Bill Status of HB2719  103rd General Assembly


Short Description:  FAIR PATIENT BILLING-SCREENING

House Sponsors
Rep. Dagmara Avelar - Anna Moeller - Lakesia Collins - William "Will" Davis - Will Guzzardi, Joyce Mason, Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Eva-Dina Delgado, Nicholas K. Smith, Aaron M. Ortiz, Lilian Jiménez, Abdelnasser Rashid, Barbara Hernandez, Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, Hoan Huynh, Theresa Mah, Ann M. Williams, Kelly M. Cassidy, Laura Faver Dias, Kevin John Olickal, Lindsey LaPointe, Carol Ammons, Anne Stava-Murray, Edgar Gonzalez, Jr., Norma Hernandez, Maura Hirschauer, Justin Slaughter, Nabeela Syed, Janet Yang Rohr, Kam Buckner, Gregg Johnson, Jenn Ladisch Douglass, Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Matt Hanson, Bob Morgan and Debbie Meyers-Martin

Senate Sponsors
(Sen. Robert Peters - Karina Villa - Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas - Javier L. Cervantes - Doris Turner, Rachel Ventura, Laura M. Murphy, Mike Simmons, Celina Villanueva, Elgie R. Sims, Jr. and Emil Jones, III)

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  7/28/2023HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0323

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
210 ILCS 88/5
210 ILCS 88/10
210 ILCS 88/16 new
210 ILCS 88/17 new
210 ILCS 88/30
210 ILCS 88/34 new
210 ILCS 89/15


Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that a hospital shall screen each uninsured patient for eligibility in State and federal health insurance programs, financial assistance offered by the hospital, and other public programs that may assist with health care costs and provide information about those programs. For an insured patient, requires the hospital to screen the patient for discounted care in specified circumstances. Provides that the screenings and all follow-up assistance must be culturally competent, in the patient's primary language, in plain language, and in an accessible format. Requires a hospital to implement an operational plan and trainings relating to screenings. Prohibits hospitals from pursuing collection actions against uninsured patients if they have not completed the screening requirements. Includes a prohibition on the sale of medical debt, limitations on collection actions, penalties for violating the Act's provisions, and defenses against collection actions pursued in violation of the provisions. Makes other changes. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that a patient declining to apply for a public health insurance program on the basis of concern for immigration-related consequences shall not be grounds for denying financial assistance under a hospital's financial assistance policy.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
210 ILCS 88/17 new
210 ILCS 88/34 new
Adds reference to:
210 ILCS 76/22
210 ILCS 88/45
210 ILCS 88/70

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Requires a hospital to screen each uninsured patient, upon the uninsured patient's agreement, at the earliest reasonable moment for potential eligibility for public health insurance programs and financial assistance offered by the hospital. Requires all screening activities, including initial screenings and all follow-up assistance, to be provided in compliance with the Language Assistance Services Act and other applicable federal and State laws and regulations. Requires a hospital to screen an insured patient for hospital financial assistance in specified circumstances. Provides that a hospital may not pursue collection action against an uninsured patient unless the hospital has complied with the screening requirements and applied for and exhausted any discount available to the patient under specified provisions. Provides that a hospital may not refer a bill, or portion thereof, to a collection agency or attorney for collection action against an insured patient without first ensuring compliance with the screening requirements. Provides that the obligations of hospitals under the amendatory Act apply to services provided on or after the first day of the month that begins 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines terms. Amends the Community Benefits Act. Requires a hospital to make available to the public the number of uninsured patients who have declined or failed to respond to the screening for eligibility for public health insurance programs financial assistance offered by the hospital and the 5 most frequent reasons for declining. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that, if a patient declines to apply for a public health insurance program on the basis of concern for immigration-related consequences, the hospital may refer the patient to a free, unbiased resource, such as an Immigrant Family Resource Program, to address the patient's immigration-related concerns and assist in enrolling the patient in a public health insurance program and the hospital may still screen the patient for eligibility under hospital’s financial assistance policy. Requires hospitals to permit an uninsured patient to apply for a discount within 90 days of the completion of the screening under the Fair Patient Billing Act or denial of an application for a public health insurance program. Makes other and conforming changes.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
In provisions concerning screening patients for health insurance and financial assistance, removes language providing that all screening activities must be provided in compliance with other applicable federal and State laws and regulations. Removes language providing that nothing in the provisions is intended to extend the enforcement authority of the Office of the Attorney General beyond any authority not otherwise granted.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/15/2023HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  2/16/2023HouseFirst Reading
  2/16/2023HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/28/2023HouseAssigned to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicholas K. Smith
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
  3/2/2023HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/2/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
  3/7/2023HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee; 006-003-000
  3/8/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  3/13/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
  3/16/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams
  3/16/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  3/16/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
  3/20/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
  3/20/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
  3/20/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
  3/20/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
  3/21/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  3/21/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  3/22/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
  3/22/2023HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  3/22/2023HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  3/22/2023HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  3/23/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee; 007-000-000
  3/23/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lakesia Collins
  3/23/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
  3/23/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  3/24/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner
  3/24/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson
  3/24/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass
  3/24/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
  3/24/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson
  3/24/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  3/24/2023HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  3/24/2023HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-032-000
  3/27/2023SenateArrive in Senate
  3/27/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  3/27/2023SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters
  3/27/2023SenateFirst Reading
  3/27/2023SenateReferred to Assignments
  3/30/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
  3/30/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas
  4/18/2023SenateAssigned to Health and Human Services
  4/21/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters
  4/21/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
  4/25/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Health and Human Services
  4/25/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Health and Human Services
  4/26/2023SenateDo Pass as Amended Health and Human Services; 009-005-000
  4/26/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 27, 2023
  4/26/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner
  5/3/2023SenateSecond Reading
  5/3/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 4, 2023
  5/5/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
  5/5/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
  5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva
  5/11/2023SenateThird Reading - Passed; 038-016-000
  5/11/2023HouseArrived in House
  5/11/2023HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
  5/12/2023HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  5/12/2023HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
  5/15/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
  5/16/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan
  5/17/2023HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
  5/18/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III
  5/18/2023HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 077-036-000
  5/18/2023HouseHouse Concurs
  5/18/2023HousePassed Both Houses
  5/18/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin
  6/16/2023HouseSent to the Governor
  7/28/2023HouseGovernor Approved
  7/28/2023HouseEffective Date January 1, 2024
  7/28/2023HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0323