Sen. William R. Haine

Filed: 4/25/2012

 

 


 

 


 
09700SB2721sam001LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2721

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2721 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Exclusive Provider Benefit Plan Act.
 
6    Section 5. For the purposes of this Act:
7    "Clinical peer" means a health care professional who is in
8the same profession and the same or similar specialty as the
9health care provider who typically manages the medical
10condition, procedures, or treatment under review.
11    "Department" means the Department of Insurance.
12    "Director" means the Director of Insurance.
13    "Emergency services" means, with respect to an enrollee of
14a health care plan, transportation services, including, but not
15limited to, ambulance services, and covered inpatient and
16outpatient hospital services furnished by a provider qualified

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 2 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1to furnish those services that are needed to evaluate or
2stabilize an emergency medical condition. "Emergency services"
3does not include post-stabilization medical services.
4    "Enrollee" means any person and his or her dependents
5enrolled in or covered by an exclusive provider benefit plan.
6    "Exclusive provider" means a provider or health care
7provider, or an organization of providers or health care
8providers, who contracts with an insurer to provide medical
9care or health care to insureds covered by a health insurance
10policy.
11    "Exclusive provider benefit plan" means a benefit plan in
12which an insurer contracts with a provider to provide some
13services to an insured, not including emergency care services
14required under Section 65 of the Managed Care Reform and
15Patients Right Act, provided by a health care provider who is a
16non-exclusive provider.
17    "Health care provider" means a provider, institutional
18provider, or other person or organization that furnishes health
19care services and that is licensed or otherwise authorized to
20practice in this State.
21    "Health care services" means any services included in the
22furnishing of medical care to any individual, or the
23hospitalization incident to the furnishing of such care, as
24well as the furnishing to any person of any and all other
25services for the purpose of preventing, alleviating, curing, or
26healing human illness or injury.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 3 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    "Health insurance policy" means a group or individual
2insurance policy, certificate, or contract providing benefits
3for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of an
4accident or sickness.
5    "Hospital" means an institution licensed under the
6Hospital Licensing Act, an institution that meets all
7comparable conditions and requirements in effect in the state
8in which it is located, or the University of Illinois Hospital
9as defined in the University of Illinois Hospital Act.
10    "Institutional provider" means a hospital, nursing home,
11or other medical or health-related service facility that
12provides care for the sick or injured or other care that may be
13covered in a health insurance policy.
14    "Insurer" means an insurance company or a health service
15corporation authorized in this State to issue policies or
16subscriber contracts that reimburse for expense of health care
17services.
18    "Post-stabilization medical services" means health care
19services provided to an enrollee that are furnished in a
20licensed hospital by a provider that is qualified to furnish
21such services, and determined to be medically necessary and
22directly related to the emergency medical condition following
23stabilization.
24    "Preauthorization" means a determination by an insurer
25that medical care or health care services proposed to be
26provided to a patient are medically necessary and appropriate.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 4 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    "Provider" means an individual or entity duly licensed or
2legally authorized to provide health care services.
3    "Service area" means a geographic area or areas specified
4in an exclusive provider benefit contract in which a network of
5exclusive providers is offered and available.
6    "Stabilization" means, with respect to an emergency
7medical condition, to provide such medical treatment of the
8condition as may be necessary to ensure, within reasonable
9medical probability, that no material deterioration of the
10condition is likely to result.
 
11    Section 10. Exclusive provider benefit plans permitted. An
12exclusive provider benefit plan that meets the requirements of
13this Act shall be permitted. To the extent of any conflict
14between this Section and any other statutory provision, this
15Section prevails over the conflicting provision. The Director
16of Insurance may adopt rules necessary to implement the
17Department's responsibilities under this Act.
 
18    Section 15. Applicability of this Act.
19    (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
20Section, this Section applies to each individual or group
21exclusive provider benefit plan in which an insurer provides,
22through the insurer's health insurance policy, for the payment
23of coverage only for the use of an exclusive provider network,
24other than the use of a non-exclusive provider for emergency

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 5 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1care services.
2    (b) Unless otherwise specified, an exclusive provider
3benefit plan is subject to this Section.
4    (c) This Act does not apply to:
5        (1) the Children's Health Insurance Program under the
6    Children's Health Insurance Program Act;
7        (2) a Medicaid managed care program under Article V of
8    the Illinois Public Aid Code; or
9        (3) an HMO under Article I of the Health Maintenance
10    Organization Act.
11    (d) An insurer duly licensed under the laws of this State
12may offer exclusive provider benefit plans to individuals and
13group health plans in conformity with the terms set forth in
14this Section. An insurer shall not be required to be licensed
15as an HMO under the Health Maintenance Organization Act in
16order to offer exclusive provider benefit plans under this
17Section.
 
