Public Act 90-0007 of the 90th General Assembly

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Public Act 90-0007

HB1881 Enrolled                                LRB9000419JSgc

    AN ACT relating to medical services, amending named Acts.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section  5.  The  State  Employees Group Insurance Act of
1971 is amended by adding Section 6.9 as follows:

    (5 ILCS 375/6.9 new)
    Sec. 6.9.  Required  health  benefits.   The  program  of
health   benefits  shall  provide  the  post-mastectomy  care
benefits required to be covered by a policy of  accident  and
health insurance under Section 356t of the Illinois Insurance
Code.   The  program  of  health  benefits  shall provide the
coverage  required  under  Section  356u  of   the   Illinois
Insurance Code.

    Section  10.  The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
Section 8.21 as follows:

    (30 ILCS 805/8.21 new)
    Sec. 8.21.  Exempt mandate.  Notwithstanding  Sections  6
and  8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required
for  the  implementation  of  any  mandate  created  by  this
amendatory Act of 1997.

    Section 15.  The Counties Code  is  amended  by  changing
Section 5-1069 and adding Section 5-1069.3 as follows:

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1069) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-1069)
    Sec.  5-1069. Group life, health, accident, hospital, and
medical insurance.
    (a)  The county  board  of  any  county  may  arrange  to
provide,  for  the  benefit of employees of the county, group
life, health, accident, hospital, and medical  insurance,  or
any  one  or  any combination of those types of insurance, or
the county board may self-insure,  for  the  benefit  of  its
employees,  all  or  a  portion of the employees' group life,
health, accident, hospital, and medical insurance, or any one
or any combination of those types of insurance,  including  a
combination  of  self-insurance  and other types of insurance
authorized by this Section, provided that  the  county  board
complies  with  all  other  requirements of this Section. The
insurance may include provision for  employees  who  rely  on
treatment  by  prayer or spiritual means alone for healing in
accordance with the tenets and practice of a well  recognized
religious  denomination.   The  county  board may provide for
payment by the county of a portion or all of the  premium  or
charge for the insurance with the employee paying the balance
of  the  premium  or  charge,  if  any.   If the county board
undertakes a plan under which the county pays only a  portion
of  the premium or charge, the county board shall provide for
withholding and deducting  from  the  compensation  of  those
employees  who  consent  to  join the plan the balance of the
premium or charge for the insurance.
    (b)  If  the  county   board   does   not   provide   for
self-insurance  or  for  a plan under which the county pays a
portion or all of the premium or charge for a group insurance
plan, the county  board  may  provide  for   withholding  and
deducting  from  the  compensation  of  those  employees  who
consent  thereto  the  total  premium or charge for any group
life, health, accident, hospital, and medical insurance.
    (c)  The county board may exercise the powers granted  in
this Section only if it provides for self-insurance or, where
it  makes  arrangements to provide group insurance through an
insurance carrier,  if  the  kinds  of  group  insurance  are
obtained  from an insurance company authorized to do business
in the State of Illinois.  The  county  board  may  enact  an
ordinance   prescribing   the  method  of  operation  of  the
insurance program.
    (d)  If a county, including a  home  rule  county,  is  a
self-insurer  for  purposes  of  providing  health  insurance
coverage  for  its  employees,  the  insurance coverage shall
include screening by low-dose mammography for  all  women  35
years  of  age  or  older  for  the presence of occult breast
cancer unless the county elects to provide mammograms  itself
under Section 5-1069.1.  The coverage shall be as follows:
         (1)  A  baseline  mammogram for women 35 to 39 years
    of age.
         (2)  A mammogram every one to 2 years,  even  if  no
    symptoms are present, for women 40 to 49 years of age.
         (3)  An  annual  mammogram  for women 40 50 years of
    age or older.
    Those benefits shall be at  least  as  favorable  as  for
other  radiological  examinations  and  subject  to  the same
dollar limits, deductibles, and  co-insurance  factors.   For
purposes of this subsection, "low-dose mammography" means the
x-ray  examination  of  the  breast using equipment dedicated
specifically  for  mammography,  including  the  x-ray  tube,
filter, compression device,  screens,  and  image  receptors,
with  an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one
rad mid-breast, with 2 views for each breast. The requirement
that mammograms be included in health insurance  coverage  as
provided  in  this  subsection  (d) is an exclusive power and
function of the State and is a denial  and  limitation  under
Article  VII,  Section  6,  subsection  (h)  of  the Illinois
Constitution of home rule county powers. A home  rule  county
to  which  this  subsection  applies  must  comply with every
provision of this subsection.
    (e)  The  term  "employees"  as  used  in  this   Section
includes  elected or appointed officials but does not include
temporary employees.
(Source: P.A. 86-962; 87-780.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1069.3 new)
    Sec. 5-1069.3.  Required health benefits.  If  a  county,
including  a home rule county, is a self-insurer for purposes
of providing health insurance coverage for its employees, the
coverage shall include coverage for the post-mastectomy  care
benefits  required  to be covered by a policy of accident and
health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required
under Section 356u  of  the  Illinois  Insurance  Code.   The
requirement  that  health  benefits be covered as provided in
this Section is an exclusive power and function of the  State
and  is a denial and limitation under Article VII, Section 6,
subsection (h) of the Illinois  Constitution.   A  home  rule
county  to  which this Section applies must comply with every
provision of this Section.

    Section 20.  The Illinois Municipal Code  is  amended  by
changing  Section  10-4-2  and  adding  Section  10-4-2.3  as
follows:

    (65 ILCS 5/10-4-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-4-2)
    Sec. 10-4-2.  Group insurance.
    (a)  The  corporate  authorities  of any municipality may
arrange to provide, for  the  benefit  of  employees  of  the
municipality,  group  life,  health,  accident, hospital, and
medical insurance, or any one or  any  combination  of  those
types of insurance, and may arrange to provide that insurance
for  the  benefit  of  the  spouses  or  dependents  of those
employees. The insurance may include provision for  employees
or  other  insured persons who rely on treatment by prayer or
spiritual means alone for  healing  in  accordance  with  the
tenets   and   practice   of   a  well  recognized  religious
denomination.  The  corporate  authorities  may  provide  for
payment  by  the  municipality of a portion of the premium or
charge for the insurance with the employee paying the balance
of the  premium  or  charge.  If  the  corporate  authorities
undertake  a plan under which the municipality pays a portion
of the premium or charge,  the  corporate  authorities  shall
provide  for  withholding and deducting from the compensation
of those municipal employees who consent to join the plan the
balance of the premium or charge for the insurance.
    (b)  If the corporate authorities do not  provide  for  a
plan  under  which  the  municipality  pays  a portion of the
premium or charge for a group insurance plan,  the  corporate
authorities  may  provide  for withholding and deducting from
the compensation of those employees who consent  thereto  the
premium  or  charge  for  any  group  life, health, accident,
hospital, and medical insurance.
    (c)  The corporate authorities may  exercise  the  powers
granted  in this Section only if the kinds of group insurance
are obtained from  an  insurance  company  authorized  to  do
business  in the State of Illinois. The corporate authorities
may enact an ordinance prescribing the method of operation of
the insurance program.
    (d)  If   a   municipality,   including   a   home   rule
municipality, is a self-insurer  for  purposes  of  providing
health  insurance  coverage  for its employees, the insurance
coverage shall include screening by low-dose mammography  for
all women 35 years of age or older for the presence of occult
breast  cancer  unless  the  municipality  elects  to provide
mammograms itself under Section 10-4-2.1.  The coverage shall
be as follows:
         (1)  A baseline mammogram for women 35 to  39  years
    of age.
         (2)  A  mammogram  every  one to 2 years, even if no
    symptoms are present, for women 40 to 49 years of age.
         (3)  An annual mammogram for women 40  50  years  of
    age or older.
    Those  benefits  shall  be  at  least as favorable as for
other radiological  examinations  and  subject  to  the  same
dollar  limits,  deductibles,  and co-insurance factors.  For
purposes of this subsection, "low-dose mammography" means the
x-ray examination of the  breast  using  equipment  dedicated
specifically  for  mammography,  including  the  x-ray  tube,
filter,  compression  device,  screens,  and image receptors,
with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than  one
rad mid-breast, with 2 views for each breast. The requirement
that  mammograms  be included in health insurance coverage as
provided in this subsection (d) is  an  exclusive  power  and
function  of  the  State and is a denial and limitation under
Article VII,  Section  6,  subsection  (h)  of  the  Illinois
Constitution  of  home  rule municipality powers. A home rule
municipality to which this  subsection  applies  must  comply
with every provision of this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 86-1475; 87-780.)

    (65 ILCS 5/10-4-2.3 new)
    Sec.   10-4-2.3.  Required   health   benefits.    If   a
municipality,  including  a  home  rule  municipality,  is  a
self-insurer  for  purposes  of  providing  health  insurance
coverage  for  its  employees,  the  coverage  shall  include
coverage for the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be
covered  by  a  policy of accident and health insurance under
Section 356t and the coverage required under Section 356u  of
the  Illinois  Insurance  Code.   The requirement that health
benefits be covered as provided in this is an exclusive power
and function of the State and  is  a  denial  and  limitation
under  Article VII, Section 6, subsection (h) of the Illinois
Constitution.  A home rule municipality to which this Section
applies must comply with every provision of this Section.
    Section 25.  The School Code is amended by adding Section
10-22.3f as follows:

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3f new)
    Sec.  10-22.3f.  Required  health  benefits.    Insurance
protection  and  benefits  for  employees  shall  provide the
post-mastectomy care benefits required to  be  covered  by  a
policy  of  accident  and health insurance under Section 356t
and the coverage required under Section 356u of the  Illinois
Insurance Code.

