Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2579
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 Bill Status of SB2579  102nd General Assembly


Short Description:  HOSPITAL DISCRMINATORY PRICING

Senate Sponsors
Sen. Barack Obama - Iris Y. Martinez - Jeffrey M. Schoenberg - Jacqueline Y. Collins - Don Harmon, Rickey R. Hendon, Christine Radogno, Martin A. Sandoval, Donne E. Trotter, Mattie Hunter and Kimberly A. Lightford

House Sponsors
(Rep. Mary E. Flowers - Harry Osterman - Michael P. McAuliffe - Deborah L. Graham - Marlow H. Colvin and Monique D. Davis)

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

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act
210 ILCS 85/7from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 148


Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Hospital Discriminatory Pricing Reform Act and amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires every hospital to develop an "assistance to the uninsured" policy specifying how the hospital will determine the financial liability for services rendered to uninsured patients. Requires that the policy address charity care. Requires notice of the policy to patients. Limits debt collection activities by a hospital. Provides that a violation of the Hospital Discriminatory Pricing Reform Act may subject a hospital to suspension or revocation of its license. Also provides for civil penalties and for a private right of action. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Hospital Charity Assistance Act. Provides that every hospital (except a hospital that does not charge for its services or a hospital that is granted an exemption by the Department of Public Health) must adopt a charity assistance policy specifying how the hospital will determine the financial liability for medically necessary services rendered to financially qualified uninsured patients. Sets forth certain responsibilities of an uninsured patient as a condition of receiving charity assistance. Requires a hospital to make reasonable efforts to obtain from a patient or his or her representative information about whether private or public health insurance or sponsorship may fully or partially cover the charges for care rendered by the hospital to the patient. Provides that for at least 70 days after an uninsured patient's discharge, a hospital or its assignee or billing service shall not file a lawsuit to collect payment on the patient's bill, and imposes other limitations on a hospital's debt collection activities. In the case of a violation of the Act, provides for a hospital's plan of correction, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, and injunctive relief. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be used by any private or public third party payer as a basis for reducing their payment rates or policies, and imposes other limitations. Provides that a home rule unit may not regulate hospitals in a manner inconsistent with the Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act; provides for sanctions against a hospital for a substantial failure to comply with the Hospital Charity Assistance Act. Effective immediately.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/4/2004SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Barack Obama
  2/4/2004SenateFirst Reading
  2/4/2004SenateReferred to Rules
  2/4/2004SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Iris Y. Martinez
  2/4/2004SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg
  2/10/2004SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins
  2/10/2004SenateAssigned to Health & Human Services
  2/19/2004SenateDo Pass Health & Human Services; 008-001-002
  2/19/2004SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 20, 2004
  3/22/2004SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Barack Obama
  3/22/2004SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules
  3/23/2004SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Health & Human Services
  3/23/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rickey R. Hendon
  3/24/2004SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Be Approved for Consideration Health & Human Services; 010-000-000
  3/24/2004SenateSecond Reading
  3/24/2004SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Obama
  3/24/2004SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 25, 2004
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Christine Radogno
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Martin A. Sandoval
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donne E. Trotter
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter
  3/25/2004SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
  3/25/2004SenateThird Reading - Passed; 056-000-000
  3/29/2004HouseArrived in House
  3/29/2004HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  3/29/2004HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
  3/29/2004HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman
  3/29/2004HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe
  3/29/2004HouseFirst Reading
  3/29/2004HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  3/31/2004HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Deborah L. Graham
  3/31/2004HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin
  4/2/2004HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Monique D. Davis
  4/20/2004HouseAssigned to Health Care Availability and Access Committee
  4/30/2004HouseCommittee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b); May 31, 2004
  5/5/2004HouseMotion to Suspend Rule 25 - Prevailed
  6/1/2004HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  1/11/2005SenateSession Sine Die

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