18    Section 20. Applicability of Health Carrier External
19Review Act. The Health Carrier External Review Act shall apply
20to an exclusive provider benefit plan, except to the extent
21that the Director determines the provision to be inconsistent
22with the function and purpose of an exclusive provider benefit
23plan.
 
24    Section 25. Construction of Act.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 6 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    (a) This Act may not be construed to limit the level of
2reimbursement or the level of coverage, including deductibles,
3copayments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing provisions,
4that are applicable to exclusive providers.
5    (b) Except as specifically provided for in this Act, this
6Act may not be construed to require an exclusive provider
7benefit plan to compensate a non-exclusive provider for
8services provided to an insured.
 
9    Section 30. Provision of information.
10    (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide
11annually to enrollees and prospective enrollees, upon request,
12a complete list of exclusive providers in the exclusive
13provider benefit plan service area and a description of the
14following terms of coverage:
15        (1) the service area;
16        (2) the covered benefits and services with all
17    exclusions, exceptions, and limitations;
18        (3) the pre-certification and other utilization
19    review, if applicable, procedures and requirements;
20        (4) a description of any limitation on access to
21    specialists, and the plan's standing referral policy;
22        (5) the emergency coverage and benefits, including any
23    restrictions on emergency care services;
24        (6) the out-of-area coverage and benefits, if any;
25        (7) the enrollee's financial responsibility for

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 7 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    copayments, deductibles, premiums, and any other
2    out-of-pocket expenses;
3        (8) the provisions for continuity of treatment in the
4    event an exclusive provider's participation terminates
5    during the course of an enrollee's treatment by that
6    exclusive provider;
7        (9) the appeals process, forms, and time frames for
8    health care services appeals, complaints, and external
9    independent reviews, administrative complaints, and
10    utilization review complaints, if applicable, including a
11    phone number to call to receive more information from the
12    exclusive provider benefits plan concerning the appeals
13    process; and
14        (10) a statement of all basic health care services and
15    all specific benefits and services mandated to be provided
16    to enrollees by any State law or administrative rule.
17    In the event of an inconsistency between any separate
18written disclosure statement and the enrollee contract or
19certificate, the terms of the enrollee contract or certificate
20shall control.
21    (b) Upon written request, an exclusive provider benefit
22plan shall provide to enrollees a description of the financial
23relationships between the exclusive provider benefit plan and
24any health care provider and, if requested, the percentage of
25copayments, deductibles, and total premiums spent on
26healthcare related expenses and the percentage of copayments,

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 8 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1deductibles, and total premiums spent on other expenses,
2including administrative expenses, except that no exclusive
3provider benefit plan shall be required to disclose specific
4provider reimbursement.
5    (c) An exclusive provider shall provide all of the
6following, where applicable, to enrollees upon request:
7        (1) Information related to the exclusive provider's
8    educational background, experience, training, specialty,
9    and board certification, if applicable.
10        (2) The names of licensed facilities on the provider
11    panel where the exclusive provider presently has
12    privileges for the treatment, illness, or procedure that is
13    the subject of the request.
14        (3) Information regarding the exclusive provider's
15    participation in continuing education programs and
16    compliance with any licensure, certification, or
17    registration requirements, if applicable.
18    (d) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide the
19information required to be disclosed under this Act upon
20enrollment and annually thereafter in a legible and
21understandable format. The Department of Insurance shall adopt
22rules to establish the format based, to the extent practical,
23on the standards developed for supplemental insurance coverage
24under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act as a
25guide, so that a person can compare the attributes of the
26various health care plans.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 9 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    (e) An identification card or similar document issued by an
2insurer to an insured in an exclusive provider benefit plan
3must display:
4        (1) a toll-free number that a physician or health care
5    provider may use to obtain the date on which the insured
6    became insured under the plan; and
7        (2) the acronym "EPO" or the phrase "Exclusive Provider
8    Organization" on the card in a location of the insurer's
9    choice.
10    (f) The written disclosure requirements of this Section may
11be met by disclosure to one enrollee in a household.
 