    Section  30.  The  Illinois  Insurance Code is amended by
changing Sections 122-1, 356g, and 1003 and  adding  Sections
356t and 356u as follows:

    (215 ILCS 5/122-1) (from Ch. 73, par. 734-1)
    Sec.  122-1.  The authority and jurisdiction of Insurance
Department.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law,  and
except  as  provided herein, any person or other entity which
provides  coverage  in  this  State  for  medical,  surgical,
chiropractic,   naprapathic,   physical    therapy,    speech
pathology,  audiology,  professional  mental  health, dental,
hospital, ophthalmologic,  or  optometric  expenses,  whether
such   coverage   is  by  direct-payment,  reimbursement,  or
otherwise,  shall  be  presumed  to   be   subject   to   the
jurisdiction  of  the  Department  unless the person or other
entity shows that while providing such coverage it is subject
to the jurisdiction of another  agency  of  this  state,  any
subdivision of this state, or the Federal Government, or is a
plan  of  self-insurance  or  other  employee welfare benefit
program of an individual employer or labor union  established
or  maintained  under  or pursuant to a collective bargaining
agreement or other arrangement which provides for health care
services solely  for  its  employees  or  members  and  their
dependents.
(Source: P.A. 86-753.)

    (215 ILCS 5/356g) (from Ch. 73, par. 968g)
    Sec.  356g. (a) Every insurer shall provide in each group
or individual policy, contract, or certificate  of  insurance
issued  or  renewed  for  persons  who  are residents of this
State, coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for all
women 35 years of age or older for  the  presence  of  occult
breast  cancer within the provisions of the policy, contract,
or certificate. The coverage shall be as follows:
         (1)  A baseline mammogram for women 35 to  39  years
    of age.
         (2)  An  mammogram  every  1  to 2 years, even if no
    symptoms are present, for women 40 to 49 years of age.
         (3)  An annual mammogram for women 40  50  years  of
    age or older.
    These  benefits  shall  be  at  least as favorable as for
other radiological  examinations  and  subject  to  the  same
dollar  limits,  deductibles,  and  co-insurance factors. For
purposes of this Section, "low-dose  mammography"  means  the
x-ray  examination  of  the  breast using equipment dedicated
specifically  for  mammography,  including  the  x-ray  tube,
filter,  compression  device,  and   image   receptor,   with
radiation exposure delivery of less than 1 rad per breast for
2 views of an average size breast.
    (b)  No  policy  of  accident  or  health  insurance that
provides for the surgical procedure  known  as  a  mastectomy
shall  be issued, amended, delivered or renewed in this State
on or after July 1, 1981, unless coverage is also offered for
prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery incident to  the
mastectomy,  providing that the mastectomy is performed after
July 1, 1981. The offered coverage for prosthetic devices and
reconstructive surgery shall be subject to the deductible and
coinsurance conditions applied to  the  mastectomy,  and  all
other  terms  and  conditions  applicable  to other benefits.
When a mastectomy is performed and there is  no  evidence  of
malignancy  then  the  offered coverage may be limited to the
provision of prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery to
within 2 years after the date of the mastectomy. As  used  in
this  Section,  "mastectomy" means the removal of all or part
of the breast for medically necessary reasons, as  determined
by a licensed physician.
(Source: P.A. 86-899; 87-518.)

    (215 ILCS 5/356t new)
    Sec.  356t.  Post-mastectomy care. An individual or group
policy of accident and health insurance or managed care  plan
that  provides  surgical  coverage and is amended, delivered,
issued,  or  renewed  after  the  effective  date   of   this
amendatory  Act  of  1997  shall  provide  inpatient coverage
following a mastectomy for a length of time determined by the
attending  physician  to  be  medically  necessary   and   in
accordance  with  protocols  and  guidelines  based  on sound
scientific evidence and upon evaluation of  the  patient  and
the   coverage  for  and  availability  of  a  post-discharge
physician office visit or in-home nurse visit to  verify  the
condition  of  the  patient  in  the  first  48  hours  after
discharge.

    (215 ILCS 5/356u new)
    Sec.  356u.   Pap  tests  and  prostate-specific  antigen
tests.
    (a)  A group policy of accident and health insurance that
provides  coverage  for  hospital  or  medical  treatment  or
services  for  illness  on  an  expense-incurred basis and is
amended, delivered, issued, or renewed  after  the  effective
date  of  this  amendatory Act of 1997 shall provide coverage
for all of the following:
         (1)  An annual cervical smear or Pap smear test  for
    female insureds.
         (2)  An  annual  digital  rectal  examination  and a
    prostate-specific antigen test, for  male  insureds  upon
    the  recommendation  of  a physician licensed to practice
    medicine in all its branches for:
              (A)  asymptomatic men age 50 and over;
              (B)  African-American men age 40 and over; and
              (C)  men age 40 and over with a family  history
         of prostate cancer.
    (b)  This   Section   shall   not  apply  to  agreements,
contracts, or policies that provide coverage for a  specified
disease or other limited benefit coverage.

