided by counties comply with  the  Managed  Care  Patient
 7    Rights  Act  is  an exclusive power and function of the State
 8    and is a denial and limitation of  home  rule  county  powers
 9    under  Article VII, Section 6, subsection (h) of the Illinois
10    Constitution.

11        Section 215.  The Illinois Municipal Code is  amended  by
12    adding 10-4-2.8 as follows:

13        (65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.8 new)
14        Sec.  10-4-2.8.   Managed  Care  Patient Rights Act.  The
15    corporate authorities of all municipalities  are  subject  to
16    the  provisions of the Managed Care Patients Rights Act.  The
17    requirement under this  Section  that  health  care  benefits
18    provided  by  municipalities  comply  with  the  Managed Care
19    Patient Rights Act is an exclusive power and function of  the
20    State   and   is   a  denial  and  limitation  of  home  rule
21    municipality powers under Article VII, Section 6,  subsection
22    (h) of the Illinois Constitution.

23        Section  220.  The  Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
24    changing Sections 155.36 and 370g and  adding  Sections  370s
25    and 511.118 as follows:

26        (215 ILCS 5/155.36 new)
27        Sec. 155.36.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act.  Insurance
28    companies  that  transact  the  kinds of insurance authorized
29    under Class 1(b) or Class 2(a) of  Section  4  of  this  Code
30    shall  comply  with  Sections 80 and 85 and the definition of
 
                            -28-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    the term "emergency medical condition" in Section 10  of  the
 2    Managed Care Patients Rights Act.

 3        (215 ILCS 5/370g) (from Ch. 73, par. 982g)
 4        Sec.  370g.   Definitions.   As used in this Article, the
 5    following definitions apply:
 6        (a)  "Health care services" means health care services or
 7    products rendered or sold by a provider within the  scope  of
 8    the  provider's  license  or  legal  authorization.  The term
 9    includes, but is not limited to, hospital, medical, surgical,
10    dental, vision and pharmaceutical services or products.
11        (b)  "Insurer" means an insurance  company  or  a  health
12    service   corporation  authorized  in  this  State  to  issue
13    policies or subscriber contracts which reimburse for expenses
14    of health care services.
15        (c)  "Insured"   means   an   individual   entitled    to
16    reimbursement  for  expenses  of health care services under a
17    policy or subscriber contract issued or  administered  by  an
18    insurer.
19        (d)  "Provider"   means  an  individual  or  entity  duly
20    licensed  or  legally  authorized  to  provide  health   care
21    services.
22        (e)  "Noninstitutional   provider"   means   any   person
23    licensed  under  the  Medical Practice Act of 1987, as now or
24    hereafter amended.
25        (f)  "Beneficiary"  means  an  individual   entitled   to
26    reimbursement  for  expenses  of  or the discount of provider
27    fees for health care  services  under  a  program  where  the
28    beneficiary  has  an  incentive  to utilize the services of a
29    provider which has entered into an agreement  or  arrangement
30    with an administrator.
31        (g)  "Administrator"  means  any  person,  partnership or
32    corporation, other than  an  insurer  or  health  maintenance
33    organization  holding  a  certificate  of authority under the
 
                            -29-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    "Health Maintenance Organization Act", as  now  or  hereafter
 2    amended,   that  arranges,  contracts  with,  or  administers
 3    contracts with a provider whereby beneficiaries are  provided
 4    an incentive to use the services of such provider.
 5        (h)  "Emergency   medical   condition"  means  a  medical
 6    condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of  sufficient
 7    severity   (including   severe  pain)  such  that  a  prudent
 8    layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of  health  and
 9    medicine,  could  reasonably  expect the absence of immediate
10    medical attention to result in:
11             (1)  placing the health of the individual (or,  with
12        respect  to  a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or
13        her unborn child) in serious jeopardy;
14             (2)  serious impairment to bodily functions; or
15             (3)  serious dysfunction  of  any  bodily  organ  or
16        part.  "Emergency"  means  an accidental bodily injury or
17        emergency medical condition which reasonably requires the
18        beneficiary or insured to  seek  immediate  medical  care
19        under  circumstances  or  at  locations  which reasonably
20        preclude the beneficiary or insured from obtaining needed
21        medical care from a preferred provider.
22    (Source: P.A. 88-400.)

