HB5241 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16158 KTG 31409 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5241

Introduced 2/3/2010, by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-2.01 new

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that not later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement an internet-based transparency program under which the Director shall make available through the Department's Internet website non-aggregated information on individuals collected under the State's Medicaid program insofar as such information has been de-identified in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Imposes certain standards on the presentation of such information. Contains provisions concerning reporting requirements.

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 5-2.01 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.01 new)

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

(a) Internet-based transparency program. Not later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement a program under which the Director shall make available through the Department's public Internet website non-aggregated information on individuals collected under the State's Medicaid 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 is 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 is as current as deemed practical by the Director and shall be updated at least once per calendar quarter.

(3) To the extent feasible:

(A) All hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and large physician practices included in such information are identifiable by name to individuals who access the information through the program.

(B) All individual health care providers not described in subparagraph (A), including physicians and dentists, are identifiable by unique identifier numbers that are disclosed only to appropriate officials within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(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 2 years 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 progress of the program under subsection (a) of this Section, including on 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 during the year involved to improve the utility of the program.