12    Section 35. Availability of exclusive providers.
13    (a) An insurer offering an exclusive provider benefit plan
14shall ensure that the exclusive provider benefits are
15reasonably available to all insureds within a designated
16service area.
17    (b) If services are not available through an exclusive
18provider within a designated service area under an exclusive
19provider benefit plan, an insurer shall reimburse a physician
20or health care provider who is a non-exclusive provider at the
21same percentage level of benefit as an exclusive provider would
22have been reimbursed had the insured been treated by an
23exclusive provider.
 
24    Section 40. Notice of nonrenewal or termination. An

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 10 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1exclusive provider benefit plan must give at least 60 days
2notice of nonrenewal or termination of an exclusive provider to
3the exclusive provider and to the enrollees served by the
4exclusive provider. The notice shall include a name and address
5to which an enrollee or exclusive provider may direct comments
6and concerns regarding the nonrenewal or termination.
7Immediate written notice may be provided without 60 days notice
8when a health care provider's license has been disciplined by a
9state licensing board.
 
10    Section 45. Transition of service.
11    (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide for
12continuity of care for its enrollees as follows:
13        (1) If an enrollee's physician leaves the exclusive
14    provider benefit plan's network of health care providers
15    for reasons other than termination of a contract in
16    situations involving imminent harm to a patient or a final
17    disciplinary action by a state licensing board and the
18    physician remains within the exclusive provider benefit
19    plan's service area, the exclusive provider benefit plan
20    shall permit the enrollee to continue an ongoing course of
21    treatment with that physician during a transitional
22    period:
23            (A) of 90 days after the date of the notice of the
24        physician's termination from the health care plan to
25        the enrollee of the physician's disaffiliation from

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 11 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1        the health care plan if the enrollee has an ongoing
2        course of treatment; or
3            (B) that includes the provision of post-partum
4        care directly related to the delivery, if the enrollee
5        has entered the third trimester of pregnancy at the
6        time of the physician's disaffiliation.
7        (2) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (1) of
8    this subsection (a), such care shall be authorized by the
9    exclusive provider benefit plan during the transitional
10    period only if the physician agrees:
11            (A) to continue to accept reimbursement from the
12        exclusive provider benefit plan at the rates
13        applicable prior to the start of the transitional
14        period;
15            (B) to adhere to the exclusive provider benefit
16        plan's quality assurance requirements and to provide
17        to the exclusive provider benefit plan necessary
18        medical information related to such care; and
19            (C) to otherwise adhere to the exclusive provider
20        benefit plan's policies and procedures, including, but
21        not limited to, procedures regarding referrals and
22        obtaining preauthorizations for treatment.
23    (b) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall provide for
24continuity of care for new enrollees as follows:
25        (1) If a new enrollee whose physician is not a member
26    of the exclusive provider benefit plan's provider network,

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 12 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    but is within the exclusive provider benefit plan's service
2    area, enrolls in the exclusive provider benefit plan, the
3    exclusive provider benefit plan shall permit the enrollee
4    to continue an ongoing course of treatment with the
5    enrollee's current physician during a transitional period:
6            (A) of 90 days after the effective date of
7        enrollment if the enrollee has an ongoing course of
8        treatment; or
9            (B) that includes the provision of post-partum
10        care directly related to the delivery, if the enrollee
11        has entered the third trimester of pregnancy at the
12        effective date of enrollment.
13        (2) If an enrollee elects to continue to receive care
14    from such physician pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
15    subsection (a), such care shall be authorized by the
16    exclusive provider benefit plan for the transitional
17    period only if the physician agrees:
18            (A) to accept reimbursement from the exclusive
19        provider benefit plan at rates established by the
20        exclusive provider benefit plan; such rates shall be
21        the level of reimbursement applicable to similar
22        physicians within the exclusive provider benefit plan
23        for such services;
24            (B) to adhere to the exclusive provider benefit
25        plan's quality assurance requirements and to provide
26        to the exclusive provider benefit plan necessary

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 13 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1        medical information related to such care; and
2            (C) to otherwise adhere to the exclusive provider
3        benefit plan's policies and procedures, including, but
4        not limited to, procedures regarding referrals and
5        obtaining preauthorization for treatment.
6    (c) In no event shall this Section be construed to require
7an exclusive provider benefit plan to provide coverage for
8benefits not otherwise covered or to diminish or impair
9preexisting condition limitations contained in the enrollee's
10contract.
 