    (215 ILCS 5/1003) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.703)
    Sec.  1003.   Definitions.   As used in this Article: (A)
"Adverse underwriting decision" means:
    (1)  any  of  the  following  actions  with  respect   to
insurance  transactions involving insurance coverage which is
individually underwritten:
    (a)  a declination of insurance coverage,
    (b)  a termination of insurance coverage,
    (c)  failure of an agent to apply for insurance  coverage
with   a  specific  insurance  institution  which  the  agent
represents and which is requested by an applicant,
    (d)  in the case of  a  property  or  casualty  insurance
coverage:
    (i) placement  by  an insurance institution or agent of a
risk  with  a  residual  market  mechanism,  an  unauthorized
insurer or an  insurance  institution  which  specializes  in
substandard risks, or
    (ii) the  charging  of  a  higher  rate  on  the basis of
information which differs from that which  the  applicant  or
policyholder furnished, or
    (e)  in  the case of life, health or disability insurance
coverage, an offer to insure at higher than standard rates.
    (2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) above,  the  following
actions   shall   not   be  considered  adverse  underwriting
decisions but the insurance institution or agent  responsible
for their occurrence shall nevertheless provide the applicant
or policyholder with the specific reason or reasons for their
occurrence:
    (a)  the  termination  of  an individual policy form on a
class or statewide basis,
    (b)  a declination of insurance coverage  solely  because
such coverage is not available on a class or statewide basis,
or
    (c)  the rescission of a policy.
    (B)  "Affiliate"  or  "affiliated"  means  a  person that
directly, or indirectly through one or  more  intermediaries,
controls,  is  controlled  by or is under common control with
another person.
    (C)  "Agent"  means  an  individual,  firm,  partnership,
association  or  corporation   who   is   involved   in   the
solicitation,  negotiation  or binding of coverages for or on
applications or policies of insurance, covering  property  or
risks  located  in  this  State.   For  the  purposes of this
Article, both "Insurance Agent" and  "Insurance  Broker",  as
defined in Section 490, shall be considered an agent.
    (D)  "Applicant"  means  any person who seeks to contract
for insurance coverage other  than  a  person  seeking  group
insurance that is not individually underwritten.
    (E)  "Director" means the Director of Insurance.
    (F)  "Consumer  report"  means any written, oral or other
communication of information bearing on  a  natural  person's
credit   worthiness,   credit   standing,   credit  capacity,
character, general reputation,  personal  characteristics  or
mode  of  living  which  is  used  or  expected to be used in
connection with an insurance transaction.
    (G) "Consumer reporting agency" means any person who:
    (1) regularly engages,  in  whole  or  in  part,  in  the
practice  of  assembling  or preparing consumer reports for a
monetary fee,
    (2) obtains information primarily from sources other than
insurance institutions, and
    (3) furnishes consumer reports to other persons.
    (H)  "Control", including the terms  "controlled  by"  or
"under  common control with", means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause  the  direction  of
the  management and policies of a person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities,  by  contract  other  than  a
commercial  contract  for goods or nonmanagement services, or
otherwise, unless the power is  the  result  of  an  official
position with or corporate office held by the person.
    (I)  "Declination  of insurance coverage" means a denial,
in whole or in part, by an insurance institution or agent  of
requested insurance coverage.
    (J)  "Individual" means any natural person who:
    (1)  in  the case of property or casualty insurance, is a
past, present or proposed named insured or certificateholder;
    (2)  in the case of life, health or disability insurance,
is  a  past,  present  or  proposed  principal   insured   or
certificateholder;
    (3)  is a past, present or proposed policyowner;
    (4)  is a past or present applicant;
    (5)  is a past or present claimant; or
    (6)  derived,  derives or is proposed to derive insurance
coverage under an insurance policy or certificate subject  to
this Article.
    (K)  "Institutional   source"   means   any   person   or
governmental   entity  that  provides  information  about  an
individual   to   an   agent,   insurance   institution    or
insurance-support organization, other than:
    (1)  an agent,
    (2)  the   individual   who   is   the   subject  of  the
information, or
    (3)  a natural  person  acting  in  a  personal  capacity
rather than in a business or professional capacity.
    (L)  "Insurance   institution"   means  any  corporation,
association, partnership, reciprocal exchange, inter-insurer,
Lloyd's insurer, fraternal benefit society  or  other  person
engaged  in  the  business  of  insurance, health maintenance
organizations  as  defined  in  Section  2  of  the   "Health
Maintenance  Organization  Act",  medical  service  plans  as
defined  in  Section  2  of  "The  Medical Service Plan Act",
hospital service corporation under "The Nonprofit Health Care
Service Plan Act", voluntary health services plans as defined
in Section 2 of "The Voluntary Health  Services  Plans  Act",
vision  service  plans as defined in Section 2 of "The Vision
Service Plan Act", dental service plans as defined in Section
4 of  "The  Dental  Service  Plan  Act",  and  pharmaceutical
service  plans as defined in Section 4 of "The Pharmaceutical
Service Plan Act".  "Insurance institution" shall not include
agents or insurance-support organizations.
    (M)  "Insurance-support  organization"  means:  (1)   any
person  who  regularly  engages,  in whole or in part, in the
practice  of  assembling  or  collecting  information   about
natural  persons  for  the  primary  purpose of providing the
information  to  an  insurance  institution  or   agent   for
insurance transactions, including:
    (a)  the  furnishing of consumer reports or investigative
consumer reports to an insurance institution or agent for use
in connection with an insurance transaction, or
    (b)  the  collection   of   personal   information   from
insurance  institutions,  agents  or  other insurance-support
organizations for the  purpose  of  detecting  or  preventing
fraud,  material  misrepresentation or material nondisclosure
in connection with insurance underwriting or insurance  claim
activity.
    (2) Notwithstanding  paragraph  (1)  above, the following
persons   shall   not   be   considered    "insurance-support
organizations"   for   purposes   of  this  Article:  agents,
government institutions, insurance institutions, medical care
institutions and medical professionals.
    (N)  "Insurance  transaction"   means   any   transaction
involving   insurance   primarily  for  personal,  family  or
household needs rather than business  or  professional  needs
which entails:
    (1)  the determination of an individual's eligibility for
an insurance coverage, benefit or payment, or
    (2)  the  servicing  of an insurance application, policy,
contract or certificate.
    (O)  "Investigative consumer  report"  means  a  consumer
report  or  portion  thereof  in  which  information  about a
natural  person's  character,  general  reputation,  personal
characteristics  or  mode  of  living  is  obtained   through
personal  interviews  with  the  person's neighbors, friends,
associates, acquaintances or others who  may  have  knowledge
concerning such items of information.
    (P)  "Medical-care  institution"  means  any  facility or
institution that is licensed to provide health care  services
to  natural persons, including but not limited to: hospitals,
skilled nursing  facilities,  home-health  agencies,  medical
clinics,  rehabilitation  agencies and public-health agencies
and health-maintenance organizations.
    (Q)  "Medical professional" means any person licensed  or
certified    to  provide  health  care  services  to  natural
persons,  including but not limited to, a physician, dentist,
nurse,  optometrist,  chiropractor,  naprapath,   pharmacist,
physical   or   occupational  therapist,  psychiatric  social
worker, speech  therapist,  clinical  dietitian  or  clinical
psychologist.
    (R)  "Medical-record    information"    means    personal
information which:
    (1)  relates   to  an  individual's  physical  or  mental
condition, medical history or medical treatment, and
    (2)  is  obtained  from   a   medical   professional   or
medical-care  institution,  from  the individual, or from the
individual's spouse, parent or legal guardian.
    (S)  "Person"  means  any  natural  person,  corporation,
association, partnership or other legal entity.
    (T)  "Personal  information"   means   any   individually
identifiable  information  gathered  in  connection  with  an
insurance  transaction from which judgments can be made about
an  individual's  character,  habits,  avocations,  finances,
occupation, general reputation, credit, health or  any  other
personal characteristics.  "Personal information" includes an
individual's    name    and   address   and   "medical-record
information" but does not include "privileged information".
    (U)  "Policyholder" means any person who:
    (1)  in the  case  of  individual  property  or  casualty
insurance, is a present named insured;
    (2)  in the case of individual life, health or disability
insurance, is a present policyowner; or
    (3)  in the case of group insurance which is individually
underwritten, is a present group certificateholder.
    (V)  "Pretext  interview"  means  an  interview whereby a
person, in an attempt to obtain information about  a  natural
person, performs one or more of the following acts:
    (1)  pretends to be someone he or she is not,
    (2)  pretends  to  represent a person he or she is not in
fact representing,
    (3)  misrepresents the true purpose of the interview, or
    (4)  refuses to identify himself or herself upon request.
    (W)  "Privileged  information"  means  any   individually
identifiable  information  that:  (1)  relates to a claim for
insurance  benefits  or  a  civil  or   criminal   proceeding
involving  an  individual, and (2) is collected in connection
with or in reasonable anticipation of a claim  for  insurance
benefits   or  civil  or  criminal  proceeding  involving  an
individual; provided, however, information otherwise  meeting
the  requirements  of  this  subsection shall nevertheless be
considered "personal information" under this Article if it is
disclosed in violation of Section 1014 of this Article.
    (X)  "Residual market mechanism"  means  an  association,
organization  or  other entity described in Article XXXIII of
this Act, or Section 7-501 of "The Illinois Vehicle Code".
    (Y)  "Termination of insurance coverage" or  "termination
of  an  insurance  policy"  means  either  a  cancellation or
nonrenewal of an insurance policy, in whole or in  part,  for
any  reason  other  than  the  failure  to  pay  a premium as
required by the policy.
    (Z) "Unauthorized insurer" means an insurance institution
that has not been granted a certificate of authority  by  the
Director to transact the business of insurance in this State.
(Source: P.A. 82-108.)

    Section  32.  The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act
is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

