Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB1431

HB1431 Enrolled LRB104 06839 BAB 16875 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Fair Patient Billing Act is amended by adding Section 12 and by changing Section 55 as follows:

(210 ILCS 88/12 new)

Sec. 12. Facility fee disclosure. If a hospital charges a facility fee for outpatient services separate and distinct from a professional fee, then the hospital shall develop a policy to inform patients as soon as reasonably practicable that they may be subject to a facility fee. The policy shall include, but not be limited to, the method the facility will use to inform patients that they may be charged a facility fee; the services and operating expenses generally covered by facility fees; the reason for charging a facility fee on the patient or patient's health plan; and contact information to allow the patient to request more information.

(210 ILCS 88/55)

Sec. 55. Enforcement.

(a) The Attorney General is responsible for administering and ensuring compliance with this Act, including the development of any rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this Act.

(b) The Attorney General shall develop and implement a process for receiving and handling complaints from individuals or hospitals regarding possible violations of this Act.

(c) The Attorney General may conduct any investigation deemed necessary regarding possible violations of this Act by any hospital including, without limitation, the issuance of subpoenas to: (i) require the hospital to file a statement or report or answer interrogatories in writing as to all information relevant to the alleged violations; (ii) examine under oath any person who possesses knowledge or information directly related to the alleged violations; and (iii) examine any record, book, document, account, or paper necessary to investigate the alleged violation.

(d) If the Attorney General determines that there is a reason to believe that any hospital has violated the Act, the Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the People of the State against the hospital to obtain temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief for any act, policy, or practice by the hospital that violates this Act. Before bringing such an action, the Attorney General may permit the hospital to submit a Correction Plan for the Attorney General's approval.

(e) This Section applies if:

(i) a court orders a party to make payments to the Attorney General and the payments are to be used for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General; or

(ii) a party agrees in a Correction Plan under this Act, to make payments to the Attorney General for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General.

(f) Moneys paid under any of the conditions described in (e) shall be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, for the performance of any function pertaining to the exercise of the duties to the Attorney General including, but not limited to, enforcement of any law of this State and conducting public education programs; however, any moneys in the Fund that are required by the court to be used for a particular purpose shall be used for that purpose.

(g) The Attorney General may seek the assessment of one or more of the following civil monetary penalties in any action filed under this Act where the hospital knowingly violates the Act:

(1) For violations, involving a pattern or practice, of not providing the information to patients under Sections 12, 15, 20, 25, and 50, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 per violation.

(2) For violations involving the failure to engage in or refrain from certain activities under Sections 30, 35 and 40, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $1000 per violation.

(h) In the event a court grants a final order of relief against any hospital for a violation of this Act, the Attorney General may, after all appeal rights have been exhausted, refer the hospital to the Illinois Department of Public Health for possible adverse licensure action under the Hospital Licensing Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)