Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB4449

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In connection with the pharmaceutical assistance program, provides eligibility for persons who have a maximum household income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level if they qualify under certain conditions. Eliminates an Eligibility Group consisting of persons who are disabled and under age 65, or age 65 or older with incomes related to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and who are eligible for Medicare Part D coverage. Provides that for persons who have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, "covered prescription drug" means those drugs covered by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan in which the beneficiary is enrolled (eliminates a reference to drugs included in the formulary of the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program operated by the Illinois Department of Public Health). Provides that in defining countable income for purposes of the pharmaceutical assistance program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the Department on Aging must disregard the cost-of-living increase to any benefit administered by the Social Security Administration in any year that the percentage increase of the Social Security Administration cost-of-living adjustment is higher than the percentage increase in the Federal Poverty Level. Adds provisions concerning the effective date of eligibility for the pharmaceutical assistance program. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In connection with the pharmaceutical assistance program under the Act, provides that to become a beneficiary under the program, a person must have a maximum household income equal to or less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (instead of less than specified amounts or equal to or less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Provides for 4 (instead of 5) Eligibility Groups (eliminates current Eligibility Group 3). For persons in the Eligibility Group consisting of persons who have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, provides for an alternative co-payment according to whether or not a drug is covered by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan in which the beneficiary is enrolled (in addition to whether or not the drug is included in the formulary of the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program operated by the Illinois Department of Public Health). Makes changes in the definitions of "covered prescription drug" for each Eligibility Group. Makes other changes. Provides that neither the Governor nor any agency or agency head under the jurisdiction of the Governor has any rulemaking authority under the amendatory Act, but that the Governor may suggest rules by filing them with the General Assembly and requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact the suggested rules into law, or take other appropriate action in the General Assembly's discretion. Effective immediately.

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