103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1030

 

Introduced 1/12/2023, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
210 ILCS 88/35

    Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by garnishing wages, seizing moneys from tax returns, or pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure on the patient's home. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than the patient. Provides that the hospital, and not the patient, is responsible for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program.


LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1030LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fair Patient Billing Act is amended by
5changing Section 35 as follows:
 
6    (210 ILCS 88/35)
7    Sec. 35. Collection limitations.
8    (a) The hospital shall not pursue legal action for
9non-payment of a hospital bill against uninsured patients who
10have clearly demonstrated that they have neither sufficient
11income nor assets to meet their financial obligations provided
12the patient has complied with Section 45 of this Act.
13    (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
14a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue
15debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a
16patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by:
17        (1) garnishing wages;
18        (2) seizing moneys from tax returns; or
19        (3) pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure
20    on the patient's home.
21    (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
22a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's
23eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's

 

 

HB1030- 2 -LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b

1hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the
2medical assistance program established under Article V of the
3Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than
4the patient. The hospital, and not the patient, is responsible
5for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance
6programs, the medical assistance program established under
7Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare
8program under this subsection.
9(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)