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Sen. William R. Haine
Filed: 12/4/2012
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| 1 | | AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2065
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| 2 | | AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2065, AS AMENDED, by |
| 3 | | replacing everything after the enacting clause with the |
| 4 | | following:
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| 5 | | "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the |
| 6 | | Exclusive Provider Benefit Plan Act. |
| 7 | | Section 5. For the purposes of this Act: |
| 8 | | "Clinical peer" means a health care professional who is in |
| 9 | | the same profession and the same or similar specialty as the |
| 10 | | health care provider who typically manages the medical |
| 11 | | condition, procedures, or treatment under review. |
| 12 | | "Department" means the Department of Insurance. |
| 13 | | "Director" means the Director of Insurance. |
| 14 | | "Emergency medical condition" means a medical condition |
| 15 | | manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity |
| 16 | | (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, who |
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| 1 | | possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, could |
| 2 | | reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to |
| 3 | | result in: |
| 4 | | (1) placing the health of the individual (or, with
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| 5 | | respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her |
| 6 | | unborn child) in serious jeopardy; |
| 7 | | (2) serious impairment to bodily functions; or |
| 8 | | (3) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
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| 9 | | "Emergency services" means, with respect to an enrollee of |
| 10 | | a health care plan, transportation services, including, but not |
| 11 | | limited to, ambulance services, and covered inpatient and |
| 12 | | outpatient hospital services furnished by a provider qualified |
| 13 | | to furnish those services that are needed to evaluate or |
| 14 | | stabilize an emergency medical condition. "Emergency services" |
| 15 | | does not include post-stabilization medical services. |
| 16 | | "Enrollee" means any person and his or her dependents |
| 17 | | enrolled in or covered by an exclusive provider benefit plan. |
| 18 | | "Exclusive provider" means a provider or health care |
| 19 | | provider, or an organization of providers or health care |
| 20 | | providers, who contracts with an insurer to provide medical |
| 21 | | care or health care to insureds covered by a health insurance |
| 22 | | policy. |
| 23 | | "Exclusive provider benefit plan" means a benefit plan in |
| 24 | | which an insurer contracts with a provider to provide some |
| 25 | | services to an insured, not including emergency care services |
| 26 | | required under Section 65 of the Managed Care Reform and |
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| 1 | | Patients Right Act, provided by a health care provider who is a |
| 2 | | non-exclusive provider. |
| 3 | | "Health care provider" means a provider, institutional |
| 4 | | provider, or other person or organization that furnishes health |
| 5 | | care services and that is licensed or otherwise authorized to |
| 6 | | practice in this State. |
| 7 | | "Health care services" means any services included in the |
| 8 | | furnishing of medical care to any individual, or the |
| 9 | | hospitalization incident to the furnishing of such care, as |
| 10 | | well as the furnishing to any person of any and all other |
| 11 | | services for the purpose of preventing, alleviating, curing, or |
| 12 | | healing human illness or injury. |
| 13 | | "Health insurance policy" means a group or individual |
| 14 | | insurance policy, certificate, or contract providing benefits |
| 15 | | for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of an |
| 16 | | accident or sickness. |
| 17 | | "Hospital" means an institution licensed under the |
| 18 | | Hospital Licensing Act, an institution that meets all |
| 19 | | comparable conditions and requirements in effect in the state |
| 20 | | in which it is located, or the University of Illinois Hospital |
| 21 | | as defined in the University of Illinois Hospital Act. |
| 22 | | "Institutional provider" means a hospital, nursing home, |
| 23 | | or other medical or health-related service facility that |
| 24 | | provides care for the sick or injured or other care that may be |
| 25 | | covered in a health insurance policy. |
| 26 | | "Insurer" means an insurance company or a health service |
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| 1 | | corporation authorized in this State to issue policies or |
| 2 | | subscriber contracts that reimburse for expense of health care |
| 3 | | services. |
| 4 | | "Post-stabilization medical services" means health care |
| 5 | | services provided to an enrollee that are furnished in a |
| 6 | | licensed hospital by a provider that is qualified to furnish |
| 7 | | such services, and determined to be medically necessary and |
| 8 | | directly related to the emergency medical condition following |
| 9 | | stabilization. |
| 10 | | "Preauthorization" means a determination by an insurer |
| 11 | | that medical care or health care services proposed to be |
| 12 | | provided to a patient are medically necessary and appropriate. |
| 13 | | "Provider" means an individual or entity duly licensed or |
| 14 | | legally authorized to provide health care services. |
| 15 | | "Service area" means a geographic area or areas specified |
| 16 | | in an exclusive provider benefit contract in which a network of |
| 17 | | exclusive providers is offered and available. |
| 18 | | "Stabilization" means, with respect to an emergency |
| 19 | | medical condition, to provide such medical treatment of the |
| 20 | | condition as may be necessary to ensure, within reasonable |
| 21 | | medical probability, that no material deterioration of the |
| 22 | | condition is likely to result.