11    Section 50. Prohibitions.
12    (a) No exclusive provider benefit plan or its
13subcontractors may prohibit or discourage health care
14providers by contract or policy from discussing any health care
15services and health care providers, utilization review, if
16applicable, and quality assurance policies, terms, and
17conditions of plans, and plan policy with enrollees,
18prospective enrollees, providers, or the public.
19    (b) No exclusive provider benefit plan by contract, written
20policy, or procedure may permit or allow an individual or
21entity to dispense a different drug in place of the drug or
22brand of drug ordered or prescribed without the express
23permission of the person ordering or prescribing the drug,
24except as provided under Section 3.14 of the Illinois Food,
25Drug and Cosmetic Act.
 

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 14 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    Section 55. Exclusive provider benefit plans; access to
2specialists.
3    (a) When the type of specialist physician or other health
4care provider needed to provide care for a specific condition
5is not represented in the exclusive provider benefit plan's
6network, the exclusive provider benefit plan shall allow for
7the enrollee to have access to a non-exclusive provider within
8a reasonable distance and travel time at no additional cost
9beyond what the enrollee would otherwise pay for services
10received within the network if it is determined by a licensed
11clinical peer that the service or treatment of the specific
12condition is medically necessary and such services or
13treatments are not available through the exclusive provider
14benefit plan network. Coverage for all services performed in
15accordance with this Section shall be at the same benefit level
16as if the service or treatment had been rendered by an
17exclusive provider.
18    (b) If an exclusive provider benefit plan denies an
19enrollee's request for a specialist physician or other health
20care provider that is not represented in the exclusive provider
21benefit plan's network, an enrollee may appeal the decision
22through the exclusive provider benefit plan's external
23independent review process as provided by the Health Carrier
24External Review Act.
 

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 15 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    Section 60. Health care services appeals, complaints, and
2external independent reviews.
3    (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish and
4maintain an appeals procedure as outlined in this Act.
5Compliance with this Act's appeals procedures shall satisfy an
6exclusive provider benefit plan's obligation to provide appeal
7procedures under any other State law or rules.
8    (b) When an appeal concerns a decision or action by an
9exclusive provider benefit plan, its employees, or its
10subcontractors that relates to (i) health care services,
11including, but not limited to, procedures or treatments, for an
12enrollee with an ongoing course of treatment ordered by a
13health care provider, the denial of which could significantly
14increase the risk to an enrollee's health or (ii) a treatment
15referral, service, procedure, or other health care service, the
16denial of which could significantly increase the risk to an
17enrollee's health, the exclusive provider benefit plan must
18allow for the filing of an appeal either orally or in writing.
19Upon submission of the appeal, an exclusive provider benefit
20plan must notify the party filing the appeal as soon as
21possible, but in no event more than 24 hours after the
22submission of the appeal, of all information that the exclusive
23provider benefit plan requires to evaluate the appeal. The
24exclusive provider benefit plan shall render a decision on the
25appeal within 24 hours after receipt of the required
26information. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall notify

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 16 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1the party filing the appeal and the enrollee and any health
2care provider who recommended the health care service involved
3in the appeal of its decision orally, followed up by a written
4notice of the determination.
5    (c) For all appeals related to health care services,
6including, but not limited to, procedures or treatments for an
7enrollee, not covered by subsection (b) of this Section, the
8exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish a procedure for
9the filing of such appeals. Upon submission of an appeal under
10this subsection (c), an exclusive provider benefit plan must
11notify the party filing an appeal, within 3 business days after
12the submission, of all information that the plan requires to
13evaluate the appeal. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall
14render a decision on the appeal within 15 business days after
15receipt of the required information. The health care plan shall
16notify the party filing the appeal, the enrollee, and any
17health care provider who recommended the health care service
18involved in the appeal orally of its decision, followed up by a
19written notice of the determination.
20    (d) An appeal under subsections (b) or (c) of this Section
21may be filed by the enrollee, the enrollee's designee or
22guardian, or the enrollee's health care provider. An exclusive
23provider benefit plan shall designate a clinical peer to review
24appeals, because these appeals pertain to medical or clinical
25matters and such an appeal must be reviewed by an appropriate
26health care professional. No one reviewing an appeal may have