23        (215 ILCS 5/370s new)
24        Sec.  370s.  Managed  Care  Patients  Rights  Act.    All
25    administrators  shall  comply  with Sections 80 and 85 of the
26    Managed Care Patients Rights Act.

27        (215 ILCS 5/511.118 new)
28        Sec. 511.118.  Managed Care  Patients  Rights  Act.   All
29    administrators  are  subject to the provisions of Sections 80
30    and 85 of the Managed Care Patients Act.

31        Section 225.  The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act
 
                            -30-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    is amended by adding Section 8.6 as follows:

 2        (215 ILCS 105/8.6 new)
 3        Sec. 8.6.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act.  The plan  is
 4    subject  to the provisions of the Managed Care Patient Rights
 5    Act.

 6        Section 230.  The Health Care  Purchasing  Group  Act  is
 7    amended by changing Sections 15 and 20 as follows:

 8        (215 ILCS 123/15)
 9        Sec.  15.   Health  care  purchasing  groups; membership;
10    formation.
11        (a)  An HPG may be an organization formed by  2  or  more
12    employers  with no more than 500 covered employees each 2,500
13    covered individuals, an HPG  sponsor  or  a  risk-bearer  for
14    purposes  of  contracting for health insurance under this Act
15    to cover employees and dependents of  HPG  members.   An  HPG
16    shall  not  be  prevented from supplementing health insurance
17    coverage purchased under this Act by contracting for services
18    from entities licensed and authorized in Illinois to  provide
19    those services under the Dental Service Plan Act, the Limited
20    Health Service Organization Act, or Voluntary Health Services
21    Plans Act.  An HPG may be a separate legal entity or simply a
22    group  of  2  or more employers with no more than 500 covered
23    employees each 2,500  covered  individuals  aggregated  under
24    this  Act  by  an  HPG  sponsor  or risk-bearer for insurance
25    purposes.  There shall be no limit as to the number  of  HPGs
26    that  may  operate  in  any geographic area of the State.  No
27    insurance risk may be borne or  retained  by  the  HPG.   All
28    health   insurance  contracts  issued  to  the  HPG  must  be
29    delivered or issued for delivery in Illinois.
30        (b)  Members  of  an  HPG  must  be  Illinois   domiciled
31    employers,  except  that  an employer domiciled elsewhere may
 
                            -31-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    become a member of an Illinois HPG for the  sole  purpose  of
 2    insuring  its  employees whose place of employment is located
 3    within this State.   HPG  membership  may  include  employers
 4    having  no more than 500 covered employees each 2,500 covered
 5    individuals.
 6        (c)  If an HPG is formed by any 2 or more employers  with
 7    no  more  than  500  covered  employees  each  2,500  covered
 8    individuals,  it is authorized to negotiate, solicit, market,
 9    obtain proposals for, and enter into group or  master  health
10    insurance  contracts  on  behalf  of  its  members  and their
11    employees and employee dependents so long as it meets all  of
12    the following requirements:
13             (1)  The  HPG  must  be  an  organization having the
14        legal capacity to contract and having its legal situs  in
15        Illinois.
16             (2)  The   principal  persons  responsible  for  the
17        conduct  of  the  HPG  must  perform  their  HPG  related
18        functions in Illinois.
19             (3)  No HPG may collect premium in its name or  hold
20        or  manage  premium  or  claim  fund accounts unless duly
21        licensed  and  qualified  as  a  managing  general  agent
22        pursuant to Section 141a of the Illinois  Insurance  Code
23        or  a  third  party  administrator  pursuant  to  Section
24        511.105 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
25             (4)  If the HPG gives an offer, application, notice,
26        or proposal of insurance to an employer, it must disclose
27        to  that employer the total cost of the insurance.  Dues,
28        fees, or charges to be paid to the HPG, HPG  sponsor,  or
29        any  other  entity  as  a  condition  to  purchasing  the
30        insurance  must be itemized.  The HPG shall also disclose
31        to its members the amount of  any  dividends,  experience
32        refunds,  or  other  such  payments  it receives from the
33        risk-bearer.
34             (5)  An HPG must register with the  Director  before
 