    (215 ILCS 105/8) (from Ch. 73, par. 1308)
    Sec. 8.  Minimum benefits.
    a.  Availability. The Plan shall  offer  in  an  annually
renewable  policy  major  medical  expense  coverage to every
eligible person who is  not  eligible  for  Medicare.   Major
medical  expense  coverage  offered  by the Plan shall pay an
eligible person's covered expenses, subject to limit  on  the
deductible   and   coinsurance   payments   authorized  under
paragraph (4) of subsection  d  of  this  Section,  up  to  a
lifetime  benefit  limit  of $500,000 per covered individual.
The maximum limit under this subsection shall not be  altered
by  the  Board,  and  no  actuarial equivalent benefit may be
substituted by the Board.  Any  person  who  otherwise  would
qualify  for coverage under the Plan, but is excluded because
he or she is eligible for Medicare, shall be eligible for any
separate Medicare  supplement  policy  which  the  Board  may
offer.
    b.  Covered  expenses.  Covered expenses shall be limited
to the reasonable and customary charge, including  negotiated
fees, in the locality for the following services and articles
when  medically necessary and prescribed by a person licensed
and practicing within the scope of his or her  profession  as
authorized by State law:
         (1)  Hospital  room and board and any other hospital
    services, except that inpatient hospitalization  for  the
    treatment of mental and emotional disorders shall only be
    covered for a maximum of 45 days in a calendar year.
         (2)  Professional  services  for  the  diagnosis  or
    treatment  of  injuries,  illnesses  or conditions, other
    than  dental,  or  outpatient  mental  as  described   in
    paragraph  (17),  which  are  rendered  by a physician or
    chiropractor, or by other licensed professionals  at  the
    physician's or chiropractor's direction.
         (3)  If  surgery  has  been  recommended,  a  second
    opinion  may be required. The charge for a second opinion
    as to whether the surgery is required  will  be  paid  in
    full   without   regard   to   deductible  or  co-payment
    requirements.  If the second  opinion  differs  from  the
    first,  the  charge for a third opinion, if desired, will
    also be paid in full  without  regard  to  deductible  or
    co-payment   requirements.   Regardless  of  whether  the
    second opinion or third  opinion  confirms  the  original
    recommendation,  it  is the patient's decision whether to
    undergo surgery.
         (4)  Drugs requiring a physician's or other  legally
    authorized prescription.
         (5)  Skilled  nursing  care  provided  in  a skilled
    nursing facility for not more than 120 days in a calendar
    year, provided  the  service  commences  within  14  days
    following a confinement of at least 3 consecutive days in
    a hospital for the same condition.
         (6)  Services of a home health agency in accord with
    a  home  health  care plan, up to a maximum of 270 visits
    per year.
         (7)  Services of a licensed  hospice  for  not  more
    than 180 days during a policy year.
         (8)  Use of radium or other radioactive materials.
         (9)  Oxygen.
         (10)  Anesthetics.
         (11)  Orthoses and prostheses other than dental.
         (12)  Rental  or  purchase  in accordance with Board
    policies or  procedures  of  durable  medical  equipment,
    other than eyeglasses or hearing aids, for which there is
    no personal use in the absence of the condition for which
    it is prescribed.
         (13)  Diagnostic x-rays and laboratory tests.
         (14)  Oral  surgery  for  excision  of  partially or
    completely unerupted  impacted  teeth  or  the  gums  and
    tissues  of  the  mouth, when not performed in connection
    with the routine extraction or repair of teeth, and  oral
    surgery   and   procedures,  including  orthodontics  and
    prosthetics necessary for craniofacial  or  maxillofacial
    conditions  and to correct congenital defects or injuries
    due to accident.
         (15)  Physical, speech, and functional  occupational
    therapy   as   medically   necessary   and   provided  by
    appropriate licensed professionals.
         (16)  Transportation   provided   by   a    licensed
    ambulance  service  to  the  nearest health care facility
    qualified to treat  the  illness,  injury  or  condition,
    subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Emergency  Medical
    Systems (EMS) Act.
         (17)  The  first  50  professional outpatient visits
    for diagnosis  and  treatment  of  mental  and  emotional
    disorders  rendered  during  the year, up to a maximum of
    $80 per visit.
         (18)  Human organ or tissue transplants specified by
    the Board that are performed at a hospital designated  by
    the  Board  as a participating transplant center for that
    specific organ or tissue transplant.
         (19)  Naprapathic services, as appropriate, provided
    by a licensed naprapathic practitioner.
    c.  Exclusion.  Covered expenses of the  Plan  shall  not
include the following:
         (1)  Any  charge for treatment for cosmetic purposes
    other than for reconstructive surgery when the service is
    incidental to or follows surgery resulting  from  injury,
    sickness  or  other  diseases  of  the  involved  part or
    surgery for the  repair  or  treatment  of  a  congenital
    bodily defect to restore normal bodily functions.
         (2)  Any charge for care that is primarily for rest,
    custodial, educational, or domiciliary purposes.
         (3)  Any  charge  for  services in a private room to
    the extent it is in excess of  the  institution's  charge
    for  its  most  common semiprivate room, unless a private
    room is prescribed as medically necessary by a physician.
         (4)  That part of any charge for room and  board  or
    for   services  rendered  or  articles  prescribed  by  a
    physician, dentist, or other health care  personnel  that
    exceeds  the  reasonable  and  customary  charge  in  the
    locality  or  for  any services or supplies not medically
    necessary for the diagnosed injury or illness.
         (5)  Any  charge  for  services  or   articles   the
    provision  of  which is not within the scope of licensure
    of the institution or individual providing  the  services
    or articles.
         (6)  Any  expense  incurred  prior  to the effective
    date of coverage by the Plan  for  the  person  on  whose
    behalf the expense is incurred.
         (7)  Dental  care,  dental surgery, dental treatment
    or dental appliances, except  as  provided  in  paragraph
    (14) of subsection b of this Section.
         (8)  Eyeglasses,  contact  lenses,  hearing  aids or
    their fitting.
         (9)  Illness or injury due to (A) war or any acts of
    war; (B) commission of, or attempt to commit,  a  felony;
    or  (C)  aviation  activities, except when traveling as a
    fare-paying passenger on a commercial airline.
         (10)  Services of  blood  donors  and  any  fee  for
    failure  to  replace blood provided to an eligible person
    each policy year.
         (11)  Personal supplies or services  provided  by  a
    hospital  or  nursing  home,  or  any other nonmedical or
    nonprescribed supply or service.
         (12)  Routine maternity  charges  for  a  pregnancy,
    except  where  added as optional coverage with payment of
    an  additional  premium  for  pregnancy  resulting   from
    conception  occurring  after  the  effective  date of the
    optional coverage.
         (13)  Expenses of  obtaining  an  abortion,  induced
    miscarriage  or  induced  premature  birth unless, in the
    opinion of a physician, those  procedures  are  necessary
    for  the  preservation  of life of the woman seeking such
    treatment, or except an induced premature birth  intended
    to  produce  a  live  viable  child  and the procedure is
    necessary for the health of the mother or unborn child.
         (14)  Any expense or charge for services, drugs,  or
    supplies  that  are:  (i)  not  provided  in  accord with
    generally accepted standards of current medical practice;
    (ii) for procedures, treatments, equipment,  transplants,
    or   implants,   any   of   which   are  investigational,
    experimental,   or   for   research    purposes;    (iii)
    investigative  and not proven safe and effective; or (iv)
    for,  or  resulting   from,   a   gender   transformation
    operation.
         (15)  Any  expense  or  charge  for routine physical
    examinations or tests.
         (16)  Any expense for which a charge is not made  in
    the  absence  of insurance or for which there is no legal
    obligation on the part of the patient to pay.
         (17)  Any expense  incurred  for  benefits  provided
    under  the  laws  of  the  United  States and this State,
    including  Medicare  and  Medicaid  and   other   medical
    assistance,    military    service-connected   disability
    payments, medical services provided for  members  of  the
    armed  forces  and  their  dependents or employees of the
    armed forces of the United States, and  medical  services
    financed on behalf of all citizens by the United States.
         (18)  Any   expense   or   charge   for   in   vitro
    fertilization,  artificial  insemination,  or  any  other
    artificial means used to cause pregnancy.
         (19)  Any  expense or charge for oral contraceptives
    used for birth  control  or  any  other  temporary  birth
    control measures.
         (20)  Any  expense  or  charge  for sterilization or
    sterilization reversals.
         (21)  Any  expense  or  charge   for   weight   loss
    programs,  exercise  equipment,  or treatment of obesity,
    except when certified by a physician  as  morbid  obesity
    (at least 2 times normal body weight).
         (22)  Any   expense   or   charge   for  acupuncture
    treatment unless  used  as  an  anesthetic  agent  for  a
    covered surgery.
         (23)  Any  expense or charge for or related to organ
    or tissue transplants other than  those  performed  at  a
    hospital  with  a Board approved organ transplant program
    that has been designated by the Board as a  preferred  or
    exclusive  provider  organization for that specific organ
    or tissue.
         (24)  Any  expense   or   charge   for   procedures,
    treatments,  equipment,  or services that are provided in
    special settings for research purposes or in a controlled
    environment, are being studied  for  safety,  efficiency,
    and  effectiveness,  and  are awaiting endorsement by the
    appropriate  national  medical  speciality  college   for
    general use within the medical community.
    d.  Premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance.
         (1)  Premiums  charged  for  coverage  issued by the
    Plan may not be unreasonable in relation to the  benefits
    provided, the risk experience and the reasonable expenses
    of providing the coverage.
         (2)  Separate  schedules  of  premium rates based on
    sex,  age  and  geographical  location  shall  apply  for
    individual risks.
         (3)  The Plan may provide for separate premium rates
    for optional family coverage for the  spouse  or  one  or
    more  dependents  of  any  person  eligible to be insured
    under the Plan who is also the oldest adult member of the
    family and remains continuously enrolled in the  Plan  as
    the  primary enrollee. The rates shall be such percentage
    of the applicable individual Plan rate as the  Board,  in
    accordance  with  appropriate actuarial principles, shall
    establish for each spouse or dependent.
         (4)  The Board shall determine, in  accordance  with
    appropriate  actuarial principles, the average rates that
    individual standard risks in this State are charged by at
    least 5 of the largest  insurers  providing  coverage  to
    residents  of  Illinois  that is substantially similar to
    the Plan coverage. In the event at least  5  insurers  do
    not offer substantially similar coverage, the rates shall
    be  established using reasonable actuarial techniques and
    shall reflect anticipated  claims  experience,  expenses,
    and  other appropriate risk factors relating to the Plan.
    Rates for  Plan  coverage  shall  be  135%  of  rates  so
    established  as applicable for individual standard risks;
    provided,  however,  if  after   determining   that   the
    appropriations  made  pursuant  to Section 12 of this Act
    are insufficient to ensure that  total  income  from  all
    sources will equal or exceed the total incurred costs and
    expenses  for  the current number of enrollees, the board
    shall raise premium rates above this 135% standard to the
    level it deems necessary to ensure the financial solvency
    of the Plan for enrollees already in the Plan. All  rates
    and  rate  schedules  shall be submitted to the board for
    approval.
         (5)  The Plan coverage defined in  Section  6  shall
    provide  for a choice of deductibles as authorized by the
    Board per individual per annum.  If 2 individual  members
    of  a  family satisfy the same applicable deductibles, no
    other member of that family who is eligible for  coverage
    under  the Plan shall be required to meet any deductibles
    for the balance of that calendar year.   The  deductibles
    must be applied first to the authorized amount of covered
    expenses  incurred  by  the  covered person.  A mandatory
    coinsurance requirement shall  be  imposed  at  the  rate
    authorized  by  the  Board  in  excess  of  the mandatory
    deductible, the  coinsurance  in  the  aggregate  not  to
    exceed  such  amounts  as are authorized by the Board per