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| 23 | | Section 10. Exclusive provider benefit plans permitted. An |
| 24 | | exclusive provider benefit plan that meets the requirements of |
| 25 | | this Act shall be permitted. To the extent of any conflict |
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| 1 | | between this Section and any other statutory provision, this |
| 2 | | Section prevails over the conflicting provision. The Director |
| 3 | | of Insurance may adopt rules necessary to implement the |
| 4 | | Department's responsibilities under this Act. |
| 5 | | Section 15. Applicability of this Act. |
| 6 | | (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this |
| 7 | | Section, this Section applies to each individual or group |
| 8 | | exclusive provider benefit plan in which an insurer provides, |
| 9 | | through the insurer's health insurance policy, for the payment |
| 10 | | of coverage only for the use of an exclusive provider network, |
| 11 | | other than the use of a non-exclusive provider for emergency |
| 12 | | care services.
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| 13 | | (b) Unless otherwise specified, an exclusive provider |
| 14 | | benefit plan is subject to this Section. |
| 15 | | (c) This Act does not apply to: |
| 16 | | (1) the Children's Health Insurance Program under the |
| 17 | | Children's Health Insurance Program Act; |
| 18 | | (2) a Medicaid managed care program under Article V of |
| 19 | | the Illinois Public Aid Code; or |
| 20 | | (3) an HMO under Article I of the Health Maintenance |
| 21 | | Organization Act. |
| 22 | | (d) An insurer duly licensed under the laws of this State |
| 23 | | may offer exclusive provider benefit plans to individuals and |
| 24 | | group health plans in conformity with the terms set forth in |
| 25 | | this Section. An insurer shall not be required to be licensed |
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| 1 | | as an HMO under the Health Maintenance Organization Act in |
| 2 | | order to offer exclusive provider benefit plans under this |
| 3 | | Section. |
| 4 | | Section 20. Applicability of Health Carrier External |
| 5 | | Review Act. The Health Carrier External Review Act shall apply |
| 6 | | to an exclusive provider benefit plan, except to the extent |
| 7 | | that the Director determines the provision to be inconsistent |
| 8 | | with the function and purpose of an exclusive provider benefit |
| 9 | | plan. |
| 10 | | Section 25. Construction of Act.
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| 11 | | (a) This Act may not be construed to limit the level of |
| 12 | | reimbursement or the level of coverage, including deductibles, |
| 13 | | copayments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing provisions, |
| 14 | | that are applicable to exclusive providers. |
| 15 | | (b) Except as specifically provided for in this Act, this |
| 16 | | Act may not be construed to require an exclusive provider |
| 17 | | benefit plan to compensate a non-exclusive provider for |
| 18 | | services provided to an insured. |
| 19 | | Section 30. Provision of information. |
| 20 | | (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide |
| 21 | | annually to enrollees and prospective enrollees, upon request, |
| 22 | | a complete list of exclusive providers in the exclusive |
| 23 | | provider benefit plan service area and a description of the |
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| 1 | | following terms of coverage: |
| 2 | | (1) the service area; |
| 3 | | (2) the covered benefits and services with all |
| 4 | | exclusions, exceptions, and limitations; |
| 5 | | (3) the pre-certification and other utilization |
| 6 | | review, if applicable, procedures and requirements; |
| 7 | | (4) a description of any limitation on access to |
| 8 | | specialists, and the plan's standing referral policy; |
| 9 | | (5) the emergency coverage and benefits, including any |
| 10 | | restrictions on emergency care services; |
| 11 | | (6) the out-of-area coverage and benefits, if any; |
| 12 | | (7) the enrollee's financial responsibility for |
| 13 | | copayments, deductibles, premiums, and any other |
| 14 | | out-of-pocket expenses; |
| 15 | | (8) the provisions for continuity of treatment in the |
| 16 | | event an exclusive provider's participation terminates |
| 17 | | during the course of an enrollee's treatment by that |
| 18 | | exclusive provider; |
| 19 | | (9) the appeals process, forms, and time frames for |
| 20 | | health care services appeals, complaints, and external |
| 21 | | independent reviews, administrative complaints, and |
| 22 | | utilization review complaints, if applicable, including a |
| 23 | | phone number to call to receive more information from the |
| 24 | | exclusive provider benefits plan concerning the appeals |
| 25 | | process; and |
| 26 | | (10) a statement of all basic health care services and |
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| 1 | | all specific benefits and services mandated to be provided |
| 2 | | to enrollees by any State law or administrative rule. |
| 3 | | In the event of an inconsistency between any separate |
| 4 | | written disclosure statement and the enrollee contract or |
| 5 | | certificate, the terms of the enrollee contract or certificate |
| 6 | | shall control. |
| 7 | | (b) Upon written request, an exclusive provider benefit |
| 8 | | plan shall provide to enrollees a description of the financial |
| 9 | | relationships between the exclusive provider benefit plan and |
| 10 | | any health care provider and, if requested, the percentage of |
| 11 | | copayments, deductibles, and total premiums spent on |