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 17 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1had any involvement in the initial determination that is the
2subject of the appeal. The written notice of determination
3required under subsections (b) and (c) shall include (i) clear
4and detailed reasons for the determination, (ii) the medical or
5clinical criteria for the determination, which shall be based
6upon sound clinical evidence and reviewed on a periodic basis,
7and (iii) in the case of an adverse determination, the
8procedures for requesting an external independent review as
9provided by the Health Carrier External Review Act.
10    (e) If an appeal filed under subsections (b) or (c) is
11denied for a reason, including, but not limited to, the
12service, procedure, or treatment is not viewed as medically
13necessary, denial of specific tests or procedures, denial of
14referral to specialist physicians or denial of hospitalization
15requests or length of stay requests, any involved party may
16request an external independent review as provided by the
17Health Carrier External Review Act.
18    (f) Future contractual or employment action by the
19exclusive provider benefit plan regarding the patient's
20physician or other health care provider shall not be based
21solely on the physician's or other health care provider's
22participation in health care services appeals, complaints, or
23external independent reviews under the Health Carrier External
24Review Act.
25    (g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require
26an exclusive provider benefit plan to pay for a health care

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 18 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1service not covered under the enrollee's certificate of
2coverage or policy.
 
3    Section 65. Emergency services prior to stabilization.
4    (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan that provides or
5that is required by law to provide coverage for emergency
6services shall provide coverage such that payment under this
7coverage is not dependent upon whether the services are
8performed by a plan or non-plan health care provider and
9without regard to prior authorization. This coverage shall be
10at the same benefit level as if the services or treatment had
11been rendered by the health care plan physician licensed to
12practice medicine in all its branches or health care provider.
13    (b) Prior authorization or approval by the plan shall not
14be required for emergency services.
15    (c) Coverage and payment shall only be retrospectively
16denied under the following circumstances:
17        (1) upon reasonable determination that the emergency
18    services claimed were never performed;
19        (2) upon timely determination that the emergency
20    evaluation and treatment were rendered to an enrollee who
21    sought emergency services and whose circumstance did not
22    meet the definition of emergency medical condition;
23        (3) upon determination that the patient receiving such
24    services was not an enrollee of the health care plan; or
25        (4) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee or

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 19 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    health care provider.
2    For the purposes of this subsection (c), "material" means a
3fact or situation that is not merely technical in nature and
4results or could result in a substantial change in the
5situation.
6    (d) When an enrollee presents to a hospital seeking
7emergency services, the determination as to whether the need
8for those services exists shall be made for purposes of
9treatment by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all
10its branches or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by
11other appropriately licensed personnel under the supervision
12of or in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice
13medicine in all its branches. The physician or other
14appropriate personnel shall indicate in the patient's chart the
15results of the emergency medical screening examination.
16    (e) The appropriate use of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone
17system or its local equivalent shall not be discouraged or
18penalized by the exclusive provider benefit plan when an
19emergency medical condition exists. This provision shall not
20imply that the use of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system or
21its local equivalent is a factor in determining the existence
22of an emergency medical condition.
23    (f) The medical director's or his or her designee's
24determination of whether the enrollee meets the standard of an
25emergency medical condition shall be based solely upon the
26presenting symptoms documented in the medical record at the

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 20 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1time care was sought. Only a clinical peer may make an adverse
2determination.
3    (g) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the imposition
4of deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance.
 
5    Section 70. Post-stabilization medical services.
6    (a) If prior authorization for covered post-stabilization
7services is required by the exclusive provider benefit plan,
8the plan shall provide access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to
9persons designated by the plan to make such determinations,
10provided that any determination made under this Section must be
11made by a health care professional.
12    (b) The treating physician licensed to practice medicine in
13all its branches or health care provider shall contact the
14exclusive provider benefit plan or delegated health care
15provider as designated on the enrollee's health insurance card
16to obtain authorization, denial, or arrangements for an
17alternate plan of treatment or transfer of the enrollee.
18    (c) The treating physician licensed to practice medicine in
19all its branches or health care provider shall document in the
20enrollee's medical record the enrollee's presenting symptoms;
21emergency medical condition; and time, phone number dialed, and
22result of the communication for request for authorization of
23post-stabilization medical services. The exclusive provider
24benefit plan shall provide reimbursement for covered
25post-stabilization medical services if:

