Public Act 0941 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5241 Enrolled LRB096 16158 KTG 31409 b

Public Act 096-0941

AN ACT concerning public aid.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-2.01 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.01 new)

Sec. 5-2.01. Medicaid accountability through transparency program.

(a) Internet-based transparency program. The Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be authorized to implement a program under which the Director shall make available through the Department's public Internet website information on medical claims reimbursed under the State's medical assistance program insofar as such information has been de-identified in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In implementing the program, the Director shall ensure the following:

(1) The information made so available shall be in a format that is easily accessible, useable, and understandable to the public, including individuals interested in improving the quality of care provided to individuals eligible for items and services under this Article, researchers, health care providers, and individuals interested in reducing the prevalence of waste and fraud under this Article.

(2) The information made so available shall be as current as deemed practical by the Director and shall be updated at least once per calendar quarter.

(3) The information made so available shall be aggregated to a level to ensure patient confidentiality, but shall, to the extent feasible, allow for posting of information by provider or vendor name and county, number of individuals served, total patient visits, payment for bills submitted, average cost for bills submitted, adjustments to payments, and total amounts paid.

(4) The Director periodically solicits comments from a sampling of individuals who access the information through the program on how to best improve the utility of the program.

(b) Use of contractor. For purposes of implementing the program under subsection (a) of this Section and ensuring the information made available through the program is periodically updated, the Director may select and enter into a contract with a public or private entity meeting the criteria and qualifications the Director determines appropriate.

(c) Annual Reports. Not later than 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to the General Assembly a report on the status of the program authorized under subsection (a). The report shall include details including, but not limited to, the estimated or actual costs of developing and maintaining the reporting system, the actual or potential benefit or adverse consequences associated with the system, and, if applicable, the extent to which information made available through the program is accessed and the extent to which comments received under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section were used to improve the utility of the program.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.