| 12 | | healthcare related expenses and the percentage of copayments, |
| 13 | | deductibles, and total premiums spent on other expenses, |
| 14 | | including administrative expenses, except that no exclusive |
| 15 | | provider benefit plan shall be required to disclose specific |
| 16 | | provider reimbursement. |
| 17 | | (c) An exclusive provider shall provide all of the |
| 18 | | following, where applicable, to enrollees upon request: |
| 19 | | (1) Information related to the exclusive provider's |
| 20 | | educational background, experience, training, specialty, |
| 21 | | and board certification, if applicable. |
| 22 | | (2) The names of licensed facilities on the provider |
| 23 | | panel where the exclusive provider presently has |
| 24 | | privileges for the treatment, illness, or procedure that is |
| 25 | | the subject of the request. |
| 26 | | (3) Information regarding the exclusive provider's |
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| 1 | | participation in continuing education programs and |
| 2 | | compliance with any licensure, certification, or |
| 3 | | registration requirements, if applicable. |
| 4 | | (d) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide the |
| 5 | | information required to be disclosed under this Act upon |
| 6 | | enrollment and annually thereafter in a legible and |
| 7 | | understandable format. The Department of Insurance shall adopt |
| 8 | | rules to establish the format based, to the extent practical, |
| 9 | | on the standards developed for supplemental insurance coverage |
| 10 | | under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act as a |
| 11 | | guide, so that a person can compare the attributes of the |
| 12 | | various health care plans. |
| 13 | | (e) An identification card or similar document issued by an |
| 14 | | insurer to an insured in an exclusive provider benefit plan |
| 15 | | must display: |
| 16 | | (1) a toll-free number that a physician or health care |
| 17 | | provider may use to obtain the date on which the insured |
| 18 | | became insured under the plan; and |
| 19 | | (2) the acronym "EPO" or the phrase "Exclusive Provider |
| 20 | | Organization" on the card in a location of the insurer's |
| 21 | | choice. |
| 22 | | (f) The written disclosure requirements of this Section may |
| 23 | | be met by disclosure to one enrollee in a household. |
| 24 | | Section 35. Availability of exclusive providers.
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| 25 | | (a) An insurer offering an exclusive provider benefit plan |
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| 1 | | shall ensure that the exclusive provider benefits are |
| 2 | | reasonably available to all insureds within a designated |
| 3 | | service area. |
| 4 | | (b) If services are not available through an exclusive |
| 5 | | provider within a designated service area under an exclusive |
| 6 | | provider benefit plan, an insurer shall reimburse a physician |
| 7 | | or health care provider who is a non-exclusive provider at the |
| 8 | | same percentage level of benefit as an exclusive provider would |
| 9 | | have been reimbursed had the insured been treated by an |
| 10 | | exclusive provider. |
| 11 | | Section 40. Notice of nonrenewal or termination. An |
| 12 | | exclusive provider benefit plan must give at least 60 days |
| 13 | | notice of nonrenewal or termination of an exclusive provider to |
| 14 | | the exclusive provider and to the enrollees served by the |
| 15 | | exclusive provider. The notice shall include a name and address |
| 16 | | to which an enrollee or exclusive provider may direct comments |
| 17 | | and concerns regarding the nonrenewal or termination. |
| 18 | | Immediate written notice may be provided without 60 days notice |
| 19 | | when a health care provider's license has been disciplined by a |
| 20 | | state licensing board. |
| 21 | | Section 45. Transition of service. |
| 22 | | (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide for |
| 23 | | continuity of care for its enrollees as follows: |
| 24 | | (1) If an enrollee's physician leaves the exclusive |
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| 1 | | provider benefit plan's network of health care providers |
| 2 | | for reasons other than termination of a contract in |
| 3 | | situations involving imminent harm to a patient or a final |
| 4 | | disciplinary action by a state licensing board and the |
| 5 | | physician remains within the exclusive provider benefit |
| 6 | | plan's service area, the exclusive provider benefit plan |
| 7 | | shall permit the enrollee to continue an ongoing course of |
| 8 | | treatment with that physician during a transitional |
| 9 | | period: |
| 10 | | (A) of 90 days after the date of the notice of the |
| 11 | | physician's termination from the health care plan to |
| 12 | | the enrollee of the physician's disaffiliation from |
| 13 | | the health care plan if the enrollee has an ongoing |
| 14 | | course of treatment; or |
| 15 | | (B) that includes the provision of post-partum |
| 16 | | care directly related to the delivery, if the enrollee |
| 17 | | has entered the third trimester of pregnancy at the |
| 18 | | time of the physician's disaffiliation. |
| 19 | | (2) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (1) of |
| 20 | | this subsection (a), such care shall be authorized by the |
| 21 | | exclusive provider benefit plan during the transitional |
| 22 | | period only if the physician agrees: |
| 23 | | (A) to continue to accept reimbursement from the |
| 24 | | exclusive provider benefit plan at the rates |
| 25 | | applicable prior to the start of the transitional |
| 26 | | period; |