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 21 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1        (1) authorization to render them is received from the
2    exclusive provider benefit plan or its delegated health
3    care provider; or
4        (2) after 2 documented good faith efforts, the treating
5    health care provider has attempted to contact the
6    enrollee's exclusive provider benefit plan or its
7    delegated health care provider, as designated on the
8    enrollee's health insurance card, for prior authorization
9    of post-stabilization medical services and neither the
10    plan nor designated persons were accessible or the
11    authorization was not denied within 60 minutes of the
12    request.
13    For the purposes of this subsection (c), "2 documented good
14faith efforts" means the health care provider has called the
15telephone number on the enrollee's health insurance card or
16other available number either 2 times or one time and an
17additional call to any referral number provided.
18    (d) After rendering any post-stabilization medical
19services, the treating physician licensed to practice medicine
20in all its branches or health care provider shall continue to
21make every reasonable effort to contact the exclusive provider
22benefit plan or its delegated health care provider regarding
23authorization, denial, or arrangements for an alternate plan of
24treatment or transfer of the enrollee until the treating health
25care provider receives instructions from the exclusive
26provider benefit plan or delegated health care provider for

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 22 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1continued care or the care is transferred to another health
2care provider or the patient is discharged.
3    (e) Payment for covered post-stabilization services may be
4denied:
5        (1) if the treating health care provider does not meet
6    the conditions outlined in subsection (c) of this Section;
7        (2) upon determination that the post-stabilization
8    services claimed were not performed;
9        (3) upon timely determination that the
10    post-stabilization services rendered were contrary to the
11    instructions of the exclusive provider benefit plan or its
12    delegated health care provider if contact was made between
13    those parties prior to the service being rendered;
14        (4) upon determination that the patient receiving such
15    services was not an enrollee of the exclusive provider
16    benefit plan; or
17        (5) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee or
18    health care provider.
19    For the purposes of this subsection (e), "material" means a
20fact or situation that is not merely technical in nature and
21results or could result in a substantial change in the
22situation.
23    (f) Nothing in this Section prohibits an exclusive provider
24benefit plan from delegating tasks associated with the
25responsibilities enumerated in this Section to the exclusive
26provider benefit plan's contracted health care providers or

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 23 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1another entity. Only a clinical peer may make an adverse
2determination. However, the ultimate responsibility for
3coverage and payment decisions may not be delegated.
4    (g) Coverage and payment for post-stabilization medical
5services for which prior authorization or deemed approval is
6received shall not be retrospectively denied.
7    (h) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the imposition
8of deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance.
 
9    Section 75. Quality assessment program.
10    (a) An exclusive provider benefit plan shall develop and
11implement a quality assessment and improvement strategy
12designed to identify and evaluate accessibility, continuity,
13and quality of care. The exclusive provider benefit plan shall
14have:
15        (1) an ongoing, written, internal quality assessment
16    program;
17        (2) specific written guidelines for monitoring and
18    evaluating the quality and appropriateness of care and
19    services provided to enrollees requiring the exclusive
20    provider benefit plan to assess:
21            (A) the accessibility to health care providers;
22            (B) appropriateness of utilization;
23            (C) concerns identified by the exclusive provider
24        benefit plan's medical or administrative staff and
25        enrollees; and

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 24 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1            (D) other aspects of care and service directly
2        related to the improvement of quality of care;
3        (3) a procedure for remedial action to correct quality
4    problems that have been verified in accordance with the
5    written plan's methodology and criteria, including written
6    procedures for taking appropriate corrective action; and
7        (4) follow-up measures implemented to evaluate the
8    effectiveness of the action plan.
9    (b) The exclusive provider benefit plan shall establish a
10committee that oversees the quality assessment and improvement
11strategy that includes physician and enrollee participation.
12    (c) Reports on quality assessment and improvement
13activities shall be made to the governing body of the exclusive
14provider benefit plan not less than quarterly.
15    (d) The exclusive provider benefit plan shall make
16available its written description of the quality assessment
17program to the Department of Public Health.
18    (e) With the exception of subsection (d), the Department of
19Public Health shall accept evidence of accreditation with
20regard to the health care network quality management and
21performance improvement standards of:
22        (1) the National Commission on Quality Assurance
23    (NCQA);
24        (2) the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission
25    (URAC);
26        (3) the Joint Commission on Accreditation of

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 25 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); or
2        (4) any other entity that the Director of Public Health
3    deems has substantially similar or more stringent
4    standards than provided for in this Section.
5    (f) If the Department of Public Health determines that an
6exclusive provider benefit plan is not in compliance with the
7terms of this Section, it shall certify the finding to the
8Department of Insurance. The Department of Insurance may
9subject the exclusive provider benefit plan to penalties, as
10provided in this Act, for such non-compliance.
 