    annum.  At its discretion the Board may,  however,  offer
    catastrophic coverages or other policies that provide for
    larger    deductibles   with   or   without   coinsurance
    requirements.  The deductibles  and  coinsurance  factors
    may   be  adjusted  annually  according  to  the  Medical
    Component of the Consumer Price Index.
         (6)  The  Plan  may  provide  for  and  employ  cost
    containment measures and requirements including, but  not
    limited  to,  preadmission certification, second surgical
    opinion,   concurrent   utilization   review    programs,
    individual    case    management,    preferred   provider
    organizations, and other cost effective arrangements  for
    paying for covered expenses.
    e.  Scope  of coverage.  Except as provided in subsection
c of this Section, if the covered expenses  incurred  by  the
eligible  person  exceed  the  deductible  for  major medical
expense coverage in a calendar year, the Plan  shall  pay  at
least  80% of any additional covered expenses incurred by the
person during the calendar year.
    f.  Preexisting conditions.
         (1)  Six months: Plan coverage shall exclude charges
    or expenses incurred during the first 6 months  following
    the  effective  date  of coverage as to any condition if:
    (a) the condition had  manifested  itself  within  the  6
    month  period immediately preceding the effective date of
    coverage in such a manner as would  cause  an  ordinarily
    prudent  person  to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; or
    (b) medical advice, care or treatment was recommended  or
    received  within the 6 month period immediately preceding
    the effective date of coverage.
         (2)  (Blank).
         (3)  Waiver: The preexisting condition exclusions as
    set forth in paragraph (1) of this  subsection  shall  be
    waived  to  the  extent to which the eligible person: (a)
    has satisfied similar exclusions under any  prior  health
    insurance   policy   or   plan   that  was  involuntarily
    terminated; (b) is ineligible  for  any  continuation  or
    conversion   rights   that   would  continue  or  provide
    substantially    similar    coverage    following    that
    termination; and (c) has applied for  Plan  coverage  not
    later than 30 days following the involuntary termination.
    No   policy   or  plan  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been
    involuntarily terminated if the  master  policyholder  or
    other  controlling  party  elected  to  change  insurance
    coverage from one company or plan to another even if that
    decision  resulted  in  a discontinuation of coverage for
    any individual under the plan, either totally or for  any
    medical condition. For each eligible person who qualifies
    for  and elects this waiver, there shall be added to each
    payment of premium, on a prorated basis, a  surcharge  of
    up  to 10% of the otherwise applicable annual premium for
    as long as that  individual's  coverage  under  the  Plan
    remains in effect or 60 months, whichever is less.
    g.  Other sources primary;  nonduplication of benefits.
         (1)  The  Plan  shall  be the last payor of benefits
    whenever any other  benefit  or  source  of  third  party
    payment  is  available.   Subject  to  the  provisions of
    subsection e of Section  7,  benefits  otherwise  payable
    under  Plan coverage shall be reduced by all amounts paid
    or payable by Medicare or any other government program or
    through any health  insurance  or  other  health  benefit
    plan,  whether insured or otherwise, or through any third
    party  liability,   settlement,   judgment,   or   award,
    regardless  of  the  date of the settlement, judgment, or
    award, whether the settlement, judgment, or award  is  in
    the  form of a contract, agreement, or trust on behalf of
    a  minor  or  otherwise  and  whether   the   settlement,
    judgment,  or award is payable to the covered person, his
    or her dependent,  estate,  personal  representative,  or
    guardian  in a lump sum or over time, and by all hospital
    or medical expense benefits paid  or  payable  under  any
    worker's   compensation   coverage,   automobile  medical
    payment, or liability insurance, whether provided on  the
    basis  of  fault  or  nonfault,  and  by  any hospital or
    medical  benefits  paid  or  payable  under  or  provided
    pursuant to any State or federal law or program.
         (2)  The Plan shall have a cause of  action  against
    any  covered person or any other person or entity for the
    recovery of any amount paid to the extent the amount  was
    for  treatment, services, or supplies not covered in this
    Section or in excess of benefits as  set  forth  in  this
    Section.
         (3)  Whenever benefits are due from the Plan because
    of  sickness  or  an injury to a covered person resulting
    from a third party's wrongful act or negligence  and  the
    covered  person has recovered or may recover damages from
    a third party or its insurer, the  Plan  shall  have  the
    right  to  reduce  benefits  or to refuse to pay benefits
    that otherwise may be payable by the  amount  of  damages
    that  the  covered  person  has  recovered or may recover
    regardless of the date of the sickness or injury  or  the
    date of any settlement, judgment, or award resulting from
    that sickness or injury.
         During  the  pendency of any action or claim that is
    brought by or on behalf of a  covered  person  against  a
    third  party  or  its  insurer,  any  benefits that would
    otherwise be payable except for the  provisions  of  this
    paragraph  (3)  shall  be  paid  if payment by or for the
    third party has not yet been made and the covered  person
    or,  if  incapable,  that  person's  legal representative
    agrees in writing to pay back promptly the benefits  paid
    as  a  result  of the sickness or injury to the extent of
    any future payments made by or for the  third  party  for
    the  sickness  or  injury.   This  agreement  is to apply
    whether or not liability for the payments is  established
    or  admitted by the third party or whether those payments
    are itemized.
         Any amounts due the plan to repay  benefits  may  be
    deducted  from  other  benefits payable by the Plan after
    payments by or for the third party are made.
         (4)  Benefits due from the Plan may  be  reduced  or
    refused   as  an  offset  against  any  amount  otherwise
    recoverable under this Section.
    h.  Right of subrogation; recoveries.
         (1)  Whenever the Plan has paid benefits because  of
    sickness  or  an  injury  to any covered person resulting
    from a third party's wrongful act or negligence,  or  for
    which  an  insurer  is  liable  in  accordance  with  the
    provisions  of  any  policy of insurance, and the covered
    person has recovered or may recover damages from a  third
    party that is liable for the damages, the Plan shall have
    the  right  to  recover  the  benefits  it  paid from any
    amounts that the  covered  person  has  received  or  may
    receive  regardless of the date of the sickness or injury
    or  the  date  of  any  settlement,  judgment,  or  award
    resulting from that sickness or injury.  The  Plan  shall
    be subrogated to any right of recovery the covered person
    may  have under the terms of any private or public health
    care coverage or liability coverage,  including  coverage
    under  the  Workers'  Compensation  Act  or  the Workers'
    Occupational  Diseases  Act,  without  the  necessity  of
    assignment of claim or other authorization to secure  the
    right of recovery.  To enforce its subrogation right, the
    Plan may (i) intervene or join in an action or proceeding
    brought   by   the   covered   person   or  his  personal
    representative,  including  his  guardian,   conservator,
    estate, dependents, or survivors, against any third party
    or  the  third party's insurer that may be liable or (ii)
    institute and prosecute  legal  proceedings  against  any
    third  party  or  the  third  party's insurer that may be
    liable for the sickness or injury in an appropriate court
    either in the name of the Plan or  in  the  name  of  the
    covered  person or his personal representative, including
    his  guardian,  conservator,   estate,   dependents,   or
    survivors.
         (2)  If  any  action  or  claim  is brought by or on
    behalf of a covered person against a third party  or  the
    third party's insurer, the covered person or his personal
    representative,   including  his  guardian,  conservator,
    estate, dependents, or survivors, shall notify  the  Plan
    by  personal  service or registered mail of the action or
    claim and of the name of the court in which the action or
    claim is brought, filing proof thereof in the  action  or
    claim.  The Plan may, at any time thereafter, join in the
    action  or  claim  upon  its motion so that all orders of
    court after hearing and judgment shall be  made  for  its
    protection.   No  release  or  settlement  of a claim for
    damages and no satisfaction of  judgment  in  the  action
    shall be valid without the written consent of the Plan to
    the  extent of its interest in the settlement or judgment
    and of the covered person or his personal representative.
         (3)  In the event that the  covered  person  or  his
    personal  representative  fails to institute a proceeding
    against any appropriate  third  party  before  the  fifth
    month before the action would be barred, the Plan may, in
    its  own  name  or  in  the name of the covered person or
    personal representative, commence  a  proceeding  against
    any  appropriate  third party for the recovery of damages
    on account of any  sickness,  injury,  or  death  to  the
    covered  person.   The  covered person shall cooperate in
    doing what is reasonably necessary to assist the Plan  in
    any  recovery  and  shall  not take any action that would
    prejudice the Plan's right to recovery.  The  Plan  shall
    pay  to the covered person or his personal representative
    all sums collected from any third party  by  judgment  or
    otherwise in excess of amounts paid in benefits under the
    Plan  and  amounts paid or to be paid as costs, attorneys
    fees, and reasonable expenses incurred  by  the  Plan  in
    making the collection or enforcing the judgment.
         (4)  In  the  event  that  a  covered  person or his
    personal   representative,   including   his    guardian,
    conservator,  estate,  dependents, or survivors, recovers
    damages from a third party for sickness or injury  caused
    to the covered person, the covered person or the personal
    representative  shall  pay  to  the Plan from the damages
    recovered the amount of benefits paid or to  be  paid  on
    behalf of the covered person.
         (5)  When  the  action  or  claim  is brought by the
    covered person alone and  the  covered  person  incurs  a
    personal  liability  to  pay attorney's fees and costs of
    litigation, the Plan's claim  for  reimbursement  of  the
    benefits provided to the covered person shall be the full
    amount  of  benefits  paid to or on behalf of the covered
    person  under  this  Act  less  a  pro  rata  share  that
    represents the Plan's reasonable share of attorney's fees
    paid by the covered person and that portion of  the  cost
    of  litigation  expenses determined by multiplying by the
    ratio of the full amount of the expenditures to the  full
    amount of the judgement, award, or settlement.
         (6)  In  the event of judgment or award in a suit or
    claim against a third party or insurer, the  court  shall
    first   order  paid  from  any  judgement  or  award  the
    reasonable litigation expenses  incurred  in  preparation
    and  prosecution  of  the  action or claim, together with
    reasonable  attorney's  fees.   After  payment  of  those
    expenses and attorney's fees, the court shall  apply  out
    of  the  balance  of  the  judgment  or  award  an amount
    sufficient to reimburse  the  Plan  the  full  amount  of
    benefits  paid on behalf of the covered person under this
    Act, provided the court  may  reduce  and  apportion  the
    Plan's  portion  of  the  judgement  proportionate to the
    recovery of the covered person.  The burden of  producing
    evidence  sufficient to support the exercise by the court
    of its discretion to reduce the amount of a proven charge
    sought to be enforced against  the  recovery  shall  rest
    with  the  party  seeking  the  reduction.  The court may
    consider the nature and extent of  the  injury,  economic
    and  non-economic  loss,  settlement  offers, comparative
    negligence as it applies to the case  at  hand,  hospital
    costs,  physician costs, and all other appropriate costs.
    The Plan shall pay its pro rata  share  of  the  attorney
    fees  based  on the Plan's recovery as it compares to the
    total judgment.  Any reimbursement  rights  of  the  Plan
    shall  take  priority  over  all  other liens and charges
    existing under the laws of this State with the  exception
    of any attorney liens filed under the Attorneys Lien Act.
         (7)  The  Plan  may compromise or settle and release
    any claim for benefits provided under this Act  or  waive
    any  claims  for  benefits,  in whole or in part, for the
    convenience of the Plan or if the  Plan  determines  that
    collection  would  result  in  undue  hardship  upon  the
    covered person.
(Source: P.A. 89-486, eff. 6-21-96.)