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| 1 | | (B) to adhere to the exclusive provider benefit |
| 2 | | plan's quality assurance requirements and to provide |
| 3 | | to the exclusive provider benefit plan necessary |
| 4 | | medical information related to such care; and |
| 5 | | (C) to otherwise adhere to the exclusive provider |
| 6 | | benefit plan's policies and procedures, including, but |
| 7 | | not limited to, procedures regarding referrals and |
| 8 | | obtaining preauthorizations for treatment. |
| 9 | | (b) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide for |
| 10 | | continuity of care for new enrollees as follows: |
| 11 | | (1) If a new enrollee whose physician is not a member |
| 12 | | of the exclusive provider benefit plan's provider network, |
| 13 | | but is within the exclusive provider benefit plan's service |
| 14 | | area, enrolls in the exclusive provider benefit plan, the |
| 15 | | exclusive provider benefit plan shall permit the enrollee |
| 16 | | to continue an ongoing course of treatment with the |
| 17 | | enrollee's current physician during a transitional period: |
| 18 | | (A) of 90 days after the effective date of |
| 19 | | enrollment if the enrollee has an ongoing course of |
| 20 | | treatment; or |
| 21 | | (B) that includes the provision of post-partum |
| 22 | | care directly related to the delivery, if the enrollee |
| 23 | | has entered the third trimester of pregnancy at the |
| 24 | | effective date of enrollment. |
| 25 | | (2) If an enrollee elects to continue to receive care |
| 26 | | from such physician pursuant to paragraph (1) of this |
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| 1 | | subsection (a), such care shall be authorized by the |
| 2 | | exclusive provider benefit plan for the transitional |
| 3 | | period only if the physician agrees: |
| 4 | | (A) to accept reimbursement from the exclusive |
| 5 | | provider benefit plan at rates established by the |
| 6 | | exclusive provider benefit plan; such rates shall be |
| 7 | | the level of reimbursement applicable to similar |
| 8 | | physicians within the exclusive provider benefit plan |
| 9 | | for such services; |
| 10 | | (B) to adhere to the exclusive provider benefit |
| 11 | | plan's quality assurance requirements and to provide |
| 12 | | to the exclusive provider benefit plan necessary |
| 13 | | medical information related to such care; and |
| 14 | | (C) to otherwise adhere to the exclusive provider |
| 15 | | benefit plan's policies and procedures, including, but |
| 16 | | not limited to, procedures regarding referrals and |
| 17 | | obtaining preauthorization for treatment. |
| 18 | | (c) In no event shall this Section be construed to require |
| 19 | | an exclusive provider benefit plan to provide coverage for |
| 20 | | benefits not otherwise covered or to diminish or impair |
| 21 | | preexisting condition limitations contained in the enrollee's |
| 22 | | contract. |
| 23 | | Section 50. Prohibitions.
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| 24 | | (a) No exclusive provider benefit plan or its |
| 25 | | subcontractors may prohibit or discourage health care |
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| 1 | | providers by contract or policy from discussing any health care |
| 2 | | services and health care providers, utilization review, if |
| 3 | | applicable, and quality assurance policies, terms, and |
| 4 | | conditions of plans, and plan policy with enrollees, |
| 5 | | prospective enrollees, providers, or the public. |
| 6 | | (b) No exclusive provider benefit plan by contract, written |
| 7 | | policy, or procedure may permit or allow an individual or |
| 8 | | entity to dispense a different drug in place of the drug or |
| 9 | | brand of drug ordered or prescribed without the express |
| 10 | | permission of the person ordering or prescribing the drug, |
| 11 | | except as provided under Section 3.14 of the Illinois Food, |
| 12 | | Drug and Cosmetic Act. |
| 13 | | Section 55. Exclusive provider benefit plans; access to |
| 14 | | specialists.
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| 15 | | (a) When the type of specialist physician or other health |
| 16 | | care provider needed to provide care for a specific condition |
| 17 | | is not represented in the exclusive provider benefit plan's |
| 18 | | network, the exclusive provider benefit plan shall allow for |
| 19 | | the enrollee to have access to a non-exclusive provider within |
| 20 | | a reasonable distance and travel time at no additional cost |
| 21 | | beyond what the enrollee would otherwise pay for services |
| 22 | | received within the network if it is determined by a licensed |
| 23 | | clinical peer that the service or treatment of the specific |
| 24 | | condition is medically necessary and such services or |
| 25 | | treatments are not available through the exclusive provider |
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| 1 | | benefit plan network. Coverage for all services performed in |
| 2 | | accordance with this Section shall be at the same benefit level |
| 3 | | as if the service or treatment had been rendered by an |
| 4 | | exclusive provider. |
| 5 | | (b) If an exclusive provider benefit plan denies an |
| 6 | | enrollee's request for a specialist physician or other health |
| 7 | | care provider that is not represented in the exclusive provider |
| 8 | | benefit plan's network, an enrollee may appeal the decision |
| 9 | | through the exclusive provider benefit plan's external |
| 10 | | independent review process as provided by the Health Carrier |
| 11 | | External Review Act. |
| 12 | | Section 60. Health care services appeals, complaints, and |
| 13 | | external independent reviews.
