State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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90_SB1666

      5 ILCS 375/6.12 new
      55 ILCS 5/5-1069.8 new
      65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.8 new
      215 ILCS 5/155.36 new
      215 ILCS 5/356w new
      215 ILCS 5/370s new
      215 ILCS 5/511.118 new
      215 ILCS 105/8.6 new
      215 ILCS 125/5-3.6 new
      215 ILCS 130/4002.6 new
      215 ILCS 110/48 new
      215 ILCS 165/15.30 new
      305 ILCS 5/5-16.12 new
      30 ILCS 105/5.480 new
          Creates the Managed Care Patient  Rights  Act.   Provides
      that  patients  who  receive health care under a managed care
      program have rights to certain coverage and service standards
      including, but not limited to, quality health  care  service,
      privacy  and confidentiality, freedom of choice of physician,
      explanation of bills, and protection from revocation of prior
      authorization.   Provides  for  the  Illinois  Department  of
      Public  Health  to  establish  standards  to  ensure  patient
      protection,  quality  of  care,  fairness  to physicians, and
      utilization review safeguards.  Requires  utilization  review
      plans  to  be  licensed  by  the Department of Public Health.
      Amends various Acts to  require  compliance  by  health  care
      providers  under  the  Illinois Insurance Code, Comprehensive
      Health Insurance Plan Act,  Health  Maintenance  Organization
      Act,  Limited Health Service Organization Act, Dental Service
      Plan  Act,  Voluntary  Health  Services  Plans   Act,   State
      Employees   Group  Insurance  Act  of  1971,  Counties  Code,
      Illinois  Municipal  Code,  and  Illinois  Public  Aid  Code.
      Effective immediately.
                                                    LRB9008923JSgcA
                                              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        AN ACT to create the Managed Care Patient Rights Act  and
 2    amend various named Acts.
 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5      ARTICLE 1.  SHORT TITLE, LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE, DEFINITIONS
 6        Section 1-1.  Short title.  This Act may be cited as  the
 7    Managed Care Patient Rights Act.
 8        Section   1-5.   Legislative  purpose.   The  legislature
 9    hereby finds and declares that:
10        (a) Managed care consists of systems or  techniques  that
11    are  used to affect access to and control payments for health
12    care services.  Managed care plans can be organized in a vast
13    number  of  structures,  including  licensed  and  unlicensed
14    components that can restrict access to health care  services.
15    As  this  State's  health  care  market  becomes increasingly
16    dominated by managed care plans that utilize various  managed
17    care techniques that include decisions regarding coverage and
18    the  appropriateness  of  health  care,  it  is a vital state
19    governmental function to protect patients and ensure fair and
20    equitable managed care practices.
21        (b) Managed care plans,  including  insurance  companies,
22    are  responsible  for  making  coverage decisions that have a
23    direct effect on  the  health  of  patients.  Some  of  these
24    managed  care  plans  make  decisions  concerning the medical
25    necessity,  appropriateness  of  alternative  treatments  and
26    length of hospital stays.  Further, these managed care  plans
27    can  restrict  patients'  ability to make choices about their
28    health    care    providers.      Strong     provider-patient
29    relationships,   particularly  for  patients  with  acute  or
30    chronic medical conditions, enhances  the  curative  process.
                            -2-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    Maintaining  continuity  of care as patients change providers
 2    and health plans is essential to the health and well-being of
 3    the patients enrolled in the managed care plans.   It  is  in
 4    the  interest  of  the  health  of  the public to insure that
 5    decisions about the availability of health care providers and
 6    the willingness of payors to pay for medically necessary care
 7    are made in an appropriate manner.
 8        (c) This legislation establishes a managed care patient's
 9    right to, at a minimum, all of the  following:
10             (1) Quality health care services.
11             (2)  Identification  of  his  or  her  participating
12        providers.
13             (3) Reasonable explanation of the patient's plan  of
14        care.
15             (4)   A  reasonable  explanation of bills for health
16        care services.
17             (5) Clear  and  understandable  explanation  of  the
18        terms and conditions of coverage.
19             (6)   Timely  notification  of  individual  coverage
20        termination.
21             (7)  Privacy  and  confidentiality  in  health  care
22        services.
23             (8)  Freedom  to  purchase  necessary  health   care
24        services.
25             (9)  Freedom  of  choice  of physician to coordinate
26        health care, and a  prohibition  of  retaliation  against
27        health  care  providers  who advocate medically necessary
28        health care for their patients.
29             (10)   Protection   from   revocation    of    prior
30        authorization.
31             (11)   Prohibition   of   prior   authorization  for
32        emergency care.
33             (12)  Timely  and  clear  notification  of  provider
34        termination.
                            -3-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        These rights are implemented through  the  regulation  of
 2    managed care plans and utilization review programs.
 3        (d)  Licensed  insurance  companies,  health  maintenance
 4    organizations,     self-insured    employer    or    employee
 5    organizations, and other managed care plans are  required  to
 6    certify  compliance with this Act to the Department of Public
 7    Health.  Certification of compliance is  required  to  ensure
 8    patient  protection,  quality  of care, fairness to physician
 9    and  other  health   care   providers,   utilization   review
10    safeguards,  and coverage options for all patients, including
11    the ability to enroll in a point of service plan.
12        Section 1-10.  Definitions.  As used in this Act:
13        "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
14        "Director" means the Director of the Public Health.
15        "Enrollee" means an individual and his or her  dependents
16    who are enrolled in a managed care plan.
17        "Emergency condition" means a medical condition of recent
18    onset  and  severity  that  would  lead  a prudent layperson,
19    possessing an average knowledge of medicine  and  health,  to
20    believe  that  urgent or unscheduled health care services are
21    required.
22        "Emergency medical screening examination" means a medical
23    screening examination and evaluation by a  physician  or,  to
24    the extent permitted by applicable laws, by other appropriate
25    personnel  under  the supervision of a physician to determine
26    whether the need for emergency services exists.
27        "Emergency services" means  those  health  care  services
28    provided  to  evaluate and treat medical conditions of recent
29    onset and severity  that  would  lead  a  prudent  layperson,
30    possessing  an  average  knowledge of medicine and health, to
31    believe that urgent or unscheduled health care  services  are
32    required.
33        "Health   care  provider"  means  a  physician,  dentist,
                            -4-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    podiatrist, registered professional nurse, clinic,  hospital,
 2    federally  qualified  health  center,  rural  health  clinic,
 3    ambulatory  surgical  treatment center, pharmacy, laboratory,
 4    or other  appropriately  licensed  provider  of  health  care
 5    services.
 6        "Health   care  services"  means  services,  supplies  or
 7    products rendered or sold by a health  care  provider  within
 8    the  scope of the provider's license.  The term includes, but
 9    is not  limited  to,  hospital,  medical,  surgical,  dental,
10    podiatric,  pharmacy,  vision, home health and pharmaceutical
11    services and products.
12        "Managed  care  plan"  means  a  plan  that  establishes,
13    operates or maintains a  network  of  health  care  providers
14    that  have  entered  into agreements with the plan to provide
15    health care services to enrollees  where  the  plan  has  the
16    ultimate and direct contractual obligation to the enrollee to
17    arrange for the provision of or pay for services through:
18             (1)  organizational arrangements for ongoing quality
19        assurance,  utilization    review  programs,  or  dispute
20        resolution; or
21             (2) financial incentives for enrollees  enrolled  in
22        the   plan   to   use  the  participating  providers  and
23        procedures covered by the plan.
24        A managed care plan may be established or operated by any
25    entity including a licensed insurance  company,  hospital  or
26    medical   service   plan,  health  maintenance  organization,
27    limited  health  services  organization,  preferred  provider
28    organization, third party administrator, or  an  employer  or
29    employee organization.
30        "Participating  provider"  means  a  health care provider
31    that has entered into an agreement with a managed  care  plan
32    to provide health care services to an enrollee.
33        "Patient"  means  any  person  who  has  received  or  is
34    receiving health care services from a health care provider.
                            -5-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        "Post-stabilization  services"  means  those  health care
 2    services determined by a health care provider to be  promptly
 3    and   medically   necessary  following  stabilization  of  an
 4    emergency condition.
