HB0223eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0223 Engrossed LRB097 05884 RPM 45953 b

AN ACT concerning health care.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Health Care Justice Implementation Act of 2011.

Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly recognizes that the U.S. census reported that on any given day an estimated 1,800,000 Illinoisans are without health insurance. With new federal health care reform legislation the number of uninsured Illinoisans will decrease dramatically. However, there will still be tens of thousands of uninsured Illinoisans. The General Assembly believes that the State must work in cooperation with the federal government to implement these federal reforms effectively and in a thoughtful and expedited manner.

Section 10. Health Care Justice Implementation Act of 2011 plan. On or before September 1, 2011 the Health Care Justice Implementation Task Force shall be created to accomplish, subject to appropriation, the following mission:

(1) Monitor the implementation of federal reforms and make recommendations. The Task Force shall monitor the implementation of federal reforms and make recommendations to the executive and legislative branches of Illinois government concerning implementation. The Task Force shall file with the General Assembly a recommendation report by January 1st of every year as it pertains to those reforms that will need to be implemented in that year. In addition, a quarterly assessment shall be developed as it pertains to how State government's process of implementing these federal reforms is progressing.

(2) Additional recommendations regarding reforms. The Task Force shall issue a report on March 1, 2013 regarding additional reforms needed to fully comply with Section 10 of this Act.

(3) Assessment of current programs. The Task Force shall issue recommendations and positions on a wide range of issues, as seen fit by Task Force members, as it pertains to existing programs and needed changes to these programs.

(4) Recommendations concerning the Illinois State Health Insurance Plan. By March 1, 2013, the Task Force shall recommend a plan for the implementation of a statewide health insurance plan offered by the State to be known as the Illinois State Health Insurance Plan, under which any Illinois resident may purchase medical care and services available to recipients of medical assistance under the Public Aid Code. The Illinois State Health Insurance Plan shall be developed and offered as an affordable option that may be selected by a person in relation to the operation of a health insurance exchange in this State. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer the Illinois Health Insurance Plan, either directly or by contract, separate from the plans and programs that it otherwise administers. The Task Force shall include in its recommendations the structure and function of an oversight panel responsible for reviewing and approving the criteria, standards, and procedures for the operation of the plan and for conducting oversight of the operation of the Illinois Health Insurance Plan. The Illinois Health Insurance Plan shall:

(A) provide comprehensive health benefits that meet all of the federal requirements for credible coverage, including coverage for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health services, alcohol and substance abuse services, habilitative services, preventative services, nursing home care, rehabilitation, home health services, eye care, and dental care; and

(B) be financed through various means, including, but not limited to, payments of premiums by enrollees, deductibles and copayments, income contributions by enrollees, federal funding, grants and contributions, appropriations of revenues generated under the Illinois Health Insurance Plan, and any other revenue designated by the General Assembly or purposed for health care or health care education.

Section 15. Health Care Justice Implementation Task Force.

There is created a Health Care Justice Implementation Task Force. The Task Force shall consist of 29 voting members appointed as follows: 13 shall be appointed by the Governor; 4 shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, 4 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, 4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 4 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The Task Force shall have a chairman and a vice-chairman who shall be elected by the voting members at the first meeting of the Task Force. The Director of Public Health or his or her designee, the Director of Aging or his or her designee, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee, the Director of Insurance or his or her designee, and the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee shall represent their respective departments and shall be invited to attend Task Force meetings, but shall not be members of the Task Force. The members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this Act and hold its first meeting within 30 days thereafter. The departments of State government represented on the Task Force shall work cooperatively to provide administrative support for the Task Force; the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Insurance shall be the primary agencies in providing that administrative support.

Section 20. Public hearings. The Task Force shall seek public input on all 4 of its mission goals by holding 4 public hearings each year throughout the State. Each State Representative and State Senator shall be invited to participate in each hearing and help to gather input from interested parties. A web site for the Task Force shall be developed and linked to the Governor's home page for input to be provided and to keep the public informed. The Task Force's web site shall be specifically highlighted and have independent pages reporting all activities and linkages for people to access. Minutes from all of the Task Force's meetings shall be available on the web site, and a hard copy of this information shall also be made available for those persons without access to the Task Force's web site. The Task Force may also consult with health care providers, health care consumers, hospitals, labor unions, businesses, insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other appropriate individuals and organizations to assist in the development of the health care access plan.

(20 ILCS 4045/Act rep.)

Section 25. The Health Care Justice Act is repealed.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2011.