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| 14 | | (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish and |
| 15 | | maintain an appeals procedure as outlined in this Act. |
| 16 | | Compliance with this Act's appeals procedures shall satisfy an |
| 17 | | exclusive provider benefit plan's obligation to provide appeal |
| 18 | | procedures under any other State law or rules. |
| 19 | | (b) When an appeal concerns a decision or action by an |
| 20 | | exclusive provider benefit plan, its employees, or its |
| 21 | | subcontractors that relates to (i) health care services, |
| 22 | | including, but not limited to, procedures or treatments, for an |
| 23 | | enrollee with an ongoing course of treatment ordered by a |
| 24 | | health care provider, the denial of which could significantly |
| 25 | | increase the risk to an enrollee's health or (ii) a treatment |
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| 1 | | referral, service, procedure, or other health care service, the |
| 2 | | denial of which could significantly increase the risk to an |
| 3 | | enrollee's health, the exclusive provider benefit plan must |
| 4 | | allow for the filing of an appeal either orally or in writing. |
| 5 | | Upon submission of the appeal, an exclusive provider benefit |
| 6 | | plan must notify the party filing the appeal as soon as |
| 7 | | possible, but in no event more than 24 hours after the |
| 8 | | submission of the appeal, of all information that the exclusive |
| 9 | | provider benefit plan requires to evaluate the appeal. The |
| 10 | | exclusive provider benefit plan shall render a decision on the |
| 11 | | appeal within 24 hours after receipt of the required |
| 12 | | information. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall notify |
| 13 | | the party filing the appeal and the enrollee and any health |
| 14 | | care provider who recommended the health care service involved |
| 15 | | in the appeal of its decision orally, followed up by a written |
| 16 | | notice of the determination. |
| 17 | | (c) For all appeals related to health care services, |
| 18 | | including, but not limited to, procedures or treatments for an |
| 19 | | enrollee, not covered by subsection (b) of this Section, the |
| 20 | | exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish a procedure for |
| 21 | | the filing of such appeals. Upon submission of an appeal under |
| 22 | | this subsection (c), an exclusive provider benefit plan must |
| 23 | | notify the party filing an appeal, within 3 business days after |
| 24 | | the submission, of all information that the plan requires to |
| 25 | | evaluate the appeal. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall |
| 26 | | render a decision on the appeal within 15 business days after |
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| 1 | | receipt of the required information. The health care plan shall |
| 2 | | notify the party filing the appeal, the enrollee, and any |
| 3 | | health care provider who recommended the health care service |
| 4 | | involved in the appeal orally of its decision, followed up by a |
| 5 | | written notice of the determination. |
| 6 | | (d) An appeal under subsections (b) or (c) of this Section |
| 7 | | may be filed by the enrollee, the enrollee's designee or |
| 8 | | guardian, or the enrollee's health care provider. An exclusive |
| 9 | | provider benefit plan shall designate a clinical peer to review |
| 10 | | appeals, because these appeals pertain to medical or clinical |
| 11 | | matters and such an appeal must be reviewed by an appropriate |
| 12 | | health care professional. No one reviewing an appeal may have |
| 13 | | had any involvement in the initial determination that is the |
| 14 | | subject of the appeal. The written notice of determination |
| 15 | | required under subsections (b) and (c) shall include (i) clear |
| 16 | | and detailed reasons for the determination, (ii) the medical or |
| 17 | | clinical criteria for the determination, which shall be based |
| 18 | | upon sound clinical evidence and reviewed on a periodic basis, |
| 19 | | and (iii) in the case of an adverse determination, the |
| 20 | | procedures for requesting an external independent review as |
| 21 | | provided by the Health Carrier External Review Act. |
| 22 | | (e) If an appeal filed under subsections (b) or (c) is |
| 23 | | denied for a reason, including, but not limited to, the |
| 24 | | service, procedure, or treatment is not viewed as medically |
| 25 | | necessary, denial of specific tests or procedures, denial of |
| 26 | | referral to specialist physicians or denial of hospitalization |
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| 1 | | requests or length of stay requests, any involved party may |
| 2 | | request an external independent review as provided by the |
| 3 | | Health Carrier External Review Act. |
| 4 | | (f) Future contractual or employment action by the |
| 5 | | exclusive provider benefit plan regarding the patient's |
| 6 | | physician or other health care provider shall not be based |
| 7 | | solely on the physician's or other health care provider's |
| 8 | | participation in health care services appeals, complaints, or |
| 9 | | external independent reviews under the Health Carrier External |
| 10 | | Review Act. |
| 11 | | (g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require |
| 12 | | an exclusive provider benefit plan to pay for a health care |
| 13 | | service not covered under the enrollee's certificate of |
| 14 | | coverage or policy. |
| 15 | | Section 65. Emergency services prior to stabilization.