 5        "Primary care" means the provision of a  broad  range  of
 6    personal   health   care  services  (preventive,  diagnostic,
 7    curative, counseling, or rehabilitative) in a manner that  is
 8    accessible,  comprehensive  and  coordinated  by  a physician
 9    licensed to practice medicine in all its branches over time.
10        "Principal  care"  means   the   provision   of   ongoing
11    preventive,     diagnostic,    curative,    counseling,    or
12    rehabilitative care, provided or coordinated by  a  physician
13    licensed  to  practice  medicine in all its branches, that is
14    focused on a specific organ  system,  disease  or  condition.
15    Principal  care  may  be  provided concurrently with or apart
16    from primary care.
17        "Utilization review program" means a system  operated  by
18    or  on  behalf  of  a  managed  care  plan for the purpose of
19    reviewing the medical necessity or appropriateness of  health
20    care   services  provided  or  proposed  to  be  provided  to
21    enrollees  of  the  managed   care   plan   using   specified
22    guidelines.       The   system   may   include   preadmission
23    certification, the  application  of  appropriately  developed
24    clinically based guidelines, length of stay review, discharge
25    planning,  preauthorization  of  ambulatory  procedures,  and
26    retrospective review.
27                ARTICLE 5.  ENUMERATED PATIENT RIGHTS
28        Section 5-5.  Managed care patient rights.
29        (a)  A  patient  has  the  right  to care consistent with
30    professional standards of practice to assure quality  nursing
31    and  medical  practices,  to  be  informed of the name of the
32    participating physician responsible for coordinating  his  or
                            -6-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    her  care,  to  receive  information  concerning  his  or her
 2    condition and proposed treatment, to refuse any treatment  to
 3    the   extent   permitted   by   law,   and   to  privacy  and
 4    confidentiality of records except as  otherwise  provided  by
 5    law.
 6        (b)  A  patient  has  the  right, regardless of source of
 7    payment, to examine and to receive a  reasonable  explanation
 8    of his or her total bill for health care services rendered by
 9    his or her physician or other health care provider, including
10    the  itemized  charges  for  specific  health  care  services
11    received.  A physician or other health care provider shall be
12    responsible  only  for  a    reasonable  explanation of those
13    specific health care services provided  by  the  health  care
14    provider.
15        (c) A patient has the right to timely prior notice of the
16    termination  in  the  event  a  managed  care plan cancels or
17    refuses to renew an enrollee's participation in the plan.
18        (d)  A   patient   has   the   right   to   privacy   and
19    confidentiality  in  health  care.  A physician, other health
20    care provider, managed  care  plan,  and  utilization  review
21    program  shall  refrain from disclosing the nature or details
22    of health care services provided to patients, except that the
23    information may be disclosed to the patient, the party making
24    treatment decisions if the patient  is  incapable  of  making
25    decisions  regarding the health care services provided, those
26    parties directly involved with  providing  treatment  to  the
27    patient  or processing the payment for that treatment only in
28    accordance with Section 5-35, those parties  responsible  for
29    peer  review,  utilization review, and quality assurance, and
30    those parties required to be notified under  the  Abused  and
31    Neglected   Child   Reporting   Act,  the  Illinois  Sexually
32    Transmissible  Disease  Control  Act,  or   where   otherwise
33    authorized  or  required by law.  This right may be expressly
34    waived in writing by the patient or the  patient's  guardian,
                            -7-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    but  a  managed  care plan, a physician, or other health care
 2    provider may not  condition  the  provision  of  health  care
 3    services  on  the  patient's  or guardian's agreement to sign
 4    such a waiver.
 5        (e) An individual has the right to  purchase  any  health
 6    care  services  with that individual's own funds, whether the
 7    health care services  are  covered  within  the  individual's
 8    basic  benefit  package  or  from any health care provider or
 9    plan received as a benefit of employment  or  from    another
10    source.   Employers  shall  not  be prohibited from providing
11    coverage for benefits in addition those mandated by law.
12        Section  5-10.    Medically   appropriate   health   care
13    protection.
14        (a)   No  managed  care  plan  shall  retaliate against a
15    physician or other health care  provider  who  advocates  for
16    appropriate health care services for their patients.
17        (b)   It  is  the  public policy of the State of Illinois
18    that a  physician  or  any  other  health  care  provider  be
19    encouraged  to advocate for medically appropriate health care
20    services for his or  her  patients.   For  purposes  of  this
21    Section,  "to  advocate for medically appropriate health care
22    services" means to appeal a decision to deny  payment  for  a
23    health  care  service pursuant to the reasonable grievance or
24    appeal procedure established by a managed  care  plan  or  to
25    protest a decision, policy, or practice that the physician or
26    other  health  care  provider, consistent with that degree of
27    learning and skill  ordinarily  possessed  by  physicians  or
28    other  health  care  providers  practicing  in  the same or a
29    similar locality and under similar circumstances,  reasonably
30    believes   impairs  the  physician's  or  other  health  care
31    provider's  ability  to  provide  appropriate   health   care
32    services to his or her patients.
33        (c)   The  application  and  rendering by any person of a
                            -8-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    decision to terminate  an  employment  or  other  contractual
 2    relationship  with or otherwise penalize a physician or other
 3    health care provider  for advocating for  appropriate  health
 4    care  services  consistent  with  the  degree of learning and
 5    skill ordinarily possessed by physicians or other health care
 6    providers practicing in the same or a  similar  locality  and
 7    under  similar  circumstances  violates  the public policy of
 8    this State and constitutes a business offense subject to  the
 9    penalty under this Act.
10        (d)   This  Section  shall not be construed to prohibit a
11    managed care plan from making a determination not to pay  for
12    a  particular  health  care  service or to prohibit a medical
13    group, independent practice association,  preferred  provider
14    organization,  foundation,  hospital  medical staff, hospital
15    governing body or managed care plan from enforcing reasonable
16    peer review or utilization review  protocols  or  determining
17    whether  a  physician  or  other  health  care  provider  has
18    complied with those protocols.
19        (e)   Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed to
20    prohibit the governing body of a  hospital  or  the  hospital
21    medical  staff  from  taking  disciplinary  actions against a
22    physician as authorized by law.
23        (f)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
24    prohibit  the  Department  of  Professional  Regulation  from
25    taking  disciplinary  actions  against  a  physician or other
26    health care provider under the appropriate licensing Act.
27        Section 5-15.  Choice of physician.
28        (a)  All managed care plans that require each enrollee to
29    select a participating provider  for  any  purpose  including
30    coordination  of care shall allow all enrollees to choose any
31    primary care physician licensed to practice medicine  in  all
32    its  branches participating in the managed care plan for that
33    purpose.
                            -9-               LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        (b)   In  addition,  all  enrollees  with   an   ongoing,
 2    recurring or chronic disease or condition shall be allowed to
 3    choose  any  participating  physician  licensed  to  practice
 4    medicine  in  all  its  branches  to  provide principal care,
 5    without referral from the provider  coordinating  care.   The
 6    decision regarding selection of any physician for any purpose
 7    must  be made by the enrollee and the physician.  The managed
 8    care plan's Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory Board  shall
 9    recommend definitions for those diseases and conditions which
10    shall  be  considered ongoing, recurring, or chronic diseases
11    or conditions for the managed  care  plan's  governing  body.
12    Any definitions adopted for the plan shall be mutually agreed
13    upon  between  the Board and the governing body.  Neither may
14    unilaterally adopt definitions.
15        (c) The enrollee may be required by the managed care plan
16    to select a principal  care  physician  who  has  a  referral
17    arrangement  with the enrollee's primary care physician or to
18    select a new  primary  care  physician  who  has  a  referral
19    arrangement  with  the principal care physician chosen by the
20    enrollee.  If a managed care plan  requires  an  enrollee  to
21    select a new physician under this subsection (c), the managed
22    care  plan  must  provide  the  enrollee  with  both  options
23    provided in this subsection (c).
24        (d)   Nothing  shall  prohibit the managed care plan from
25    requiring prior  authorization  or  approval  from  either  a
26    primary  care  physician  or  a  principal care physician for
27    referrals for additional health care services.  Nothing shall
28    prohibit the managed care plan from requiring the   principal
29    care  physician to coordinate referrals for additional health
30    care services with the primary care physician.
31        Section 5-20.  Prohibited restraints on communication  or
32    practice.
