SB2337 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14790 KTG 20143 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2337

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-41 new

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to ensure that patients experiencing opioid-related overdose or withdrawal are admitted on inpatient status, rather than observation status, for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance to a safety-net hospital. Prohibits managed care organizations from denying inpatient coverage to safety-net hospitals for patients presenting with opioid overdose or withdrawal diagnosis for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 5-41 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-41 new)

Sec. 5-41. Inpatient hospitalization for opioid-related overdose or withdrawal patients. Due to the disproportionately high opioid-related fatality rates among African Americans in under-resourced communities in Illinois, the lack of community resources, the comorbidities experienced by these patients, and the high rate of hospital readmission associated with this population when improperly treated, the Department shall ensure that patients experiencing opioid-related overdose or withdrawal are admitted on inpatient status, rather than observation status, for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance to a safety-net hospital. Managed care organizations may not deny inpatient coverage to safety-net hospitals for patients presenting with opioid overdose or withdrawal diagnosis for at least 48 hours from the time of admittance.