Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB6545
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

 Bill Status of HB6545  93rd General Assembly


Short Description:  MEDICAL LIABILITY AND ACCESS

House Sponsors
Rep. Tom Cross

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  1/11/2005HouseSession Sine Die

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act
20 ILCS 2310/2310-220was 20 ILCS 2310/55.73
215 ILCS 5/155.18a new
305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new
710 ILCS 15/8from Ch. 10, par. 208
710 ILCS 15/9from Ch. 10, par. 209
735 ILCS 5/2-622from Ch. 110, par. 2-622
735 ILCS 5/2-625 new
735 ILCS 5/2-1107.1from Ch. 110, par. 2-1107.1
735 ILCS 5/2-1109from Ch. 110, par. 2-1109
735 ILCS 5/2-1702from Ch. 110, par. 2-1702
735 ILCS 5/2-1704from Ch. 110, par. 2-1704
735 ILCS 5/8-802from Ch. 110, par. 8-802
735 ILCS 5/8-1901from Ch. 110, par. 8-1901
735 ILCS 5/8-2501from Ch. 110, par. 8-2501
735 ILCS 5/8-2505 new
735 ILCS 5/13-217from Ch. 110, par. 13-217
740 ILCS 110/9from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 809
740 ILCS 110/10from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 810
740 ILCS 180/1from Ch. 70, par. 1
745 ILCS 49/30


Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. Requires that the Department of Public Health establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for physicians who practice in Illinois. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time as a physician, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $25,000. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to award grants to all practicing physicians (instead of only to physicians offering obstetrical medical services in rural areas) for the purpose of reimbursing the costs of obtaining malpractice insurance. Requires the Department to establish reasonable conditions, standards, and duties relating to the grants. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for an increase in the rates paid to every vendor of goods or services under the Medicaid program so that those rates are equal to the rates paid to such vendors under Medicare. Provides for implementation of the rate increase over a 3-year period. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Limits attorney's fees in individual actions to $1,000,000 including expenses. Changes the standards that the court shall apply to determine if a witness qualifies as an expert witness as follows: (i) requires the court to determine whether the witness is board certified or board eligible in the same medical specialties as the defendant and is familiar with the same medical problems or the type of treatment administered in the case (instead of the same relationship of the medical specialties of the witness to the medical problem and the type of treatment in the case); (ii) requires the court to determine whether the witness has devoted 75% (instead of a substantial portion) of his or her working hours to the practice of medicine, teaching, or university-based research in relation to the medical care and type of treatment at issue; and (iii) requires the court to determine whether the witness is licensed by any state or the District of Columbia (instead of just licensed). Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act. Provides that the immunity for civil damages provided for services performed without compensation at free medical clinics also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation. Makes various other changes in other Acts concerning health care. Effective immediately.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/6/2004HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Tom Cross
  2/6/2004HouseFirst Reading
  2/6/2004HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  1/11/2005HouseSession Sine Die

Back To Top