                            -32-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        entering into a group or master health insurance contract
 2        on  behalf of its members and must renew the registration
 3        annually on forms and at times prescribed by the Director
 4        in rules specifying, at minimum, (i) the identity of  the
 5        officers  and directors, trustees, or attorney-in-fact of
 6        the HPG; (ii) a certification that those persons have not
 7        been convicted of any felony offense involving  a  breach
 8        of  fiduciary  duty or improper manipulation of accounts;
 9        and (iii) the number of employer members then enrolled in
10        the HPG, together with any other information that may  be
11        needed to carry out the purposes of this Act.
12             (6)  At  the  time  of initial registration and each
13        renewal thereof an HPG shall pay a fee  of  $100  to  the
14        Director.
15        (d)  If an HPG is formed by an HPG sponsor or risk-bearer
16    and the HPG performs no marketing, negotiation, solicitation,
17    or  proposing  of  insurance  to  HPG  members,  exclusive of
18    ministerial acts performed by individual employers to service
19    their own employees, then a group or master health  insurance
20    contract  may be issued in the name of the HPG and held by an
21    HPG  sponsor,  risk-bearer,  or  designated  employer  member
22    within the  State.   In  these  cases  the  HPG  requirements
23    specified in subsection (c) shall not be applicable, however:
24             (1)  the  group  or master health insurance contract
25        must contain a provision permitting the  contract  to  be
26        enforced  through  legal action initiated by any employer
27        member or by an employee of an HPG member  who  has  paid
28        premium for the coverage provided;
29             (2)  the  group  or master health insurance contract
30        must be available for inspection and copying by  any  HPG
31        member,  employee,  or  insured dependent at a designated
32        location within the State at all normal  business  hours;
33        and
34             (3)  any   information   concerning  HPG  membership
 
                            -33-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        required by rule under item (5) of subsection (c) must be
 2        provided by the  HPG  sponsor  in  its  registration  and
 3        renewal  forms  or  by  the  risk-bearer  in  its  annual
 4        reports.
 5    (Source: P.A. 90-337, eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

 6        (215 ILCS 123/20)
 7        Sec. 20.  HPG sponsors. Except as provided by Sections 15
 8    and  25  of  this  Act,  only a corporation authorized by the
 9    Secretary of State  to  transact  business  in  Illinois  may
10    sponsor  one  or  more  HPGs with no more than 100,000 10,000
11    covered individuals by negotiating, soliciting, or  servicing
12    health insurance contracts for HPGs and their members. Such a
13    corporation  may  assert  and maintain authority to act as an
14    HPG  sponsor  by  complying  with  all   of   the   following
15    requirements:
16             (1)  The    principal    officers    and   directors
17        responsible for the  conduct  of  the  HPG  sponsor  must
18        perform their HPG sponsor related functions in Illinois.
19             (2)  No  insurance  risk may be borne or retained by
20        the HPG sponsor; all health insurance contracts issued to
21        HPGs  through  the  HPG  sponsor  must  be  delivered  in
22        Illinois.
23             (3)  No HPG sponsor may collect premium in its  name
24        or  hold  or manage premium or claim fund accounts unless
25        duly qualified and licensed as a managing  general  agent
26        pursuant  to  Section 141a of the Illinois Insurance Code
27        or as a third party  administrator  pursuant  to  Section
28        511.105 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
29             (4)  If the HPG gives an offer, application, notice,
30        or proposal of insurance to an employer, it must disclose
31        the  total  cost of the insurance. Dues, fees, or charges
32        to be paid to the HPG, HPG sponsor, or any  other  entity
33        as  a  condition  to  purchasing  the  insurance  must be
 
                            -34-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1        itemized.  The HPG shall also disclose to its members the
 2        amount of any dividends,  experience  refunds,  or  other
 3        such payments it receives from the risk-bearer.
 4             (5)  An  HPG sponsor must register with the Director
 5        before  negotiating or soliciting  any  group  or  master
 6        health  insurance contract for any HPG and must renew the
 7        registration annually on forms and at times prescribed by
 8        the Director in rules specifying,  at  minimum,  (i)  the
 9        identity of the officers and directors of the HPG sponsor
10        corporation; (ii) a certification that those persons have
11        not  been  convicted  of  any  felony offense involving a
12        breach of fiduciary  duty  or  improper  manipulation  of
13        accounts;  (iii)  the  number  of  employer  members then
14        enrolled in each HPG sponsored; (iv) the  date  on  which
15        each  HPG  was  issued a group or master health insurance
16        contract, if any; and (v) the date  on  which  each  such
17        contract, if any, was terminated.
18             (6)  At  the  time  of initial registration and each
19        renewal thereof an HPG sponsor shall pay a fee of $100 to
20        the Director.
21    (Source: P.A. 90-337, eff. 1-1-98.)