    Section  35.  The  Health Maintenance Organization Act is
amended by changing Section 4-6.1 and adding Section 4-6.5 as
follows:

    (215 ILCS 125/4-6.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1408.7)
    Sec. 4-6.1. (a) Every contract or  evidence  of  coverage
issued  by  a Health Maintenance Organization for persons who
are residents  of  this  State  shall  contain  coverage  for
screening  by  low-dose mammography for all women 35 years of
age or older for the presence of occult  breast  cancer.  The
coverage shall be as follows:
         (1)  A  baseline  mammogram for women 35 to 39 years
    of age.
         (2)  A mammogram every 1 to  2  years,  even  if  no
    symptoms are present, for women 40 to 49 years of age.
         (3)  An  annual  mammogram  for women 40 50 years of
    age or older.
    These benefits shall be at  least  as  favorable  as  for
other  radiological  examinations  and  subject  to  the same
dollar limits, deductibles,  and  co-insurance  factors.  For
purposes  of  this  Section, "low-dose mammography" means the
x-ray examination of the  breast  using  equipment  dedicated
specifically  for  mammography,  including  the  x-ray  tube,
filter,   compression   device,   and  image  receptor,  with
radiation exposure delivery of less than 1 rad per breast for
2 views of an average size breast.
(Source: P.A. 86-899; 86-1028; 87-518.)