11    Section 80. Utilization review. If an exclusive provider
12benefit plan conducts a utilization review program in this
13State, then the exclusive provider benefit plan shall do so in
14accordance with Section 85 of the Managed Care Reform and
15Patient Rights Act.
 
16    Section 85. Examinations and fees. The Director may examine
17an insurer to determine the quality and adequacy of a network
18used by an exclusive provider benefit plan offered by the
19insurer under this Act. An insurer is subject to a qualifying
20examination of the insurer's exclusive provider benefit plans
21and subsequent quality of care examinations by the Director at
22least once every 5 years. Documentation provided to the
23Director during an examination conducted under this Section is
24confidential and is not subject to disclosure as public

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 26 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1information under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
2    Section 900. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
3changing Section 7.5 as follows:
 
4    (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
5    Sec. 7.5. Statutory Exemptions. To the extent provided for
6by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt
7from inspection and copying:
8    (a) All information determined to be confidential under
9Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and Development Act.
10    (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
11library users with specific materials under the Library Records
12Confidentiality Act.
13    (c) Applications, related documents, and medical records
14received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures
15Board and any and all documents or other records prepared by
16the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board or its
17staff relating to applications it has received.
18    (d) Information and records held by the Department of
19Public Health and its authorized representatives relating to
20known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible disease or
21any information the disclosure of which is restricted under the
22Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act.
23    (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under
24Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 27 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1    (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of the
2Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications
3Based Selection Act.
4    (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and
5exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act.
6    (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under
7the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and records of
8any lawfully created State or local inspector general's office
9that would be exempt if created or obtained by an Executive
10Inspector General's office under that Act.
11    (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy plan
12submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local
13emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under Section
1411-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
15    (j) Information and data concerning the distribution of
16surcharge moneys collected and remitted by wireless carriers
17under the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act.
18    (k) Law enforcement officer identification information or
19driver identification information compiled by a law
20enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation under
21Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
22    (l) Records and information provided to a residential
23health care facility resident sexual assault and death review
24team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review
25Team Act.
26    (m) Information provided to the predatory lending database

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 28 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential Real Property
2Disclosure Act, except to the extent authorized under that
3Article.
4    (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
5compensation and expenses for court appointed trial counsel as
6provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital Crimes
7Litigation Act. This subsection (n) shall apply until the
8conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the prosecution
9chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or
10sentencing.
11    (o) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed
12under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances
13Registry Act.
14    (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
15investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
16information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
17Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
18Regional Transportation Authority Act or the St. Clair County
19Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety Act.
20    (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
21Personnel Records Review Act.
22    (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
23Illinois School Student Records Act.
24    (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted under
25Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
26    (t) All identified or deidentified health information in

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 29 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

1the form of health data or medical records contained in, stored
2in, submitted to, transferred by, or released from the Illinois
3Health Information Exchange, and identified or deidentified
4health information in the form of health data and medical
5records of the Illinois Health Information Exchange in the
6possession of the Illinois Health Information Exchange
7Authority due to its administration of the Illinois Health
8Information Exchange. The terms "identified" and
9"deidentified" shall be given the same meaning as in the Health
10Insurance Accountability and Portability Act of 1996, Public
11Law 104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any
12regulations promulgated thereunder.
13    (u) Records and information provided to an independent team
14of experts under Brian's Law.
15    (v) Names and information of people who have applied for or
16received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the
17Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
18    (w) (v) Personally identifiable information which is
19exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section 19.1
20of the Toll Highway Act.
21    (x) All identified or deidentified health information in
22the form of health data or medical records in possession of the
23Department of Insurance due to the Department's administration
24of the Exclusive Provider Benefit Plan Act.
25(Source: P.A. 96-542, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1235, eff. 1-1-11;
2696-1331, eff. 7-27-10; 97-80, eff. 7-5-11; 97-333, eff.

 

 

09700SB2721sam001- 30 -LRB097 16120 RPM 68846 a

18-12-11; 97-342, eff. 8-12-11; revised 9-2-11.)
 
2    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.".