22        Section 235.  The Health Maintenance Organization Act  is
23    amended  by  changing Sections 2-2 and 6-7 and adding Section
24    5-3.6 as follows:

25        (215 ILCS 125/2-2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1404)
26        Sec. 2-2.  Determination by Director; Health  Maintenance
27    Advisory Board.
28        (a)  Upon  receipt  of  an  application for issuance of a
29    certificate of authority, the Director shall transmit  copies
30    of   such  application  and  accompanying  documents  to  the
31    Director of the Illinois Department  of  Public  Health.  The
32    Director  of  the  Department  of  Public  Health  shall then
 
                            -35-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    determine whether the applicant for certificate of authority,
 2    with respect to health care services to be furnished: (1) has
 3    demonstrated the willingness and potential ability to  assure
 4    that such health care service will be provided in a manner to
 5    insure   both  availability  and  accessibility  of  adequate
 6    personnel  and  facilities  and   in   a   manner   enhancing
 7    availability,  accessibility,  and continuity of service; and
 8    (2)  has  arrangements,  established   in   accordance   with
 9    regulations  promulgated  by  the Department of Public Health
10    for an ongoing  quality  of  health  care  assurance  program
11    concerning   health   care   processes   and  outcomes.  Upon
12    investigation, the  Director  of  the  Department  of  Public
13    Health  shall  certify  to  the Director whether the proposed
14    Health Maintenance Organization  meets  the  requirements  of
15    this  subsection  (a).  If  the Director of the Department of
16    Public  Health  certifies   that   the   Health   Maintenance
17    Organization  does  not  meet  such  requirements,  he  shall
18    specify in what respect it is deficient.
19        There  is  created  in  the Department of Public Health a
20    Health Maintenance Advisory Board  composed  of  11  members.
21    Nine  9 members shall who have practiced in the health field,
22    4 of which shall have been or are currently affiliated with a
23    Health Maintenance Organization. Two of the members shall  be
24    members  of  the general public, one of whom is over 50 years
25    of age.  Each member shall be appointed by  the  Director  of
26    the  Department of Public Health and serve at the pleasure of
27    that Director and shall receive no compensation for  services
28    rendered  other  than  reimbursement  for  expenses. Six Five
29    members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy  in
30    the  membership  of  the  Advisory Board shall not impair the
31    right of a quorum to exercise  all  rights  and  perform  all
32    duties  of  the  Board. The Health Maintenance Advisory Board
33    has the power to review and comment  on  proposed  rules  and
34    regulations   to  be  promulgated  by  the  Director  of  the
 
                            -36-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    Department of  Public  Health  within  30  days  after  those
 2    proposed  rules  and  regulations  have been submitted to the
 3    Advisory Board.
 4        (b)  Issuance of a  certificate  of  authority  shall  be
 5    granted if the following conditions are met:
 6             (1)  the  requirements  of subsection (c) of Section
 7        2-1 have been fulfilled;
 8             (2)  the persons responsible for the conduct of  the
 9        affairs  of the applicant are competent, trustworthy, and
10        possess  good  reputations,  and  have  had   appropriate
11        experience, training or education;
12             (3)  the Director of the Department of Public Health
13        certifies  that  the  Health  Maintenance  Organization's
14        proposed plan of operation meets the requirements of this
15        Act;
16             (4)  the  Health  Care  Plan  furnishes basic health
17        care services on a prepaid basis,  through  insurance  or
18        otherwise,   except   to   the   extent   of   reasonable
19        requirements for co-payments or deductibles as authorized
20        by this Act;
21             (5)  the    Health   Maintenance   Organization   is
22        financially responsible and may reasonably be expected to
23        meet  its  obligations  to  enrollees   and   prospective
24        enrollees;  in  making  this  determination, the Director
25        shall consider:
26                  (A)  the financial soundness of the applicant's
27             arrangements for health  services  and  the  minimum
28             standard   rates,   co-payments  and  other  patient
29             charges used in connection therewith;
30                  (B)  the adequacy  of  working  capital,  other
31             sources    of    funding,    and    provisions   for
32             contingencies; and
33                  (C)  that no certificate of authority shall  be
34             issued  if  the  initial  minimum  net  worth of the
 
                            -37-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1             applicant is less than $2,000,000. The  initial  net
 2             worth  shall  be  provided in cash and securities in
 3             combination and form acceptable to the Director;
 4             (6)  the agreements with providers for the provision
 5        of health services contain  the  provisions  required  by
 6        Section 2-8 of this Act; and
 7             (7)  any  deficiencies  identified  by  the Director
 8        have been corrected.
 9    (Source: P.A. 86-620; 86-1475.)