    (215 ILCS 125/4-6.5 new)
    Sec.  4-6.5.  Required   health   benefits.    A   health
maintenance  organization  is  subject  to  the provisions of
Sections 356t and 356u of the Illinois Insurance Code.

    Section 40.  The Voluntary Health Services Plans  Act  is
amended by changing Section 10 as follows:
    (215 ILCS 165/10) (from Ch. 32, par. 604)
    Sec.   10.  Application  of  Insurance  Code  provisions.
Health services plan corporations and all persons  interested
therein   or  dealing  therewith  shall  be  subject  to  the
provisions of Article XII 1/2 and  Sections  3.1,  133,  140,
143,  143c,  149,  354,  355.2, 356r, 356t, 356u, 367.2, 401,
401.1, 402, 403, 403A, 408, 408.2, and  412,  and  paragraphs
(7) and (15) of Section 367 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-514, eff. 7-17-96.)

    Section  45.  The  Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 5-5 and adding Section 5-16.8 as follows:

    (305 ILCS 5/5-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-5)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507)
    Sec. 5-5.  Medical services. The Illinois Department,  by
rule,  shall  determine  the  quantity and quality of and the
rate of reimbursement for the medical  assistance  for  which
payment  will  be  authorized, and the medical services to be
provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1)
inpatient  hospital   services;   (2)   outpatient   hospital
services;  (3)  other  laboratory  and  X-ray  services;  (4)
skilled  nursing  home  services;  (5)  physicians'  services
whether  furnished  in  the  office,  the  patient's  home, a
hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere;  (6)  medical
care,  or  any  other  type  of  remedial  care  furnished by
licensed practitioners; (7) home health  care  services;  (8)
private  duty  nursing  service;  (9)  clinic  services; (10)
dental services; (11) physical therapy and related  services;
(12)  prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and
eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the  diseases
of  the  eye,  or by an optometrist, whichever the person may
select; (13) other  diagnostic,  screening,  preventive,  and
rehabilitative  services;  (14) transportation and such other
expenses as may  be  necessary;  (15)  medical  treatment  of
sexual  assault  survivors,  as  defined in Section 1a of the
Sexual  Assault  Survivors  Emergency  Treatment   Act,   for
injuries  sustained  as  a  result  of  the  sexual  assault,
including  examinations  and  laboratory  tests  to  discover
evidence  which  may  be used in criminal proceedings arising
from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment  of
sickle  cell anemia; and (17) any other medical care, and any
other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this
State, but not including abortions, or  induced  miscarriages
or  premature  births, unless, in the opinion of a physician,
such procedures are necessary for  the  preservation  of  the
life  of  the  woman  seeking  such  treatment,  or except an
induced premature birth intended to  produce  a  live  viable
child  and  such procedure is necessary for the health of the
mother or her unborn child. The Illinois Department, by rule,
shall  prohibit  any   physician   from   providing   medical
assistance  to anyone eligible therefor under this Code where
such  physician  has  been  found  guilty  of  performing  an
abortion procedure in a wilful and wanton manner upon a woman
who was not pregnant at the time such abortion procedure  was
performed.  The  term "any other type of remedial care" shall
include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who
rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for
healing.
    The  Illinois  Department  shall  provide  the  following
services  to  persons  eligible  for  assistance  under  this
Article who  are  participating  in  education,  training  or
employment programs:
         (1)  dental services, which shall include but not be
    limited to prosthodontics; and
         (2)  eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in
    the  diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever
    the person may select.
    The Illinois Department, by  rule,  may  distinguish  and
classify   the  medical  services  to  be  provided  only  in
accordance with the classes of persons designated in  Section
5-2.
    The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of,
and  shall  authorize  payment  for,  screening  by  low-dose
mammography  for  the  presence  of  occult breast cancer for
women 35 years of age or older who are eligible  for  medical
assistance  under  this  Article,  as  follows:   a  baseline
mammogram  for women 35 to 39 years of age; a mammogram every
1 to 2 years, even if no symptoms are present, for  women  40
to  49  years of age; and an annual mammogram for women 40 50
years of age  or  older.   All  screenings  shall  include  a
physical  breast  exam,  instruction  on self-examination and
information regarding the frequency of  self-examination  and
its  value  as a preventative tool.  As used in this Section,
"low-dose mammography" means the  x-ray  examination  of  the
breast    using    equipment   dedicated   specifically   for
mammography, including the x-ray  tube,  filter,  compression
device,  image  receptor,  and  cassettes,  with  an  average
radiation  exposure delivery of less than one rad mid-breast,
with 2 views for each breast.
    Any medical or health  care  provider  shall  immediately
recommend,  to  any  pregnant  woman  who  is  being provided
prenatal services and  is  suspected  of  drug  abuse  or  is
addicted  as  defined  in the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse
and Dependency Act,  referral  to  a  local  substance  abuse
treatment  provider  licensed by the Department of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse or to a licensed hospital which  provides
substance abuse treatment services.  The Department of Public
Aid  shall  assure  coverage for the cost of treatment of the
drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance
with the Illinois Medicaid Program in  conjunction  with  the
Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
    All  medical  providers  providing  medical assistance to
pregnant women under this Code shall receive information from
the Department on the availability of services under the Drug
Free  Families  with  a  Future  or  any  comparable  program
providing  case  management  services  for  addicted   women,
including  information  on  appropriate  referrals  for other
social services that may  be  needed  by  addicted  women  in
addition to treatment for addiction.
    The   Illinois   Department,   in  cooperation  with  the
Departments of Alcoholism  and  Substance  Abuse  and  Public
Health,  through  a  public  awareness  campaign, may provide
information concerning  treatment  for  alcoholism  and  drug
abuse   and   addiction,  prenatal  health  care,  and  other
pertinent  programs  directed  at  reducing  the  number   of
drug-affected   infants   born   to   recipients  of  medical
assistance.
    The Department shall not sanction the recipient solely on
the basis of her substance abuse.
    The Illinois Department shall establish such  regulations
governing  the  dispensing  of  health  services  under  this
Article  as  it shall deem appropriate.  In formulating these
regulations the Illinois Department shall  consult  with  and
give substantial weight to the recommendations offered by the
Citizens  Assembly/Council  on  Public  Aid.  The  Department
should  seek  the  advice  of  formal  professional  advisory
committees   appointed   by  the  Director  of  the  Illinois
Department for the purpose of  providing  regular  advice  on
policy  and administrative matters, information dissemination
and  educational  activities  for  medical  and  health  care
providers, and consistency  in  procedures  to  the  Illinois
Department.
    The  Illinois  Department  may  develop and contract with
Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services
for  persons  eligible  under  Section  5-2  of  this   Code.
Implementation  of  this  Section  may  be  by  demonstration
projects  in certain geographic areas.  The Partnership shall
be represented by a sponsor organization.  The Department, by
rule,  shall   develop   qualifications   for   sponsors   of
Partnerships.   Nothing in this Section shall be construed to
require  that  the  sponsor   organization   be   a   medical
organization.
    The  sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with
medical  providers  for  physician  services,  inpatient  and
outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for
alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined
necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery  by
Partnerships.   Physician  services must include prenatal and
obstetrical care.  The Illinois  Department  shall  reimburse
medical   services  delivered  by  Partnership  providers  to
clients in target  areas  according  to  provisions  of  this
Article  and  the  Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except
that:
         (1)  Physicians participating in a  Partnership  and
    providing  certain services, which shall be determined by
    the Illinois Department, to persons in areas  covered  by
    the  Partnership  may receive an additional surcharge for
    such services.
         (2)  The  Department  may  elect  to  consider   and
    negotiate   financial   incentives   to   encourage   the
    development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of
    medical care.
         (3)  Persons   receiving  medical  services  through
    Partnerships may  receive  medical  and  case  management
    services  above  the  level  usually  offered through the
    medical assistance program.
    Medical providers  shall  be  required  to  meet  certain
qualifications  to  participate in Partnerships to ensure the
delivery   of   high   quality   medical   services.    These
qualifications shall be determined by rule  of  the  Illinois
Department   and   may  be  higher  than  qualifications  for
participation in the medical assistance program.  Partnership
sponsors may prescribe reasonable  additional  qualifications
for  participation  by medical providers, only with the prior
written approval of the Illinois Department.
    Nothing in this Section shall limit the  free  choice  of
practitioners,  hospitals,  and  other  providers  of medical
services by clients.
    The Department shall apply for a waiver from  the  United
States  Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the
implementation of Partnerships under this Section.
    The  Illinois  Department  shall  require   health   care
providers  to maintain records that document the medical care
and services provided to  recipients  of  Medical  Assistance
under  this  Article.   The Illinois Department shall require
health care providers to make available, when  authorized  by
the  patient,  in  writing,  the  medical records in a timely
fashion to other health care providers who  are  treating  or
serving  persons  eligible  for Medical Assistance under this
Article.   All  dispensers  of  medical  services  shall   be
required  to  maintain  and  retain business and professional
records sufficient  to  fully  and  accurately  document  the
nature,  scope,  details  and  receipt  of  the  health  care
provided  to  persons  eligible  for medical assistance under
this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by  the
Illinois  Department. The rules and regulations shall require
that proof of the receipt of  prescription  drugs,  dentures,
prosthetic  devices  and eyeglasses by eligible persons under
this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted
by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for
reimbursement shall be approved for payment by  the  Illinois
Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois
Department  shall have put into effect and shall be operating
a system of post-payment audit and review which shall,  on  a
sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department
to  assure  that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and
eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being
received by eligible recipients. Within  90  days  after  the
effective  date  of this amendatory Act of 1984, the Illinois
Department shall establish  a  current  list  of  acquisition
costs   for  all  prosthetic  devices  and  any  other  items
recognized as medical  equipment  and  supplies  reimbursable
under  this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly
basis, except that the acquisition costs of all  prescription
drugs  shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days
as required by Section 5-5.12.
    The rules and  regulations  of  the  Illinois  Department
shall require that a written statement including the required
opinion   of  a  physician  shall  accompany  any  claim  for
reimbursement  for  abortions,  or  induced  miscarriages  or
premature  births.   This  statement  shall   indicate   what
procedures were used in providing such medical services.
    The Illinois Department shall require that all dispensers
of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or
group  of  practitioners,  desiring  to  participate  in  the
Medical  Assistance program established under this Article to
disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety
or other  interests  in  any  and  all  firms,  corporations,
partnerships,   associations,   business  enterprises,  joint
ventures, agencies,  institutions  or  other  legal  entities
providing  any  form  of  health  care services in this State
under this Article.
    The Illinois Department may require that  all  dispensers
of  medical  services  desiring to participate in the medical
assistance program established under this  Article  disclose,
under  such  terms  and conditions as the Illinois Department
may  by  rule  establish,  all  inquiries  from  clients  and
attorneys  regarding  medical  bills  paid  by  the  Illinois
Department,  which   inquiries   could   indicate   potential
existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.
    The   Illinois   Department   shall  establish  policies,
procedures,  standards  and  criteria   by   rule   for   the
acquisition,   repair   and   replacement   of  orthotic  and
prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment.  Such rules
shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services:
(1) immediate  repair  or  replacement  of  such  devices  by
recipients  without  medical  authorization;  and (2) rental,
lease,  purchase  or  lease-purchase   of   durable   medical
equipment   in   a   cost-effective   manner,   taking   into
consideration  the  recipient's medical prognosis, the extent
of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs  for
maintaining  such  equipment.   Such  rules  shall  enable  a
recipient  to  temporarily  acquire  and  use  alternative or
substitute  devices   or   equipment   pending   repairs   or
replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized
for  such recipient by the Department. Rules under clause (2)
above shall not provide for  purchase  or  lease-purchase  of
durable medical equipment or supplies used for the purpose of
oxygen delivery and respiratory care.
    The  Department  shall  execute,  relative to the nursing
home prescreening project,  written  inter-agency  agreements
with  the  Department  of  Rehabilitation  Services  and  the
Department  on  Aging,  to  effect  the following: (i) intake
procedures and common eligibility criteria for those  persons
who  are  receiving  non-institutional services; and (ii) the
establishment and development of  non-institutional  services
in  areas of the State where they are not currently available
or are undeveloped.
    The Illinois Department shall  develop  and  operate,  in
cooperation  with other State Departments and agencies and in
compliance with  applicable  federal  laws  and  regulations,
appropriate  and  effective systems of health care evaluation
and programs for monitoring of  utilization  of  health  care
services  and  facilities, as it affects persons eligible for
medical assistance under this Code. The  Illinois  Department
shall  report  regularly the results of the operation of such
systems and programs  to  the  Citizens  Assembly/Council  on
Public  Aid  to  enable the Committee to ensure, from time to
time, that these programs are effective and meaningful.
    The Illinois Department  shall  report  annually  to  the
General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of
1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:
         (a)  actual  statistics and trends in utilization of
    medical services by public aid recipients;
         (b)  actual statistics and trends in  the  provision
    of the various medical services by medical vendors;
         (c)  current rate structures and proposed changes in
    those  rate  structures  for the various medical vendors;
    and
         (d)  efforts at utilization review  and  control  by
    the Illinois Department.
    The  period  covered  by each report shall be the 3 years
ending on the June 30 prior to the report.  The report  shall
include   suggested  legislation  for  consideration  by  the
General Assembly.  The filing of one copy of the report  with
the  Speaker,  one copy with the Minority Leader and one copy
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, one copy with
the President, one copy with the Minority Leader and one copy
with  the  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  one  copy  with   the
Legislative  Research  Unit,  such additional copies with the
State Government Report Distribution Center for  the  General
Assembly  as  is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of
the  State  Library  Act  and  one  copy  with  the  Citizens
Assembly/Council on Public Aid  or  its  successor  shall  be
deemed sufficient to comply with this Section.
(Source:  P.A.  88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff. 7-1-95;