33        (a)   No  managed  care  plan  may prohibit or discourage
                            -10-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    health care providers from discussing any alternative  health
 2    care  services  and providers, utilization review and quality
 3    assurance policies, terms and conditions of  plans  and  plan
 4    policy  with  enrollees, prospective enrollees, providers, or
 5    the public.
 6        (b)  No managed care  plan  shall  by  contract,  written
 7    policy  or written procedure, or informal policy or procedure
 8    impose any restrictions on the  physicians  or  other  health
 9    care  providers  who  treat  its  enrollees as to recommended
10    health care services except as approved by  the  Health  Care
11    Delivery Policy Advisory Board.
12        (c)   Any  violation  of this Section shall be subject to
13    the penalties under this Act.
14        Section 5-25.  Prohibited activity.  No managed care plan
15    by contract, written policy or procedure, or informal  policy
16    or  procedure shall contain any clause attempting to transfer
17    or transferring to a health care provider, by indemnification
18    or otherwise, any liability relating to activities,  actions,
19    or  omissions  of  the  managed  care  plan  or its officers,
20    employees, or agents as opposed to those of the  health  care
21    provider.
22        Section  5-30.   Procedure authorization.  A managed care
23    plan that authorizes a specific type of treatment by a health
24    care provider shall  not rescind or modify the  authorization
25    after  the  health  care  provider  renders  the  health care
26    service in good faith  and  pursuant  to  the  authorization.
27    This  Section  shall  not be construed to expand or alter the
28    benefits available to the enrollee under a managed care plan.
29        Section 5-35.  Patient confidential records.   A  managed
30    care plan shall not release any information to an employer or
31    anyone  else,  except as specifically authorized by law, that
                            -11-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    would directly or indirectly  indicate  to  the  employer  or
 2    anyone  else  that  an  enrollee is receiving or has received
 3    health care services  from  a  health  care  provider  unless
 4    expressly authorized to do so in  writing by the enrollee.
 5        Section 5-40.  Emergency services.
 6        (a)   All  managed  care plans shall provide the enrollee
 7    emergency services coverage providing that payment  for  this
 8    coverage  is  not  dependent  upon  whether  the services are
 9    performed by a participating  or  nonparticipating  provider.
10    This  coverage  shall  be at the same benefit level as if the
11    service or treatment had been  rendered  by  a  participating
12    provider.
13        (b)   Prior authorization or approval by the managed care
14    plan shall not be required.
15        (c)  Coverage and payment shall  not  be  retrospectively
16    denied, with the following exceptions:
17             (1)    upon   reasonable   determination   that  the
18        emergency services claimed were never performed; or
19             (2)  upon reasonable determination that an emergency
20        medical screening examination was performed on a  patient
21        who  personally sought emergency services knowing that he
22        or she did not have an emergency condition  and  who  did
23        not in fact require emergency services.
24        (d)   When  an  enrollee  presents  to a hospital seeking
25    emergency services, the determination as to whether the  need
26    for  those  services  exists  shall  be  made for purposes of
27    treatment by a physician  or,  to  the  extent  permitted  by
28    applicable law, by other appropriate licensed personnel under
29    the  supervision  of  a  physician.   The  physician or other
30    appropriate personnel shall indicate in the  patient's  chart
31    the results of the emergency medical screening examination.
32        (e)   The  appropriate use of the 911 emergency telephone
33    number shall not be discouraged or penalized, and coverage or
                            -12-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    payment shall not be denied solely  on  the  basis  that  the
 2    enrollee  used  the  911 emergency telephone number to summon
 3    emergency services.
 4        Section 5-45.  Post-stabilization services.
 5        (a)   If  prior  authorization   for   post-stabilization
 6    services  is  required,  the  managed care plan shall provide
 7    access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to persons designated by
 8    the plan to make those  determinations.   If  a  health  care
 9    provider   has  attempted  to  contact  a  person  for  prior
10    authorization and no designated persons  were  accessible  or
11    the  authorization  was  not  denied within 30 minutes of the
12    request, the managed care plan is deemed to have approved the
13    request for prior authorization.
14        (b)  Coverage and payment for post-stabilization services
15    that received prior authorization or  deemed  approval  shall
16    not be retrospectively denied.
17        Section  5-50.   Notices  of payment denial.  All managed
18    care plans shall provide enrollees with detailed  notices  of
19    payment denial.  The notices of denial shall be signed by the
20    individual  responsible  for  denying payment and include the
21    name, an address and accessible phone  number  and  facsimile
22    number  of  the  individual  responsible for denying payment.
23    Further,  the  notice  of  denial  shall  clearly  state  the
24    procedures for appealing the denial.  The enrollee  shall  be
25    given  the  opportunity  to respond to any denial and explain
26    any discrepancies.
27        Section 5-55.  Managed care plan information.
28        (a)  Prospective enrollees in managed care plans must  be
29    provided   written   information  disclosing  the  terms  and
30    conditions of the managed care plans so that  they  can  make
31    informed decisions about accepting a certain system of health
                            -13-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    care  delivery.   Where  the  managed  care plan is described
 2    orally to prospective enrollees, this oral  description  must
 3    be  easily  understood,  truthful, and objective in the terms
 4    used.
 5        (b)  All managed care plans must be described in  writing
 6    in  a  legible  and  understandable  format,  consistent with
 7    standards developed for supplemental insurance coverage under
 8    Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.  This format must  be
 9    standardized  so  that  prospective enrollees can compare the
10    attributes of the managed care plans.   Specific  items  that
11    must be included are:
12             (1)   coverage   provisions,   benefits,   and   any
13        exclusions  or  limitations of: (i)  health care services
14        or (ii) physicians or other providers;
15             (2) any and all prior authorization or other  review
16        requirements     including    preauthorization    review,
17        concurrent  review,  post-service  review,  post  payment
18        review and any procedures that may lead the patient to be
19        denied coverage for  or  not  be  provided  a  particular
20        health care service and an explanation of the registry of
21        review decisions and how it can be reviewed;
22             (3)  a detailed explanation of the managed care plan
23        policy  describing  how  the  managed  care  plan   shall
24        facilitate the continuity of care for enrollees receiving
25        health care services from non-participating providers;
26             (4)  a detailed explanation of how managed care plan
27        limitations impact enrollees,  including  information  on
28        enrollee   financial   responsibility   for   payment  of
29        co-payments, deductibles, coinsurance and non-covered  or
30        out-of-plan health care services;
31             (5) a detailed explanation of the percent of premium
32        going to pay for care and percent of premium going to pay
33        for administration;
34             (6)  educational  materials  explaining  the  proper
                            -14-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        utilization  of  emergency  services  in  accordance with
 2        Section 5-40 prepared by the Department of Public Health;
 3             (7) enrollee satisfaction statistics, including, but
 4        not limited to,  reenrollment, and reasons for leaving  a
 5        managed care plan; and
 6             (8)   explanation  of  how  the  managed  care  plan
 7        compensates  health  care   providers   and   how   those
 8        compensation  arrangements  may  impact  the provision of
 9        health care services.
10        Section 5-60.  Access to providers.   Managed care  plans
11    must demonstrate that they have adequate access to physicians
12    in  appropriate  medical  specialties  and  other health care
13    providers, so that all covered health care services  will  be
14    provided  in  a  timely  fashion.  This requirement cannot be
15    waived and must be met in  all  geographic  areas  where  the
16    managed care plan has enrollees, including rural areas.
17        Section 5-65.  Fairness in contracting.  All managed care
18    plans   must  provide  that  any  individual  physician,  any
19    pharmacy, any federally qualified health center, any dentist,
20    and any podiatrist, that consistently  meets  the  reasonable
21    terms  and  conditions  established  by  a  managed care plan
22    including,  but  not  limited  to  credentialing   standards,
23    adherence   to   quality   assurance   program  requirements,
24    utilization management guidelines, contract  procedures,  and
25    provider  network size and accessibility requirements must be
26    accepted by the managed care  plan.   Any  physician  or  any
27    other  health  care provider who is either terminated from or
28    denied inclusion in the provider network of the managed  care
29    plan  shall  be  given,  within  10  business days after that
30    determination, a written explanation of the reasons  for  his
31    or her exclusion or termination from the provider network and
32    an opportunity to appeal.