10        (215 ILCS 125/5-3.6 new)
11        Sec. 5-3.6.   Managed Care Patient  Rights  Act.   Health
12    maintenance  organizations  are  subject to the provisions of
13    the Managed Care Patient Rights Act.

14        (215 ILCS 125/6-7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1418.7)
15        Sec. 6-7.  Board of Directors.  The board of directors of
16    the Association consists of not less than 7 5 nor  more  than
17    11  9  members  serving  terms  as established in the plan of
18    operation.  The members of the board are to  be  selected  by
19    member organizations subject to the approval of the Director,
20    except  the  Director  shall  name  2 members who are current
21    enrollees, one of whom is over 50 years of age.  Vacancies on
22    the board must be filled for the remaining period of the term
23    in the manner described in the plan of operation.  To  select
24    the  initial  board  of directors, and initially organize the
25    Association, the Director must  give  notice  to  all  member
26    organizations  of  the  time  and place of the organizational
27    meeting.  In determining voting rights at the  organizational
28    meeting  each  member organization is entitled to one vote in
29    person or by  proxy.   If  the  board  of  directors  is  not
30    selected  at  the  organizational  meeting,  the Director may
31    appoint the initial members.
32        In approving selections or in appointing members  to  the
 
                            -38-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    board,   the  Director  must  consider,  whether  all  member
 2    organizations are fairly represented.
 3        Members of the board may be reimbursed from the assets of
 4    the Association for expenses incurred by them as  members  of
 5    the  board  of  directors  but  members  of the board may not
 6    otherwise  be  compensated  by  the  Association  for   their
 7    services.
 8    (Source: P.A. 85-20.)

 9        Section 240.  The Limited Health Service Organization Act
10    is amended by adding Section 4002.6 as follows:

11        (215 ILCS 130/4002.6 new)
12        Sec.  4002.6.  Managed  Care  Patient Rights Act.  Except
13    for health care plans offering only dental services  or  only
14    vision  services,  limited  health  service organizations are
15    subject to the provisions of the Managed Care Patient  Rights
16    Act.

17        Section  245.  The Voluntary Health Services Plans Act is
18    amended by adding Section 15.30 as follows:

19        (215 ILCS 165/15.30 new)
20        Sec. 15.30.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act.   A  health
21    service  plan corporation is subject to the provisions of the
22    Managed Care Patient Rights Act.

23        Section 250.  The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended  by
24    adding Section 5-16.12 as follows:

25        (305 ILCS 5/5-16.12 new)
26        Sec.  5-16.12.   Managed  Care  Patient  Rights Act.  The
27    medical assistance program and other programs administered by
28    the Department are subject to the provisions of  the  Managed
 
                            -39-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1    Care  Patient  Rights Act.  The Department may adopt rules to
 2    implement  those  provisions.   These  rules  shall   require
 3    compliance  with  that  Act in the medical assistance managed
 4    care  programs  and  other  programs  administered   by   the
 5    Department.   The  medical assistance fee-for-service program
 6    is not subject to the provisions of the Managed Care  Patient
 7    Rights Act.

 8        Section  299.   Effective  date.   This  Act takes effect
 9    January 1, 2000.
 
                            -40-              LRB9100767JSpcA
 1                                INDEX
 2               Statutes amended in order of appearance
 3    New Act
 4    5 ILCS 375/6.12 new
 5    30 ILCS 805/8.23 new
 6    55 ILCS 5/5-1069.8 new
 7    65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.8 new
 8    215 ILCS 5/155.36 new
 9    215 ILCS 5/370g           from Ch. 73, par. 982g
10    215 ILCS 5/370s new
11    215 ILCS 5/511.118 new
12    215 ILCS 105/8.6 new
13    215 ILCS 123/15
14    215 ILCS 123/20
15    215 ILCS 125/2-2          from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1404
16    215 ILCS 125/5-3.6 new
17    215 ILCS 125/6-7          from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1418.7
18    215 ILCS 130/4002.6 new
19    215 ILCS 165/15.30 new
20    305 ILCS 5/5-16.12 new

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