89-517, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507)
    Sec. 5-5.  Medical services. The Illinois Department,  by
rule,  shall  determine  the  quantity and quality of and the
rate of reimbursement for the medical  assistance  for  which
payment  will  be  authorized, and the medical services to be
provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1)
inpatient  hospital   services;   (2)   outpatient   hospital
services;  (3)  other  laboratory  and  X-ray  services;  (4)
skilled  nursing  home  services;  (5)  physicians'  services
whether  furnished  in  the  office,  the  patient's  home, a
hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere;  (6)  medical
care,  or  any  other  type  of  remedial  care  furnished by
licensed practitioners; (7) home health  care  services;  (8)
private  duty  nursing  service;  (9)  clinic  services; (10)
dental services; (11) physical therapy and related  services;
(12)  prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and
eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the  diseases
of  the  eye,  or by an optometrist, whichever the person may
select; (13) other  diagnostic,  screening,  preventive,  and
rehabilitative  services;  (14) transportation and such other
expenses as may  be  necessary;  (15)  medical  treatment  of
sexual  assault  survivors,  as  defined in Section 1a of the
Sexual  Assault  Survivors  Emergency  Treatment   Act,   for
injuries  sustained  as  a  result  of  the  sexual  assault,
including  examinations  and  laboratory  tests  to  discover
evidence  which  may  be used in criminal proceedings arising
from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment  of
sickle  cell anemia; and (17) any other medical care, and any
other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this
State, but not including abortions, or  induced  miscarriages
or  premature  births, unless, in the opinion of a physician,
such procedures are necessary for  the  preservation  of  the
life  of  the  woman  seeking  such  treatment,  or except an
induced premature birth intended to  produce  a  live  viable
child  and  such procedure is necessary for the health of the
mother or her unborn child. The Illinois Department, by rule,
shall  prohibit  any   physician   from   providing   medical
assistance  to anyone eligible therefor under this Code where
such  physician  has  been  found  guilty  of  performing  an
abortion procedure in a wilful and wanton manner upon a woman
who was not pregnant at the time such abortion procedure  was
performed.  The  term "any other type of remedial care" shall
include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who
rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for
healing.
    The Illinois Department of Public Aid shall  provide  the
following  services  to persons eligible for assistance under
this Article who are participating in education, training  or
employment  programs  operated  by  the  Department  of Human
Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:
         (1)  dental services, which shall include but not be
    limited to prosthodontics; and
         (2)  eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in
    the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist,  whichever
    the person may select.
    The  Illinois  Department,  by  rule, may distinguish and
classify  the  medical  services  to  be  provided  only   in
accordance  with the classes of persons designated in Section
5-2.
    The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of,
and  shall  authorize  payment  for,  screening  by  low-dose
mammography for the presence  of  occult  breast  cancer  for
women  35  years of age or older who are eligible for medical
assistance  under  this  Article,  as  follows:   a  baseline
mammogram for women 35 to 39 years of age; a mammogram  every
1  to  2 years, even if no symptoms are present, for women 40
to 49 years of age; and an annual mammogram for women  40  50
years  of  age  or  older.   All  screenings  shall include a
physical breast exam,  instruction  on  self-examination  and
information  regarding  the frequency of self-examination and
its value as a preventative tool.  As used in  this  Section,
"low-dose  mammography"  means  the  x-ray examination of the
breast   using   equipment   dedicated    specifically    for
mammography,  including  the  x-ray tube, filter, compression
device,  image  receptor,  and  cassettes,  with  an  average
radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad  mid-breast,
with 2 views for each breast.
    Any  medical  or  health  care provider shall immediately
recommend, to  any  pregnant  woman  who  is  being  provided
prenatal  services  and  is  suspected  of  drug  abuse or is
addicted as defined in the Alcoholism and  Other  Drug  Abuse
and  Dependency  Act,  referral  to  a  local substance abuse
treatment  provider  licensed  by  the  Department  of  Human
Services or to a licensed hospital which  provides  substance
abuse treatment services.  The Department of Public Aid shall
assure  coverage  for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse
or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance  with  the
Illinois  Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department
of Human Services.
    All medical providers  providing  medical  assistance  to
pregnant women under this Code shall receive information from
the Department on the availability of services under the Drug
Free  Families  with  a  Future  or  any  comparable  program
providing   case  management  services  for  addicted  women,
including information  on  appropriate  referrals  for  other
social  services  that  may  be  needed  by addicted women in
addition to treatment for addiction.
    The  Illinois  Department,  in   cooperation   with   the
Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department
of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through
a   public   awareness   campaign,  may  provide  information
concerning  treatment  for  alcoholism  and  drug  abuse  and
addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs
directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born
to recipients of medical assistance.
    Neither the Illinois Department of  Public  Aid  nor  the
Department  of  Human  Services  shall sanction the recipient
solely on the basis of her substance abuse.
    The Illinois Department shall establish such  regulations
governing  the  dispensing  of  health  services  under  this
Article  as  it shall deem appropriate.  In formulating these
regulations the Illinois Department shall  consult  with  and
give substantial weight to the recommendations offered by the
Citizens  Assembly/Council  on  Public  Aid.  The  Department
should  seek  the  advice  of  formal  professional  advisory
committees   appointed   by  the  Director  of  the  Illinois
Department for the purpose of  providing  regular  advice  on
policy  and administrative matters, information dissemination
and  educational  activities  for  medical  and  health  care
providers, and consistency  in  procedures  to  the  Illinois
Department.
    The  Illinois  Department  may  develop and contract with
Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services
for  persons  eligible  under  Section  5-2  of  this   Code.
Implementation  of  this  Section  may  be  by  demonstration
projects  in certain geographic areas.  The Partnership shall
be represented by a sponsor organization.  The Department, by
rule,  shall   develop   qualifications   for   sponsors   of
Partnerships.   Nothing in this Section shall be construed to
require  that  the  sponsor   organization   be   a   medical
organization.
    The  sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with
medical  providers  for  physician  services,  inpatient  and
outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for
alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined
necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery  by
Partnerships.   Physician  services must include prenatal and
obstetrical care.  The Illinois  Department  shall  reimburse
medical   services  delivered  by  Partnership  providers  to
clients in target  areas  according  to  provisions  of  this
Article  and  the  Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except
that:
         (1)  Physicians participating in a  Partnership  and
    providing  certain services, which shall be determined by
    the Illinois Department, to persons in areas  covered  by
    the  Partnership  may receive an additional surcharge for
    such services.
         (2)  The  Department  may  elect  to  consider   and
    negotiate   financial   incentives   to   encourage   the
    development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of
    medical care.
         (3)  Persons   receiving  medical  services  through
    Partnerships may  receive  medical  and  case  management
    services  above  the  level  usually  offered through the
    medical assistance program.
    Medical providers  shall  be  required  to  meet  certain
qualifications  to  participate in Partnerships to ensure the
delivery   of   high   quality   medical   services.    These
qualifications shall be determined by rule  of  the  Illinois
Department   and   may  be  higher  than  qualifications  for
participation in the medical assistance program.  Partnership
sponsors may prescribe reasonable  additional  qualifications
for  participation  by medical providers, only with the prior
written approval of the Illinois Department.
    Nothing in this Section shall limit the  free  choice  of
practitioners,  hospitals,  and  other  providers  of medical
services by clients.
    The Department shall apply for a waiver from  the  United
States  Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the
implementation of Partnerships under this Section.
    The  Illinois  Department  shall  require   health   care
providers  to maintain records that document the medical care
and services provided to  recipients  of  Medical  Assistance
under  this  Article.   The Illinois Department shall require
health care providers to make available, when  authorized  by
the  patient,  in  writing,  the  medical records in a timely
fashion to other health care providers who  are  treating  or
serving  persons  eligible  for Medical Assistance under this
Article.   All  dispensers  of  medical  services  shall   be
required  to  maintain  and  retain business and professional
records sufficient  to  fully  and  accurately  document  the
nature,  scope,  details  and  receipt  of  the  health  care
provided  to  persons  eligible  for medical assistance under
this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by  the
Illinois  Department. The rules and regulations shall require
that proof of the receipt of  prescription  drugs,  dentures,
prosthetic  devices  and eyeglasses by eligible persons under
this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted
by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for
reimbursement shall be approved for payment by  the  Illinois
Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois
Department  shall have put into effect and shall be operating
a system of post-payment audit and review which shall,  on  a
sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department
to  assure  that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and
eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being
received by eligible recipients. Within  90  days  after  the
effective  date  of this amendatory Act of 1984, the Illinois
Department shall establish  a  current  list  of  acquisition
costs   for  all  prosthetic  devices  and  any  other  items
recognized as medical  equipment  and  supplies  reimbursable
under  this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly
basis, except that the acquisition costs of all  prescription
drugs  shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days
as required by Section 5-5.12.
    The rules and  regulations  of  the  Illinois  Department
shall require that a written statement including the required
opinion   of  a  physician  shall  accompany  any  claim  for
reimbursement  for  abortions,  or  induced  miscarriages  or
premature  births.   This  statement  shall   indicate   what
procedures were used in providing such medical services.
    The Illinois Department shall require that all dispensers
of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or
group  of  practitioners,  desiring  to  participate  in  the
Medical  Assistance program established under this Article to
disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety
or other  interests  in  any  and  all  firms,  corporations,
partnerships,   associations,   business  enterprises,  joint
ventures, agencies,  institutions  or  other  legal  entities
providing  any  form  of  health  care services in this State
under this Article.
    The Illinois Department may require that  all  dispensers
of  medical  services  desiring to participate in the medical
assistance program established under this  Article  disclose,
under  such  terms  and conditions as the Illinois Department
may  by  rule  establish,  all  inquiries  from  clients  and
attorneys  regarding  medical  bills  paid  by  the  Illinois
Department,  which   inquiries   could   indicate   potential
existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.
    The   Illinois   Department   shall  establish  policies,
procedures,  standards  and  criteria   by   rule   for   the
acquisition,   repair   and   replacement   of  orthotic  and
prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment.  Such rules
shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services:
(1) immediate  repair  or  replacement  of  such  devices  by
recipients  without  medical  authorization;  and (2) rental,
lease,  purchase  or  lease-purchase   of   durable   medical
equipment   in   a   cost-effective   manner,   taking   into
consideration  the  recipient's medical prognosis, the extent
of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs  for
maintaining  such  equipment.   Such  rules  shall  enable  a
recipient  to  temporarily  acquire  and  use  alternative or
substitute  devices   or   equipment   pending   repairs   or
replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized
for  such recipient by the Department. Rules under clause (2)
above shall not provide for  purchase  or  lease-purchase  of
durable medical equipment or supplies used for the purpose of
oxygen delivery and respiratory care.
    The  Department  shall  execute,  relative to the nursing
home prescreening project,  written  inter-agency  agreements
with  the  Department of Human Services and the Department on
Aging, to effect the following:  (i)  intake  procedures  and
common   eligibility  criteria  for  those  persons  who  are
receiving   non-institutional   services;   and   (ii)    the
establishment  and  development of non-institutional services
in areas of the State where they are not currently  available
or are undeveloped.
    The  Illinois  Department  shall  develop and operate, in
cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and  in
compliance  with  applicable  federal  laws  and regulations,
appropriate and effective systems of health  care  evaluation
and  programs  for  monitoring  of utilization of health care
services and facilities, as it affects persons  eligible  for
medical  assistance  under this Code. The Illinois Department
shall report regularly the results of the operation  of  such
systems  and  programs  to  the  Citizens Assembly/Council on
Public Aid to enable the Committee to ensure,  from  time  to
time, that these programs are effective and meaningful.
    The  Illinois  Department  shall  report  annually to the
General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of
1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:
         (a)  actual statistics and trends in utilization  of
    medical services by public aid recipients;
         (b)  actual  statistics  and trends in the provision
    of the various medical services by medical vendors;
         (c)  current rate structures and proposed changes in
    those rate structures for the  various  medical  vendors;
    and
         (d)  efforts  at  utilization  review and control by
    the Illinois Department.
    The period covered by each report shall be  the  3  years
ending  on the June 30 prior to the report.  The report shall
include  suggested  legislation  for  consideration  by   the
General  Assembly.  The filing of one copy of the report with
the Speaker, one copy with the Minority Leader and  one  copy
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, one copy with
the President, one copy with the Minority Leader and one copy
with   the  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  one  copy  with  the
Legislative Research Unit, such additional  copies  with  the
State  Government  Report Distribution Center for the General
Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section  7  of
the  State  Library  Act  and  one  copy  with  the  Citizens
Assembly/Council  on  Public  Aid  or  its successor shall be
deemed sufficient to comply with this Section.
(Source: P.A.  88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff.  7-1-95;
89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 89-517, eff. 1-1-97; revised 8-26-96.)

    (305 ILCS 5/5-16.8 new)
    Sec.  5-16.8.  Required  health  benefits.   The  medical
assistance  program  shall  provide  the post-mastectomy care
benefits required to be covered by a policy of  accident  and
health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required
under Section 356u of the Illinois Insurance Code.
    Section  95.   No  acceleration or delay.  Where this Act
makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for  example,  a
Section  represented  by  multiple versions), the use of that
text does not accelerate or delay the taking  effect  of  (i)
the  changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from
any other Public Act.

    Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
becoming law.

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