                            -15-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        Section  5-70.   Managed  care  plan health care delivery
 2    policy advisory system.
 3        (a)  The managed care plan shall organize its network  of
 4    providers  for the purpose of electing a Health Care Delivery
 5    Policy Advisory Board from participants  in  the  plan.   The
 6    Health   Care   Delivery   Policy  Advisory  Board  shall  be
 7    representative of the health care providers  in  the  network
 8    providing  health  care   services to enrollees with at least
 9    one-third   participating   physicians,    one-third    other
10    participating  providers and one-third enrollees.  This Board
11    shall  establish  written  rules  and  regulations  for   its
12    deliberations.   The managed care plan must approve the rules
13    and may not unilaterally amend the rules.  The  managed  care
14    plan  shall  grant  the  Board defined rights under which the
15    Board collaborates with the managed care  plan  to  establish
16    the  plan's  health  care delivery policy (including, but not
17    limited to,  delivery  of  any  covered:  (i)    health  care
18    services,  (ii)  pharmaceuticals,  (iii)  procedures and (iv)
19    technology),  utilization  review  criteria  and  procedures,
20    quality assurance procedures used by plan or any  utilization
21    review programs employed by the plan, credentialing criteria,
22    and  medical  management  procedures.   The  Board  may  make
23    recommendations  on  health care delivery policies, but shall
24    not determine the managed care plan's covered services.   The
25    Board  shall  report  directly  to  the  managed  care plan's
26    governing body.
27        (b)  The Board's rules and regulations shall provide  due
28    process   procedures  for  all  actions  granting,  reducing,
29    restricting, suspending, revoking, denying  or  not  renewing
30    provider network membership and privileges.  The managed care
31    plan's   governing  body  shall  not  control  evaluation  of
32    credentials of applicants for provider network membership and
33    privileges or the exercise  of  professional  judgment.   The
34    managed  care  plan's  governing  body  shall  make all final
                            -16-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    provider network membership  and  privilege  decisions.   The
 2    Department  shall  develop standardized application forms for
 3    credentialing. This information  shall  be  verified  by  the
 4    managed care plans from primary sources.
 5        Section 5-75.  Credentialing.
 6        (a)   A  managed  care  plan  shall  allow all physicians
 7    within the managed care plans'  geographic  service  area  to
 8    apply  for  a contract and clinical privileges or credentials
 9    to provide services to the  managed  care  plan  under  rules
10    established by the Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory Board
11    and approved by the managed care plan's governing body.  This
12    process  is  referred  to  as  credentialing.  All physicians
13    within the managed care plan shall be recredentialed no  more
14    often  than  once  every  2  years.  The Health Care Delivery
15    Policy Advisory  Board  shall  at  a  minimum  establish  the
16    following:
17             (1)  Written  procedures  relating to the acceptance
18        and processing of initial applicants  for  contracts  and
19        written   procedures   for  making  renewal  and  adverse
20        decisions concerning health care  providers  who  have  a
21        contract with the managed care plan.
22             (2) Written procedures to be followed in determining
23        an   applicant's   qualifications  for  being  granted  a
24        contract.
25             (3) Written criteria to be  followed  in  evaluating
26        qualifications. Credentialing shall be based on objective
27        standards   of   quality   with   input  from  physicians
28        credentialed in the managed  care  plan.   The  standards
29        shall   be   available   to   applicants  and  physicians
30        credentialed in the managed care plan. Any  profiling  of
31        physicians  must  be  adjusted  to  recognize  case  mix,
32        severity  of  illness, age of patients and other features
33        of a physician's practice including all economic  factors
                            -17-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        that  may  account for higher than or lower than expected
 2        costs.  Profiles must  be  made  available  to  those  so
 3        profiled.    When   graduate   medical   education  is  a
 4        consideration in credentialing, equal  recognition  shall
 5        be   given   to   training  programs  accredited  by  the
 6        Accrediting Council on Graduate Medical Education and  by
 7        the American Osteopathic Association.  The lack of  board
 8        certification may not be the single or exclusive criteria
 9        for denial of participation.
10             (4)  An evaluation of an applicant's or contractee's
11        current health  status  and  current  license  status  in
12        Illinois.
13             (5)   A   written   notice  to  each  applicant  and
14        contractee that explains the reason or  reasons  for  any
15        adverse decision, including all reasons based in whole or
16        in  part  on  the  applicant's  or  contractee's  medical
17        qualification  or  any  other  basis  including  economic
18        factors.
19        (b)   In  accordance with the criteria in this subsection
20    and subsection (c), credentialing shall  be  performed  in  a
21    timely manner by a credentialing committee established by the
22    Health  Care  Delivery  Policy  Advisory  Board  directly  or
23    through  a contract with a physician organization approved by
24    Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory Board and  managed  care
25    plan's governing body. The credentialing Committee shall have
26    representation  of  the  applicant's medical speciality.  The
27    credentialing process shall be completed in a  timely  manner
28    not  to exceed 3  months.  The managed care plan shall inform
29    physicians and other health care providers  of  credentialing
30    decisions   within   3   months   of  receiving  a  completed
31    application.  Failure to provide this notice shall result  in
32    a  fine  under  this  Act.   For  purposes  of credentialing:
33    "Adverse decision" means a  decision  reducing,  restricting,
34    suspending,  revoking, denying, or not renewing medical staff
                            -18-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    membership including, but  not  limited  to,  limitations  on
 2    access  to institutional equipment, facilities and personnel.
 3    "Economic  factor"  means  any  information  or  reasons  for
 4    decisions  unrelated  to  quality  of  care  or  professional
 5    competency.
 6             (1) A managed care plan is prohibited from excluding
 7        health care providers solely because  those  health  care
 8        providers  treat  a  substantial  number of patients with
 9        conditions or illnesses that may require costly  care  or
10        treatment.
11             (2)  The  Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory Board
12        shall make credentialing recommendations to  the  managed
13        care   plan's   governing   body.    All  governing  body
14        credentialing decisions shall be made on the record,  and
15        the  applicant shall be provided with all reasons used if
16        the application is denied or the credentials not renewed.
17        (c)(1) A managed  care  plan  may  not  make  an  adverse
18        credentialing   decision   including   termination  of  a
19        contract of employment or refuse to renew a  contract  on
20        the  basis  of  any  action  protected  under this Act or
21        solely because a health care provider has:
22                  (A) filed a complaint against the managed  care
23             plan;
24                  (B)  appealed  a  decision  of the managed care
25             plan; or
26                  (C)  requested  a  hearing  pursuant  to   this
27             Section.
28             (2)  A  managed  care plan shall provide to a health
29        care provider, in writing, notice of and the reasons  for
30        any adverse decision.
31             (3) A managed care plan shall provide an opportunity
32        for  a  hearing  to  any  health  care  provider prior to
33        implementation of any adverse  decision,  if  the  health
34        care  provider  has  had a contract or contracts with the
                            -19-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        managed care plan for at least 12 of the past 18 months.
 2             (4) After the notice provided pursuant to item  (2),
 3        the  health care provider shall have 21 days to request a
 4        hearing, and the hearing must  be  held  within  15  days
 5        after  receipt of the request for a hearing.  The hearing
 6        shall be held before a panel appointed  pursuant  to  the
 7        requirements  of this Section. The hearing panel shall be
 8        composed of 3 individuals, all of whom shall  be  in  the
 9        same  licensed discipline and, to the extent possible, in
10        the same or similar specialty as the health care provider
11        under review.  One member shall be chosen by the  managed
12        care  plan, one member shall be chosen by the health care
13        provider and one shall be chosen by the plan  and  health
14        care  provider  from  a  list approved by the Health Care
15        Delivery  Policy  Advisory  Board  and  approved  by  the
16        managed care plan's governing  body.  The  hearing  panel
17        shall  render  a  written decision on the proposed action
18        within 14 business days.  The decision shall  be  one  of
19        the following:
20                  (A)  reinstatement  of the health care provider
21             by the managed care plan;
22                  (B)  provisional   reinstatement   subject   to
23             conditions set forth by the panel; or
24                  (C) termination of the health care provider.
25             The decision of the hearing panel shall be final.
26             A  decision  by  the  hearing  panel  to terminate a
27        health care provider shall be effective not less than  60
28        days after the receipt by the health care provider of the
29        hearing panel's decision.