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| 16 | | (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan that provides or |
| 17 | | that is required by law to provide coverage for emergency |
| 18 | | services shall provide coverage such that payment under this |
| 19 | | coverage is not dependent upon whether the services are |
| 20 | | performed by a plan or non-plan health care provider and |
| 21 | | without regard to prior authorization. This coverage shall be |
| 22 | | at the same benefit level as if the services or treatment had |
| 23 | | been rendered by the health care plan physician licensed to |
| 24 | | practice medicine in all its branches or health care provider. |
| 25 | | (b) Prior authorization or approval by the plan shall not |
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| 1 | | be required for emergency services. |
| 2 | | (c) Coverage and payment shall only be retrospectively |
| 3 | | denied under the following circumstances: |
| 4 | | (1) upon reasonable determination that the emergency |
| 5 | | services claimed were never performed; |
| 6 | | (2) upon timely determination that the emergency |
| 7 | | evaluation and treatment were rendered to an enrollee who |
| 8 | | sought emergency services and whose circumstance did not |
| 9 | | meet the definition of emergency medical condition; |
| 10 | | (3) upon determination that the patient receiving such |
| 11 | | services was not an enrollee of the health care plan; or |
| 12 | | (4) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee or |
| 13 | | health care provider. |
| 14 | | For the purposes of this subsection (c), "material" means a |
| 15 | | fact or situation that is not merely technical in nature and |
| 16 | | results or could result in a substantial change in the |
| 17 | | situation. |
| 18 | | (d) When an enrollee presents to a hospital seeking |
| 19 | | emergency services, the determination as to whether the need |
| 20 | | for those services exists shall be made for purposes of |
| 21 | | treatment by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all |
| 22 | | its branches or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by |
| 23 | | other appropriately licensed personnel under the supervision |
| 24 | | of or in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice |
| 25 | | medicine in all its branches. The physician or other |
| 26 | | appropriate personnel shall indicate in the patient's chart the |
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| 1 | | results of the emergency medical screening examination. |
| 2 | | (e) The appropriate use of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone |
| 3 | | system or its local equivalent shall not be discouraged or |
| 4 | | penalized by the exclusive provider benefit plan when an |
| 5 | | emergency medical condition exists. This provision shall not |
| 6 | | imply that the use of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system or |
| 7 | | its local equivalent is a factor in determining the existence |
| 8 | | of an emergency medical condition. |
| 9 | | (f) The medical director's or his or her designee's |
| 10 | | determination of whether the enrollee meets the standard of an |
| 11 | | emergency medical condition shall be based solely upon the |
| 12 | | presenting symptoms documented in the medical record at the |
| 13 | | time care was sought. Only a clinical peer may make an adverse |
| 14 | | determination. |
| 15 | | (g) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the imposition |
| 16 | | of deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance. |
| 17 | | Section 70. Post-stabilization medical services.
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| 18 | | (a) If prior authorization for covered post-stabilization |
| 19 | | services is required by the exclusive provider benefit plan, |
| 20 | | the plan shall provide access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to |
| 21 | | persons designated by the plan to make such determinations, |
| 22 | | provided that any determination made under this Section must be |
| 23 | | made by a health care professional. |
| 24 | | (b) The treating physician licensed to practice medicine in |
| 25 | | all its branches or health care provider shall contact the |
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| 1 | | exclusive provider benefit plan or delegated health care |
| 2 | | provider as designated on the enrollee's health insurance card |
| 3 | | to obtain authorization, denial, or arrangements for an |
| 4 | | alternate plan of treatment or transfer of the enrollee. |
| 5 | | (c) The treating physician licensed to practice medicine in |
| 6 | | all its branches or health care provider shall document in the |
| 7 | | enrollee's medical record the enrollee's presenting symptoms; |
| 8 | | emergency medical condition; and time, phone number dialed, and |
| 9 | | result of the communication for request for authorization of |
| 10 | | post-stabilization medical services. The exclusive provider |
| 11 | | benefit plan shall provide reimbursement for covered |
| 12 | | post-stabilization medical services if: |
| 13 | | (1) authorization to render them is received from the |
| 14 | | exclusive provider benefit plan or its delegated health |
| 15 | | care provider; or |
| 16 | | (2) after 2 documented good faith efforts, the treating |
| 17 | | health care provider has attempted to contact the |
| 18 | | enrollee's exclusive provider benefit plan or its |
| 19 | | delegated health care provider, as designated on the |
| 20 | | enrollee's health insurance card, for prior authorization |
| 21 | | of post-stabilization medical services and neither the |
| 22 | | plan nor designated persons were accessible or the |
| 23 | | authorization was not denied within 60 minutes of the |
| 24 | | request. |
| 25 | | For the purposes of this subsection (c), "2 documented good |
| 26 | | faith efforts" means the health care provider has called the |
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| 1 | | telephone number on the enrollee's health insurance card or |
| 2 | | other available number either 2 times or one time and an |
| 3 | | additional call to any referral number provided. |
| 4 | | (d) After rendering any post-stabilization medical |
| 5 | | services, the treating physician licensed to practice medicine |
| 6 | | in all its branches or health care provider shall continue to |
| 7 | | make every reasonable effort to contact the exclusive provider |
| 8 | | benefit plan or its delegated health care provider regarding |
| 9 | | authorization, denial, or arrangements for an alternate plan of |
| 10 | | treatment or transfer of the enrollee until the treating health |
| 11 | | care provider receives instructions from the exclusive |
| 12 | | provider benefit plan or delegated health care provider for |
| 13 | | continued care or the care is transferred to another health |
