HB0279 EngrossedLRB097 06643 RPM 46729 b

1    AN ACT concerning public health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Medical Patient Rights Act is amended by
5changing Section 5 and adding Sections 5.1 and 5.2 as follows:
 
6    (410 ILCS 50/5)
7    Sec. 5. Statement of hospital patient's rights.
8    (a) Each patient admitted to a hospital, and the guardian
9or authorized representative or parent of a minor patient,
10shall be given a written statement of all the rights enumerated
11in this Act, or a similar statement of patients' rights
12required of the hospital by the Joint Commission on
13Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or a similar
14accrediting organization. The statement shall be given at the
15time of admission or as soon thereafter as the condition of the
16patient permits.
17    (b) If a patient is unable to read the written statement, a
18hospital shall make a reasonable effort to provide it to the
19guardian or authorized representative of the patient.
20    (c) The statement shall also include the right not to be
21discriminated against by the hospital due to the patient's
22race, color, or national origin where such characteristics are
23not relevant to the patient's medical diagnosis and treatment.

 

 

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1The statement shall further provide each admitted patient or
2the patient's representative or guardian with notice of how to
3initiate a grievance regarding improper discrimination with
4the hospital and how the patient may lodge a grievance with the
5Illinois Department of Public Health regardless of whether the
6patient has first used the hospital's grievance process.
7(Source: P.A. 88-56; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
 
8    (410 ILCS 50/5.1 new)
9    Sec. 5.1. Discrimination grievance procedures. Upon
10receipt of a grievance alleging unlawful discrimination on the
11basis of race, color, or national origin, the hospital must
12investigate the claim and work with the patient to address
13valid or proven concerns in accordance with the hospital's
14grievance process. At the conclusion of the hospital's
15grievance process, the hospital shall inform the patient that
16such grievances may be reported to the Illinois Department of
17Public Health if not resolved to the patient's satisfaction at
18the hospital level.
 
19    (410 ILCS 50/5.2 new)
20    Sec. 5.2. Emergency room anti-discrimination notice. Every
21hospital shall post a sign next to or in close proximity of its
22sign required by Section 489.20 (q)(1) of Title 42 of the Code
23of Federal Regulations stating the following:
24    "You have the right not to be discriminated against by the

 

 

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1hospital due to your race, color, or national origin if these
2characteristics are unrelated to your diagnosis or treatment.
3If you believe this right has been violated, please call
4(insert number for hospital grievance officer).".
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.