30             A  hearing  under  this subsection shall provide the
31        health care  provider  in  question  with  the  right  to
32        examine  pertinent  information, to present witnesses, to
33        receive a copy of all plan records related to the  matter
34        free  of  charge,  and  to  ask  questions  of authorized
                            -20-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        representatives of the plan.
 2             (5) A managed care plan may terminate or decline  to
 3        renew a health care provider, without a prior hearing, in
 4        cases involving imminent harm to patient care, or a final
 5        disciplinary  action  by a state licensing board or other
 6        governmental  agency  that  impairs   the   health   care
 7        provider's  ability  to practice.  A health care provider
 8        terminated for  one  of  these  reasons  shall  be  given
 9        written  notice to that effect.  Within 15 days after the
10        termination, a  health  care  provider  shall  receive  a
11        hearing which shall completed without delay.  The hearing
12        shall be held before a panel chosen in the same manner as
13        a  panel under item (4).  The hearing panel shall issue a
14        written decision as required under item (4).
15        The decision of the hearing panel shall be final.
16        Any hearing  under  this  subsection  shall  provide  the
17    health  care  provider  in question with the right to examine
18    pertinent information, to present  witnesses,  to  receive  a
19    copy  of  all  plan  records  related  to  the matter free of
20    charge, and to ask questions of an authorized  representative
21    of the plan.
22        For  any  hearing  under  this  Section 5-75, because the
23    candid and conscientious evaluation  of clinical practices is
24    essential to the provision of health care, it is  the  policy
25    of  this  State  to  encourage  peer  review  by  health care
26    providers.  Therefore, no managed care plan and no individual
27    who participates in a hearing or who is a member,  agent,  or
28    employee  of a managed care plan shall be liable for criminal
29    or civil damages or professional discipline as  a  result  of
30    the  acts, omissions, decisions, or any other conduct, direct
31    or indirect, associated with  a  hearing  panel,  except  for
32    wilful  and wanton misconduct.  Nothing in this Section shall
33    relieve  any  person,  health  care  provider,  health   care
34    professional,  facility,  organization,  or  corporation from
                            -21-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    liability  for  his,  her,  or  its  own  negligence  in  the
 2    performance of his,  her,  or  its  duties  or  arising  from
 3    treatment  of a patient.  The hearing panel information shall
 4    not be subject to  inspection  or  disclosure  and  shall  be
 5    afforded   the   same   status  as  is  provided  information
 6    concerning medical studies in Part 21 of Article VIII of  the
 7    Code of Civil Procedure.
 8        (d)    Every   adverse   credentialing   decision   based
 9    substantially  on  economic  factors shall be reported by the
10    managed care plan's governing body to  the  Board  of  Health
11    before the decision takes effect.  These reports shall not be
12    disclosed in any form that reveals the identity of any health
13    care providers.  These reports shall be utilized to study the
14    effects  that  credentialing  decisions  based  upon economic
15    factors have on access to care and the availability of health
16    care services.  The Board of Health shall submit  an  initial
17    study  to  the  Governor  and the General Assembly by July 1,
18    1999, and subsequent reports shall be submitted  periodically
19    thereafter.
20        Section 5-80.  Records.   Procedures shall be established
21    to ensure that all applicable federal and State laws designed
22    to  protect  the  confidentiality  of  health  care  provider
23    records  and  individual medical records are followed.  These
24    records shall be afforded the protections of  Section  8-2101
25    through  8-2105 of the Code of Civil Procedure and may not be
26    disclosed  to  any  court,  tribunal  or  board   except   in
27    accordance with this provision.
28        Section 5-85.  Health care provider termination.
29        (a)   The  Director  shall adopt rules requiring that all
30    participating   provider   agreements   contain    provisions
31    concerning  timely and reasonable notices to be given between
32    the parties and for the managed care plan to  provide  timely
                            -22-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    and   reasonable  notice  to  its  enrollees.   In  order  to
 2    facilitate  transfer  of  health  care  services,  reasonable
 3    advance notice of health care provider termination  shall  be
 4    given  to  the  health  care  provider and enrollees.  Notice
 5    shall be given for events  including,  but  not  limited  to,
 6    termination  of  health  care  provider agreements or managed
 7    care  plan  services.   Notice  of  provider  termination  to
 8    enrollees shall be in a form approved by the Director.
 9        (b) When a managed care plan terminates a  contract  with
10    an  entire  medical  group,  physician organization, or other
11    health care provider  organization,  the  managed  care  plan
12    shall  notify enrollees who have selected that medical group,
13    physician  organization  or  other   health   care   provider
14    organization of the termination.
15        (c)   When  a  managed care plan terminates a contractual
16    arrangement with an individual health care provider within  a
17    medical  group,  physician organization, or other health care
18    provider organization, the managed care plan may request that
19    medical group, physician organization or  other  health  care
20    provider   organization  to  notify  the  enrollees  who  are
21    patients of that health care provider of the termination.
22        Section  5-90.  Complaint handling procedure.
23        (a) A managed care plan and  utilization  review  program
24    shall  establish  and  maintain  a complaint system providing
25    reasonable procedures for resolving complaints  initiated  by
26    enrollees  or  health  care providers (complainant).  Nothing
27    herein shall be construed to preclude an enrollee or a health
28    care provider from filing a complaint with the Director or as
29    limiting the Director's ability  to  investigate  complaints.
30    In  addition,  any  enrollee  or  health  care  provider  not
31    satisfied  with  the  plan's  resolution of any complaint may
32    appeal that final plan or utilization program decision to the
33    Department for review.
                            -23-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        (b) When  a  complaint  is  received  by  the  Department
 2    against  a  managed  care  plan (respondent),  the respondent
 3    shall be notified of the complaint.  The Department shall, in
 4    its notification, specify the date when a  report  is  to  be
 5    received from the respondent, which shall be no later than 21
 6    days after notification is sent to the respondent.  A failure
 7    to  reply  by the date specified may be followed by a collect
 8    telephone call or collect telegram.   Repeated  instances  of
 9    failing  to reply by the date specified may result in further
10    regulatory action.
11        (c) Contents of Response or Report.
12             (1)   The   respondent   shall    supply    adequate
13        documentation  that  explains  all  actions  taken or not
14        taken and that were the basis for the complaint.
15             (2) Documents necessary to support the  respondent's
16        position  and  information  requested  by  the Department
17        shall be furnished with the respondent's reply.
18             (3) The respondent's reply shall  be  in  duplicate,
19        but duplicate copies of supporting documents shall not be
20        required.
21             (4)  The  respondent's reply shall include the name,
22        telephone number and address of the  individual  assigned
23        to investigate or process the complaint.
24             (5) The Department shall respect the confidentiality
25        of  medical  reports  and other documents that by law are
26        confidential.   Any  other  information  furnished  by  a
27        respondent  shall  be  marked   "confidential"   if   the
28        respondent  does  not  wish  it  to  be  released  to the
29        complainant.
30        (d) The  Director  shall  review  the  plan  decision  to
31    determine whether it is consistent with the plan and Illinois
32    law  and  rules.   The  Director may contract with individual
33    licensed health care providers for  an  impartial  review  of
34    complaints  concerning  plan  decisions.   These  individuals
                            -24-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    shall  be  licensed in the same discipline and, to the extent
 2    possible, in the same or similar specialty as the health care
 3    provider involved in the action under review.   Any  licensed
 4    professional  providing impartial review for the Director who
 5    acts in good faith shall  have  immunity  for  any  civil  or
 6    criminal  liability or professional discipline as a result of
 7    acts or omissions  with  respect  to  any  impartial  review,
 8    except for wilful and wanton misconduct.  For purposes of any
 9    proceeding,  the  good faith of the individual participant is
10    presumed.
11        (e)  Follow-up   conclusion.    Upon   receipt   of   the
12    respondent's   report,  the  Department  shall  evaluate  the
13    material submitted; and
14             (1) advise the complainant of the action  taken  and
15        disposition of its complaint;
16             (2)  pursue further investigation with respondent or
17        complainant; or
18             (3)  refer   the   investigation   report   to   the
19        appropriate  branch  within  the  Department  for further
20        regulatory action.