| 14 | | care provider or the patient is discharged. |
| 15 | | (e) Payment for covered post-stabilization services may be |
| 16 | | denied: |
| 17 | | (1) if the treating health care provider does not meet |
| 18 | | the conditions outlined in subsection (c) of this Section; |
| 19 | | (2) upon determination that the post-stabilization |
| 20 | | services claimed were not performed; |
| 21 | | (3) upon timely determination that the |
| 22 | | post-stabilization services rendered were contrary to the |
| 23 | | instructions of the exclusive provider benefit plan or its |
| 24 | | delegated health care provider if contact was made between |
| 25 | | those parties prior to the service being rendered; |
| 26 | | (4) upon determination that the patient receiving such |
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| 1 | | services was not an enrollee of the exclusive provider |
| 2 | | benefit plan; or |
| 3 | | (5) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee or |
| 4 | | health care provider. |
| 5 | | For the purposes of this subsection (e), "material" means a |
| 6 | | fact or situation that is not merely technical in nature and |
| 7 | | results or could result in a substantial change in the |
| 8 | | situation. |
| 9 | | (f) Nothing in this Section prohibits an exclusive provider |
| 10 | | benefit plan from delegating tasks associated with the |
| 11 | | responsibilities enumerated in this Section to the exclusive |
| 12 | | provider benefit plan's contracted health care providers or |
| 13 | | another entity. Only a clinical peer may make an adverse |
| 14 | | determination. However, the ultimate responsibility for |
| 15 | | coverage and payment decisions may not be delegated. |
| 16 | | (g) Coverage and payment for post-stabilization medical |
| 17 | | services for which prior authorization or deemed approval is |
| 18 | | received shall not be retrospectively denied. |
| 19 | | (h) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the imposition |
| 20 | | of deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance. |
| 21 | | Section 75. Quality assessment program.
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| 22 | | (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall develop and |
| 23 | | implement a quality assessment and improvement strategy |
| 24 | | designed to identify and evaluate accessibility, continuity, |
| 25 | | and quality of care. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall |
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| 1 | | have: |
| 2 | | (1) an ongoing, written, internal quality assessment |
| 3 | | program; |
| 4 | | (2) specific written guidelines for monitoring and |
| 5 | | evaluating the quality and appropriateness of care and |
| 6 | | services provided to enrollees requiring the exclusive |
| 7 | | provider benefit plan to assess: |
| 8 | | (A) the accessibility to health care providers; |
| 9 | | (B) appropriateness of utilization; |
| 10 | | (C) concerns identified by the exclusive provider |
| 11 | | benefit plan's medical or administrative staff and |
| 12 | | enrollees; and |
| 13 | | (D) other aspects of care and service directly |
| 14 | | related to the improvement of quality of care; |
| 15 | | (3) a procedure for remedial action to correct quality |
| 16 | | problems that have been verified in accordance with the |
| 17 | | written plan's methodology and criteria, including written |
| 18 | | procedures for taking appropriate corrective action; and |
| 19 | | (4) follow-up measures implemented to evaluate the |
| 20 | | effectiveness of the action plan. |
| 21 | | (b) The exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish a |
| 22 | | committee that oversees the quality assessment and improvement |
| 23 | | strategy that includes physician and enrollee participation. |
| 24 | | (c) Reports on quality assessment and improvement |
| 25 | | activities shall be made to the governing body of the exclusive |
| 26 | | provider benefit plan not less than quarterly. |
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| 1 | | (d) The exclusive provider benefit plan shall make |
| 2 | | available its written description of the quality assessment |
| 3 | | program to the Department of Public Health. |
| 4 | | (e) With the exception of subsection (d), the Department of |
| 5 | | Public Health shall accept evidence of accreditation with |
| 6 | | regard to the health care network quality management and |
| 7 | | performance improvement standards of: |
| 8 | | (1) the National Commission on Quality Assurance |
| 9 | | (NCQA); |
| 10 | | (2) the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission |
| 11 | | (URAC); |
| 12 | | (3) the Joint Commission on Accreditation of |
| 13 | | Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); or |
| 14 | | (4) any other entity that the Director of Public Health |
| 15 | | deems has substantially similar or more stringent |
| 16 | | standards than provided for in this Section. |
| 17 | | (f) If the Department of Public Health determines that an |
| 18 | | exclusive provider benefit plan is not in compliance with the |
| 19 | | terms of this Section, it shall certify the finding to the |
| 20 | | Department of Insurance. The Department of Insurance may |
| 21 | | subject the exclusive provider benefit plan to penalties, as |
| 22 | | provided in this Act, for such non-compliance. |
| 23 | | Section 80. Utilization review. If an exclusive provider |
| 24 | | benefit plan conducts a utilization review program in this |
| 25 | | State, then the exclusive provider benefit plan shall do so in |
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| 1 | | accordance with Section 85 of the Managed Care Reform and |
| 2 | | Patient Rights Act. |
| 3 | | Section 85. Examinations and fees. The Director may examine |
| 4 | | an insurer to determine the quality and adequacy of a network |
| 5 | | used by an exclusive provider benefit plan offered by the |
| 6 | | insurer under this Act. An insurer is subject to a qualifying |
| 7 | | examination of the insurer's exclusive provider benefit plans |
| 8 | | and subsequent quality of care examinations by the Director at |
| 9 | | least once every 5 years. Documentation provided to the |
| 10 | | Director during an examination conducted under this Section is |
| 11 | | confidential and is not subject to disclosure as public |
| 12 | | information under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| 13 | | Section 900. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by |
| 14 | | changing Section 7.5 as follows: |
| 15 | | (5 ILCS 140/7.5) |
| 16 | | Sec. 7.5. Statutory Exemptions. To the extent provided for |
| 17 | | by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt |
| 18 | | from inspection and copying: |
| 19 | | (a) All information determined to be confidential under |
| 20 | | Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and Development Act. |
