102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5219

 

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
215 ILCS 5/356z.52 new
305 ILCS 5/5-45 new

    Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Prescription Produce Program to allow cancer patients who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance to receive coverage for fresh produce as they undergo cancer treatment. Provides that under the program, the Department shall provide Prescription Produce Program coupons to eligible persons who have a prescription from a licensed physician for fresh produce as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Provides that coupon holders may redeem their coupons at any participating food retailer. Provides that farmers markets located in "food deserts" and grocery stores that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may participate in the program as designated retailers that accept Prescription Produce Program coupons. Permits the Department to provide incentives to solicit food retailers to participate in the program. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act may provide coverage for fresh food prescribed by a licensed physician as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Defines "fresh food" to mean fresh food grown in the earth such as fruit, vegetables, and grain.


LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5219LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Fresh Food
5Access for Cancer Patients Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
7adding Section 356z.52 as follows:
 
8    (215 ILCS 5/356z.52 new)
9    Sec. 356z.52. Fresh food for cancer patients. A group or
10individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed
11care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after
12the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
13Assembly may provide coverage for fresh food prescribed by a
14licensed physician as part of any cancer treatment regimen. As
15used in this Section, "fresh food" means fresh food grown in
16the earth such as fruit, vegetables, and grain.
 
17    Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
18adding Section 5-45 as follows:
 
19    (305 ILCS 5/5-45 new)
20    Sec. 5-45. Prescription Produce Program.

 

 

HB5219- 2 -LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b

1    (a) Findings.
2        (1) Social factors are associated with cancer risk.
3    The following estimates are discussed due to their
4    importance in understanding the factors that may affect
5    cancer incidence, mortality, treatment, and survivorship.
6        (2) Compared to the U.S. average, cancer incidence and
7    mortality rates indicate that Illinois residents generally
8    experience higher rates of cancer incidence and death.
9    Certain groups suffer disproportionately from cancer
10    incidence based on age, education, ethnicity, gender,
11    disability, geographic location, income, and race. Racial
12    and ethnic disparities play a role in cancer incidence and
13    mortality rate that are present in Illinois, as well as
14    low socioeconomic status.
15        (3) Access to fresh fruit and vegetables and other
16    heart-healthy food is important to reducing the risk of
17    cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic
18    illnesses. A report conducted by the Mari Gallagher
19    Research and Consulting Group in 2006 investigated the
20    determinants of food deserts in Chicago. The study found
21    that access to particular types of food providers was
22    linked to community demographics.
23        (4) In Chicago, the Mari Gallagher study found access
24    to grocery stores and fast food establishments to be
25    related to years of potential life lost and death rates
26    from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

 

 

HB5219- 3 -LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b

1        (5) Medicaid is an important source of coverage for
2    people with cancer and cancer survivors. More than
3    2,000,000 Americans (children and adults under age 65)
4    with a history of cancer rely on Medicaid for their health
5    care, and in 2014 nearly one in 3 children diagnosed with
6    cancer were enrolled in Medicaid at the time of their
7    diagnosis.
8        (6) For cancer patients and other individuals
9    diagnosed with a serious medical condition for which
10    expensive treatment is necessary, Medicaid provides
11    individuals and families with financial protection.
12    Medicaid covers the cost of their medical treatment so
13    that they do not have to face financial distress or
14    bankruptcy in order to seek medical care.
15        (7) Coverage of fresh food by the State's Medical
16    Assistance program would result in a direct impact in
17    reducing costs for low-income residents in Illinois
18    located in or near a food desert for fresh food during
19    cancer treatment.
20    (b) Definitions.
21        "Cancer treatment" means any treatment that is
22    required for a cancer patient including, but not limited
23    to, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and any other
24    physical, medical, psychiatric, or counseling treatment
25    prescribed by a licensed physician.
26        "Cancer patient" means any individual undergoing

 

 

HB5219- 4 -LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b

1    cancer treatments who has been diagnosed with cancer by a
2    licensed physician.
3        "Fresh food" means fresh food grown in the earth such
4    as fruit, vegetables, and grain.
5        "Food deserts" means any urban area in the State in
6    which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality
7    fresh food.
8    (c) Prescription Produce Program. The Department of
9Healthcare and Family Services shall establish a Prescription
10Produce Program to allow cancer patients who are otherwise
11eligible for medical assistance to receive coverage for fresh
12produce as they undergo cancer treatment. Under the program,
13the Department shall provide Prescription Produce Program
14coupons to eligible persons who have a prescription from a
15licensed physician for fresh produce as part of any cancer
16treatment regimen. Coupon holders may redeem their coupons at
17any participating food retailer. Farmers markets located in
18"food deserts" and grocery stores that accept Supplemental
19Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may participate in the
20program as designated retailers that accept Prescription
21Produce Program coupons. The Department may provide incentives
22to solicit food retailers to participate in the program. The
23Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the
24program.