21        (f)  The Department of Public Health  and  Department  of
22    Insurance   shall   coordinate   the   complaint  review  and
23    investigation and establish joint rules  under  the  Illinois
24    Administrative  Procedure  Act  implementing this coordinated
25    complaint process.
26        Section 5-95.  Quality assurance requirements.
27        (a)  A managed care plan shall have a  Quality  Assurance
28    Plan  approved  by  the  Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory
29    Board through a designated  Quality  Assurance  Committee  or
30    through   a   contract  with  a  physician  organization  for
31    measuring, assessing and improving quality.  The managed care
32    plan must:
33             (1) Have a written quality assurance plan that  sets
                            -25-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        standards and evaluates, at a minimum:
 2                  (A) Provider availability and accessibility.
 3                  (B)  Appropriateness  of  care,  including  the
 4             provision of all medically necessary care.
 5                  (C) Coordination and continuity of care.
 6                  (D) Patient satisfaction.
 7             (2) Assess quality using:
 8                  (A)  Enrollee  and  provider quality assessment
 9             surveys to be conducted at least annually.
10                  (B) A log maintained by the managed  care  plan
11             including  utilization  review functions identifying
12             the  number  and  types  of  patient  and   provider
13             grievances with the resolutions to those issues.
14                  (C) Utilization and outcome reports and studies
15             whereby  relevant  case  mix and patient demographic
16             information are taken into account.
17             (3) Establish mechanisms  for  quality  improvement,
18        which  include  implementation of corrective action plans
19        in response to confirmed quality of care  or  quality  of
20        service identified problems.
21        The  Department  shall  require  managed  care  plans  to
22    prepare  and  submit  quarterly  aggregate  quality assurance
23    reports.  These reports shall include, but not be limited to,
24    provider   availability   and   accessibility   and   patient
25    satisfaction information compiled in aggregate, by  diagnosis
26    and  by participating provider category. Quality reports must
27    be made available, when requested, to prospective  enrollees,
28    enrollees, health care providers and the public.  The quality
29    assurance  information  or  data  may  not be released in any
30    manner that tends  to  identify  any  enrollee,  patient,  or
31    health  care  provider.    This  information or data shall be
32    afforded the protections of Section 8-2101 through 8-2105  of
33    the Code of Civil Procedure.
34        (b)  A  managed  care plan shall implement procedures for
                            -26-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    ensuring that all applicable federal and State laws  designed
 2    to  protect  the  confidentiality of health care provider and
 3    individual medical records are followed.
 4        Section  5-100. Prohibition  of  waiver  of  rights.   No
 5    managed  care plan or contract shall contain any provision in
 6    procedure  or  informal  policy  or  procedure  that  limits,
 7    restricts or waives any of the rights set forth in this  Act.
 8    Any such policy or procedure shall be void and unenforceable.
 9        Section 5-105.  Transition of services.
10        (a)  If  an  enrollee's  health  care provider leaves the
11    managed care plan's network of providers  for  reasons  other
12    than  those  for  which the provider would not be eligible to
13    receive a pretermination hearing pursuant to  subsection  (b)
14    of  Section  5-75,  the  managed  care  plan shall permit the
15    enrollee to continue an ongoing course of treatment with  the
16    enrollee's current health care provider during a transitional
17    period of:
18             (1)  at least 90 days from the date of notice to the
19        enrollee  of  the  provider's  disaffiliation  from   the
20        managed care plan's network; or
21             (2)  if the enrollee has entered the third trimester
22        of   pregnancy   at   the   time   of   the    provider's
23        disaffiliation,  for  a  transitional period that extends
24        through the provision of post-partum health care services
25        directly related to the delivery.
26        Transitional care, however, shall be  authorized  by  the
27    managed  care plan during the transitional period only if the
28    health  care  provider  agrees  (i)  to  continue  to  accept
29    reimbursement  from  the  managed  care  plan  at  the  rates
30    applicable prior to the start of the transitional  period  as
31    payment  in  full,  (ii) to adhere to the managed care plan's
32    quality assurance requirements and to provide to the  managed
                            -27-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    care  plan necessary medical information related to the care,
 2    (iii) to otherwise adhere to the managed care plan's policies
 3    and procedures including,  but  not  limited  to,  procedures
 4    regarding  referrals  and  obtaining  preauthorization  and a
 5    treatment plan approved  by  the  primary  care  provider  or
 6    specialist  in  consultation  with the managed care plan, and
 7    (iv) if the enrollee is a recipient of services under Article
 8    V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, the health  care  provider
 9    has  not  been  subject  to  a final disciplinary action by a
10    state or federal agency for violations  of  the  Medicaid  or
11    Medicare  program.   In  no  event  shall  this subsection be
12    construed to require a managed care plan to provide  coverage
13    for benefits not otherwise covered.
14        (b) If a new enrollee whose health care provider is not a
15    member of the managed care plan's provider network enrolls in
16    the managed care plan, the managed care plan shall permit the
17    enrollee  to continue an ongoing course of treatment with the
18    enrollee's current health care provider during a transitional
19    period of at  least  90  days  from  the  effective  date  of
20    enrollment,  if (i) the enrollee has an ongoing, recurring or
21    chronic disease or condition or (ii) the enrollee has entered
22    the third trimester  of  pregnancy  at  the  effect  date  of
23    enrollment,  in  which  case  the  transitional  period shall
24    extend through  the  provision  of  post-partum  health  care
25    services  directly  related  to the delivery.  If an enrollee
26    elects to continue to receive payment for care from a  health
27    care  provider  pursuant  to this subsection, the payment for
28    the health care services shall be authorized by  the  managed
29    care  plan  for  the  transitional  period if the health care
30    provider agrees (i) to accept reimbursement from the  managed
31    care  plan  at  rates established by the managed care plan as
32    payment in full, which rates shall be no less than the  level
33    of reimbursement applicable to participating providers in the
34    managed  care  plan's  network  for  those  services, (ii) to
                            -28-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    adhere  to  the  managed  care   plan's   quality   assurance
 2    requirements  and    to  provide  to  the  managed  care plan
 3    necessary medical information related to the care,  (iii)  to
 4    otherwise  adhere  to  the  managed  care plan's policies and
 5    procedures  including,  but  not   limited   to,   procedures
 6    regarding  referrals  and  obtaining  preauthorization  and a
 7    treatment plan approved by the  primary  care    provider  or
 8    specialist  in  consultation  with the managed care plan, and
 9    (iv) if the enrollee is a recipient of services under Article
10    V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, the health  care  provider
11    has  not  been  subject  to  a final disciplinary action by a
12    state or federal agency for violations  of  the  Medicaid  or
13    Medicare  program.  In  no  event  shall  this  subsection be
14    construed to require a managed care plan to provide  coverage
15    for benefits not otherwise covered.
16        (c)  If  no participating provider can be engaged to care
17    for the covered health care needs of an enrollee, the managed
18    care plan shall make arrangements for these needs to  be  met
19    by  a  non-participating  provider  with  no  expense  to the
20    enrollee over the expense the enrollee  would  have  incurred
21    had the needs been met by a participating provider.
22        Section  5-110.   Grievance  procedures.   A managed care
23    plan shall establish at least 2  levels  of  appeal  for  any
24    enrollee  or health care provider grievances.  Any grievances
25    concerning  an  adverse  claim  decision  based  on   medical
26    necessity  shall be heard by a panel of health care providers
27    in the same licensed discipline and, to the extent  possible,
28    in  the same or similar specialty as the health care provider
29    who made the decision  under  review.   The  panel  shall  be
30    established by the managed care plan in consultation with the
31    Health Care Delivery Policy Advisory Board.
32        Section   5-115.   Registry  of  complaints,  grievances,
                            -29-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    appeals and reviews.  A managed  care  plan  shall  create  a
 2    registry that coordinates information concerning enrollee and
 3    health  care provider complaints, grievances and requests for
 4    appeals  and  reviews.   This  information  shall   be   made
 5    available to enrollees and health care providers upon request
 6    without  personal  identifying  information.  All information
 7    contained in and related to this registry shall  be  expunged
 8    after 5 years.
 9        ARTICLE 10. LICENSURE OF UTILIZATION REVIEW PROGRAMS
10        Section  10-5.  Licensed utilization review programs.
11        (a)   The  Director  shall  establish  standards  for the
12    licensure of utilization review programs.
