(210 ILCS 88/25)

Sec. 25. Bill inquiries.

(a) A hospital must implement a process for patients to inquire about or dispute a bill. Such process must include a telephone number for billing inquiries and disputes and may include any of the following options:

(1) a toll-free telephone number that the patient may call;

(2) an address to which he or she may write;

(3) a department or identified individual within the hospital he or she may call or write, with appropriate contact information; or

(4) a website or e-mail address.

(b) All hospital bills and collection notices must provide a telephone number allowing the patient to inquire about or dispute a bill.

(c) The hospital must return calls made by patients as promptly as possible, but no later than 2 business days after the call is made. If the hospital's billing inquiry process involves correspondence from the patient, the hospital must respond within 10 business days of receipt of the patient correspondence. For purposes of this Section, "business day" means a day on which the hospital's billing office is open for regular business.

(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)