| 21 | | (b) Library circulation and order records identifying |
| 22 | | library users with specific materials under the Library Records |
| 23 | | Confidentiality Act. |
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| 1 | | (c) Applications, related documents, and medical records |
| 2 | | received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures |
| 3 | | Board and any and all documents or other records prepared by |
| 4 | | the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board or its |
| 5 | | staff relating to applications it has received. |
| 6 | | (d) Information and records held by the Department of |
| 7 | | Public Health and its authorized representatives relating to |
| 8 | | known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible disease or |
| 9 | | any information the disclosure of which is restricted under the |
| 10 | | Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act. |
| 11 | | (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under |
| 12 | | Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act. |
| 13 | | (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of the |
| 14 | | Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications |
| 15 | | Based Selection Act. |
| 16 | | (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and |
| 17 | | exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act. |
| 18 | | (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under |
| 19 | | the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and records of |
| 20 | | any lawfully created State or local inspector general's office |
| 21 | | that would be exempt if created or obtained by an Executive |
| 22 | | Inspector General's office under that Act. |
| 23 | | (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy plan |
| 24 | | submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local |
| 25 | | emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under Section |
| 26 | | 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code. |
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| 1 | | (j) Information and data concerning the distribution of |
| 2 | | surcharge moneys collected and remitted by wireless carriers |
| 3 | | under the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act. |
| 4 | | (k) Law enforcement officer identification information or |
| 5 | | driver identification information compiled by a law |
| 6 | | enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation under |
| 7 | | Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. |
| 8 | | (l) Records and information provided to a residential |
| 9 | | health care facility resident sexual assault and death review |
| 10 | | team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review |
| 11 | | Team Act. |
| 12 | | (m) Information provided to the predatory lending database |
| 13 | | created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential Real Property |
| 14 | | Disclosure Act, except to the extent authorized under that |
| 15 | | Article. |
| 16 | | (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of |
| 17 | | compensation and expenses for court appointed trial counsel as |
| 18 | | provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital Crimes |
| 19 | | Litigation Act. This subsection (n) shall apply until the |
| 20 | | conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the prosecution |
| 21 | | chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or |
| 22 | | sentencing. |
| 23 | | (o) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed |
| 24 | | under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances |
| 25 | | Registry Act. |
| 26 | | (p) Security portions of system safety program plans, |
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| 1 | | investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or |
| 2 | | information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the |
| 3 | | Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the |
| 4 | | Regional Transportation Authority Act or the St. Clair County |
| 5 | | Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety Act. |
| 6 | | (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the |
| 7 | | Personnel Records Review Act. |
| 8 | | (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the |
| 9 | | Illinois School Student Records Act. |
| 10 | | (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted under |
| 11 | | Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
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| 12 | | (t) All identified or deidentified health information in |
| 13 | | the form of health data or medical records contained in, stored |
| 14 | | in, submitted to, transferred by, or released from the Illinois |
| 15 | | Health Information Exchange, and identified or deidentified |
| 16 | | health information in the form of health data and medical |
| 17 | | records of the Illinois Health Information Exchange in the |
| 18 | | possession of the Illinois Health Information Exchange |
| 19 | | Authority due to its administration of the Illinois Health |
| 20 | | Information Exchange. The terms "identified" and |
| 21 | | "deidentified" shall be given the same meaning as in the Health |
| 22 | | Insurance Accountability and Portability Act of 1996, Public |
| 23 | | Law 104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any |
| 24 | | regulations promulgated thereunder. |
| 25 | | (u) Records and information provided to an independent team |
| 26 | | of experts under Brian's Law. |
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| 1 | | (v) Names and information of people who have applied for or |
| 2 | | received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the |
| 3 | | Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. |
| 4 | | (w) Personally identifiable information which is exempted |
| 5 | | from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section 19.1 of the |
| 6 | | Toll Highway Act. |
| 7 | | (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure under |
| 8 | | Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section 8-11-21 of the |
| 9 | | Illinois Municipal Code. |
| 10 | | (y) All identified or deidentified health information in |
| 11 | | the form of health data or medical records in possession of the |
| 12 | | Department of Insurance due to the Department's administration |
| 13 | | of the Exclusive Provider Benefit Plan Act. |
| 14 | | (Source: P.A. 96-542, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1235, eff. 1-1-11; |
| 15 | | 96-1331, eff. 7-27-10; 97-80, eff. 7-5-11; 97-333, eff. |
| 16 | | 8-12-11; 97-342, eff. 8-12-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-976, |
| 17 | | eff. 1-1-13.)
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| 18 | | Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
| 19 | | becoming law.".
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