13        (b)  All programs must have a medical director, who is  a
14    physician  licensed to practice medicine in all its branches,
15    responsible for all decisions by the program  and  who  shall
16    assure  that the medical necessity review practices they use,
17    and the medical necessity review of payors or reviewers  with
18    whom they contract, comply with the following requirements:
19             (1)  Screening  criteria,  weighting  elements,  and
20        computer  algorithms  utilized  in  the medical necessity
21        review process and their method of development,  must  be
22        released   to   participating    providers  and  be  made
23        available to the public.
24             (2) The medical necessity  criteria  including,  but
25        not  limited  to,  preadmission,  appropriateness review,
26        length of stay, discharge planning, follow-up  care,  and
27        medically  acceptable  treatment  alternatives   must  be
28        based  on  sound  scientific  principles and developed in
29        cooperation with practicing  physicians,  other  affected
30        health  care  providers, and consumer representatives.  A
31        managed care plan's Health Care Delivery Policy  Advisory
32        Board may be utilized for this purpose.
                            -30-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1             (3)    Any  person who recommends denial of coverage
 2        or payment, or determines that a  service  shall  not  be
 3        provided, based on medical necessity, must be licensed in
 4        Illinois  and  of  the  same  licensed  profession as the
 5        health care provider who provided, ordered,  or  proposed
 6        the  services.   The  basis  for any denial and the name,
 7        address, telephone and facsimile number,  licensure,  and
 8        qualifications  of the person making any denials shall be
 9        provided in writing.
10             (4) An enrollee or provider (upon assignment  of  an
11        enrollee)  who  has  had  a claim denied as not medically
12        necessary must be  provided  an  opportunity  for  a  due
13        process  appeal  to  a  qualified physician consultant or
14        qualified provider peer review group not involved in  the
15        initial review.
16             (5)  Upon  request,  physicians  and  other affected
17        health care providers shall be  provided  the  names  and
18        credentials   of   all   individuals  conducting  medical
19        necessity review, subject to  reasonable  safeguards  and
20        standards.
21             (6)   In   accordance   with   Section  5-40,  prior
22        authorization shall not  be  required  for  care  for  an
23        emergency  condition, and patient or health care provider
24        requests  for  prior  authorization  of  a  non-emergency
25        health care service must be answered within 24  hours  of
26        the request.
27             (7)   Qualified personnel with the minimum licensure
28        status of registered professional nurse must be available
29        for  same-day  telephone  responses  to  inquiries  about
30        medical necessity, including certification  of  continued
31        length of stay.
32             (8)   Programs  and  managed  care plans must ensure
33        that  enrollees,  in  managed  care  plans  where   prior
34        authorization  is  a  condition to coverage of a service,
                            -31-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        are  informed  in  writing   of   the   reasons   medical
 2        information  is  needed  and  provide appropriate medical
 3        information release consent forms for use where  services
 4        requiring   prior   authorization  are    recommended  or
 5        proposed by their participating providers.
 6             (9)  When prior approval  for  a  service  or  other
 7        covered item is obtained, it shall be considered approval
 8        for  the   purpose  requested,  and  the service shall be
 9        considered to be  covered,  in  accordance  with  Section
10        5-30.
11             (10)  Programs and managed care plans shall disclose
12        to the enrollees, prospective enrollees, and health  care
13        providers,  in writing, any financial incentives or other
14        inducements to individuals performing  medical  necessity
15        reviews and their qualifications.
16        Section 10-10.  Application of licensure standards.
17        (a)  Standards  shall  first  be  established, under this
18    Article, by no later than 18 months after  the  date  of  the
19    enactment  of  this  Act.  In developing standards under this
20    Article, the Director shall:
21             (1)  review standards in  use  by  national  private
22        accreditation organizations;
23             (2)     recognize,   to   the   extent  appropriate,
24        differences in the organizational structure and operation
25        of utilization review programs;
26             (3)    establish   procedures   for    the    timely
27        consideration    of   applications   for   licensure   of
28        utilization review programs; and
29             (4)  establish grievance  procedures  for  enrollees
30        and  participating providers to appeal utilization review
31        program decisions.
32        (b)  The Director shall periodically review the standards
33    established under this Article, and may revise the  standards
                            -32-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    from  time  to  time to assure that the standards continue to
 2    reflect  appropriate   policies   and   practices   for   the
 3    cost-effective  and  medically appropriate use of health care
 4    services within utilization review programs.
 5             ARTICLE 20.  ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
 6        Section 20-5.  Responsibilities of the Department.
 7        (a)  All managed care  plans  shall  bi-annually  certify
 8    compliance  with  this  Act  and  utilization review programs
 9    providing or reviewing services in Illinois shall be licensed
10    by the Department under rules adopted under  this  Act.   The
11    Director   shall   establish  by  rule  a  process  for  this
12    certification and licensure including fees to cover the costs
13    associated with implementing the Act.   All  fees  and  fines
14    assessed  under  the  Act  shall be deposited in Managed Care
15    Entity Responsibility and Patient Rights Fund hereby  created
16    as  a  special  fund  in  the  State  treasury.   For  health
17    maintenance  organizations, the certification requirements of
18    this  Act  shall   be   incorporated   into   the   licensure
19    requirements  under  the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
20    In addition, the certification requirements of this Act shall
21    be  incorporated  into  the  program  requirements   of   the
22    Department of Public Aid and Department of Human Services and
23    no further certification under this Act is required.
24        (b)   The Director shall take any appropriate enforcement
25    action under this Act including,  but  not  limited  to,  the
26    assessment  of  civil fines and seeking injunctive relief for
27    any failure to certify compliance with this Act or  obtain  a
28    license  under  this Act or any violation of the Act or rules
29    by a managed care plan or any utilization review program.
30        (c)  The Department shall have the  authority  to  impose
31    fines  on  any  managed  care  plan or any utilization review
32    program.  The Department shall adopt rules pursuant  to  this
                            -33-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    Act which establish a system of fines related to the type and
 2    level  of  violation  or  repeat violation, including but not
 3    limited to:
 4             (1)  A fine not exceeding $10,000  for  a  violation
 5        that  created  a  condition  or  occurrence  presenting a
 6        substantial probability that death or serious harm to  an
 7        individual will or did result therefrom; and
 8             (2)   A  fine  not  exceeding $5,000 for a violation
 9        that creates or created a condition  or  occurrence  that
10        threatens the health, safety or welfare of an individual.
11        These rules shall include an opportunity for a hearing in
12        accordance  with  the  Illinois  Administrative Procedure
13        Act.  All final decisions  of  the  Department  shall  be
14        reviewable under the Administrative Review Law.
15        (d)   Notwithstanding  the  existence  or  pursuit of any
16    other remedy, the Director may, through the Attorney General,
17    seek an injunction to  restrain  or  prevent  any  person  or
18    entity  from  functioning,  or operating in violation of this
19    Act or rules adopted under this Act.
20        (e) The Department shall adopt  rules  for  managed  care
21    plan  certification  and utilization review program licensure
22    under this Act that shall include, but not be limited to, the
23    following:
24             (1) Further definition of  managed  care  plans  and
25        utilization review programs.
26             (2) Information required by the Department.
27             (3)  Certification  requirements  for  managed  care
28        plans and utilization review programs.
29             (4) Certification and licensure programs and renewal
30        fees  which  may  cover  the  cost  of  administering the
31        programs.
32             (5) Information including mandated reports that  may
33        be  necessary for the Department to monitor and evaluate,
34        managed  care  plans  and  utilization  review  programs.
                            -34-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        These  reports  shall  include  but  not  be  limited  to
 2        coverage     decisions,     credentialing      decisions,
 3        participating  provider  capacity and any other necessary
 4        information.
 5             (6)  Administrative  fines  that  may  be   assessed
 6        against managed care plans or utilization review programs
 7        by the Department for violations of this Act or the rules
 8        adopted under this Act.
 9        (f)   The Department shall perform inspections of managed
10    care  plans  and  utilization  review  programs   as   deemed
11    necessary  by  the  Department to ensure compliance with this
12    Act or the rules adopted under this Act.
13        (g)  The  Department  shall  deposit  application   fees,
14    renewal   fees,  and  fines  into  the  Managed  Care  Entity
15    Responsibility and Patient Rights Fund.
16        (h) All managed care plan and utilization review  program
17    records   including  any  patient  records  reviewed  by  the
18    Department shall be  afforded  the  protections  of  Sections
19    8-2101 through 8-2105 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
20        Section 20-10.  Conflicts.  To the extent of any conflict
21    between  this  Act  and any other Act, this Act prevails over
22    the conflicting provision.
23        Section 20-15.  Illinois  Administrative  Procedure  Act.
24    The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is hereby expressly
25    adopted  and  incorporated  herein  and  shall  apply  to the
26    Department as if all of  the  provisions  of  that  Act  were
27    included  in  this  Act;  except  that  in case of a conflict
28    between the Illinois Administrative Procedure  Act  and  this
29    Act, the provisions of this Act shall control.
30                 ARTICLE 90.  AMENDATORY PROVISIONS
                            -35-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        Section 90-5.  The State Employees Group Insurance Act of
 2    1971 is amended by adding Section 6.12 as follows:
 3        (5 ILCS 375/6.12 new)
 4        Sec. 6.12.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act.  The program
 5    of  health  benefits  is  subject  to  the  provisions of the
 6    Managed Care Patient Rights  Act  and  Section  356w  of  the
 7    Illinois Insurance Code.
 8        Section  90-10.   The  Counties Code is amended by adding
 9    Section 5-1069.8 as follows:
10        (55 ILCS 5/5-1069.8 new)
11        Sec. 5-1069.8.  Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   All
12    counties,  including  home  rule counties, are subject to the
13    provisions of the Managed Care Patient Rights Act and Section
14    356w of the Illinois Insurance Code.  The  requirement  under
15    this  Section  that health care benefits provided by counties
16    comply with  the  Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act  is  an
17    exclusive power and function of the State and is a denial and
18    limitation  of  home  rule  county  powers under Article VII,
19    Section 6, subsection (h) of the Illinois Constitution.
20        Section 90-15.  The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
21    adding 10-4-2.8 as follows:
22        (65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.8 new)
23        Sec. 10-4-2.8.  Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   The
24    corporate  authorities  of  all municipalities are subject to
25    the provisions of the Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act  and
26    Section 356w of the Illinois Insurance Code.  The requirement
27    under  this  Section  that  health  care benefits provided by
28    municipalities comply with the Managed  Care  Patient  Rights
29    Act  is an exclusive power and function of the State and is a
                            -36-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    denial and limitation of home rule municipality powers  under
 2    Article  VII,  Section  6,  subsection  (h)  of  the Illinois
 3    Constitution.
 4        Section 90-20.  The Illinois Insurance Code is changed by
 5    adding Sections 155.36, 356w, 370s, and 511.118  as follows:
 6        (215 ILCS 5/155.36 new)
 7        Sec. 155.36.  Managed Care Patient Rights Act provisions.
 8    Insurance  companies  providing  coverage  for  health   care
 9    services  are  subject  to the provisions of the Managed Care
10    Patient Rights Act.  The provisions of Article  10  shall  be
11    implemented  through  existing  Department  of  Public Health
12    certification procedures.
13        (215 ILCS 5/356w new)
14        Sec. 356w.  Choice  requirements  for  point  of  service
15    plans.
16        (a)   An  employer,  self-insured  entity,  labor  union,
17    association, or other person providing, offering,  or  making
18    available  to  employees or individuals  a managed care plan,
19    as defined in the Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act,  shall
20    offer  to  all   enrollees the opportunity to obtain coverage
21    through a "point of service" plan at the time  of  enrollment
22    and  once  annually  thereafter.  The "point of service" plan
23    shall provide coverage for  health  care  services  when  the
24    health care services are provided by any health care provider
25    without  the  necessary  referrals,  prior  authorization, or
26    other utilization review requirements  of  the  managed  care
27    plan.
28        (b)   A  point of service plan may charge an enrollee who
29    opts to obtain  point  of  service  coverage  an  alternative
30    premium  that  takes  into account the actuarial value of the
31    coverage.
                            -37-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        (c)  A point  of  service  plan  may  require  reasonable
 2    payment  of  coinsurance,  co-payments,  or deductibles.  The
 3    co-insurance rate on the point of service plan shall  not  be
 4    greater  than 20 percentage points more than the co-insurance
 5    rate on  the  underlying  plan.   The  maximum  out-of-pocket
 6    amount  shall  not exceed $5,000 for an individual and $7,500
 7    for family coverage.
 8        (215 ILCS 5/370s new)
 9        Sec.  370s.   Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act.    All
10    insurers  and administrators are subject to the provisions of
11    the  Managed Care Patient Rights Act and Section 356w of this
12    Code.
13        (215 ILCS 5/511.118 new)
14        Sec. 511.118.   Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   All
15    administrators  are  subject to the provisions of the Managed
16    Care Patient Rights Act and Section 356w of this Code.
17        Section 90-25.  The Comprehensive Health  Insurance  Plan
18    Act is amended by adding Section 8.6 as follows:
19        (215 ILCS 105/8.6 new)
20        Sec.  8.6.   Managed  Care  Patient Rights Act.  The plan
21    shall be subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Managed  Care
22    Patient Rights Act and Section 356w of the Illinois Insurance
23    Code.
24        Section  90-30.   The Health Maintenance Organization Act
25    is amended by adding Section 5-3.6 as follows:
26        (215 ILCS 125/5-3.6 new)
27        Sec. 5-3.6.   Managed Care Patient Rights Act provisions.
28    Health  maintenance  organizations   are   subject   to   the
                            -38-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1    provisions of the Managed Care Patient Rights Act and Section
 2    356w of the Illinois Insurance Code.
 3        Section  90-35.  The Limited Health Services Organization
 4    Act is amended by adding Section 4002.6 as follows:
 5        (215 ILCS 130/4002.6 new)
 6        Sec.  4002.6.     Managed   Care   Patient   Rights   Act
 7    provisions.  Limited health service organizations are subject
 8    to  the provisions of the Managed Care Patient Rights Act and
 9    Section 356w of the Illinois Insurance Code.
10        Section 90-40.  The Dental Service Plan Act is amended by
11    adding Section 48 as follows:
12        (215 ILCS 110/48 new)
13        Sec. 48.  Managed Care  Patient  Rights  Act  provisions.
14    Dental  Service  Plans  are  subject to the provisions of the
15    Managed Care Patient Rights  Act  and  Section  356w  of  the
16    Illinois  Insurance Code.  For purposes of the Dental Service
17    Plan Act the term physician  as  used  in  the  Managed  Care
18    Patient Rights Act shall mean dentist.
19        Section  90-45.   The Voluntary Health Services Plans Act
20    is amended by adding Section 15.30 as follows:
21        (215 ILCS 165/15.30 new)
22        Sec. 15.30.   Managed Care Patient Rights Act.  A  health
23    service  plan corporation is subject to the provisions of the
24    Managed Care Patient Rights  Act  and  Section  356w  of  the
25    Illinois Insurance Code.
26        Section  90-50.   The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended
27    by adding Section 5-16.12 as follows:
                            -39-              LRB9008923JSgcA
 1        (305 ILCS 5/5-16.12 new)
 2        Sec. 5-16.12.  Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act.   The
 3    medical  assistance  program  is subject to the provisions of
 4    the Managed Care Patient Rights Act and Section 356w  of  the
 5    Illinois Insurance Code.  The Department shall adopt rules to
 6    implement   these  provisions.   These  rules  shall  require
 7    compliance with Article 5, and Section 10-5(b) of Article  10
 8    of  the  Managed  Care  Patient  Rights  Act  in  the medical
 9    assistance managed care  programs.   The  medical  assistance
10    fee-for-service  program  is not subject to the provisions of
11    the Managed Care Patient Rights Act.
12        Section 400.  The State Finance Act is amended by  adding
13    Section 5.480 as follows:
14        (30 ILCS 105/5.480 new)
15        Sec.  5.480.   The Managed Care Entity Responsibility and
16    Patient Rights Fund.
17                     ARTICLE 99.  EFFECTIVE DATE
18        Section 99-1.  Effective date.   This  Act  takes  effect
19    upon becoming law.

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