[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
| [ Introduced ] |
91_HB2187eng HB2187 Engrossed LRB9105755JSpc 1 AN ACT concerning emergency medical services, amending 2 named Acts. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 Access to Emergency Services Act. 7 Section 5. Legislative findings and purposes. 8 (a) The legislature recognizes that all persons need 9 access to emergency medical care and that State and federal 10 laws require hospital emergency departments to provide that 11 care. Federal law specifically prohibits emergency 12 physicians and hospital emergency departments from delaying 13 any treatment needed to evaluate or stabilize an individual 14 in order to determine the health insurance status of the 15 individual. 16 However, health insurance plans may impede access to 17 emergency care by denying coverage or payment for failure to 18 obtain prior authorization or approval from the plan, failure 19 to seek emergency care from a preferred or contractual 20 provider, or an after-the-fact determination that the medical 21 condition did not require the use of emergency facilities or 22 services, including the 911 emergency telephone number. 23 These denials impose significant financial burdens on 24 patients who prudently seek care for symptoms of a medical 25 emergency through the 911 system and in a hospital emergency 26 department, as well as the providers of such care. This 27 serves to discourage patients from seeking appropriate 28 emergency care and threatens the financial livelihood of 29 hospital emergency departments and trauma centers that 30 provide such necessary services to our entire population. 31 (b) This Act is intended to promote access to emergency HB2187 Engrossed -2- LRB9105755JSpc 1 medical care by establishing a uniform definition of 2 emergency medical condition that is based on the average 3 knowledge of the prudent layperson and requiring health 4 insurance plans to cover and pay for such services without 5 restrictions that may impede or discourage access to such 6 care. 7 Section 10. Definitions: 8 "Department" means the Department of Insurance. 9 "Emergency medical condition" means a medical condition 10 manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity 11 (including, but not limited to, severe pain) such that a 12 prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of 13 health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of 14 immediate medical attention to result in: 15 (1) placing the health of the individual (or, with 16 respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or 17 her unborn child) in serious jeopardy; 18 (2) serious impairment to bodily functions; or 19 (3) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or 20 part. 21 "Emergency medical screening examination" means a medical 22 screening examination and evaluation by a physician, or to 23 the extent permitted by applicable laws, by other 24 appropriately licensed personnel under the supervision of a 25 physician to determine whether the need for emergency 26 services exists. 27 "Emergency services" means, with respect to an enrollee 28 of a health insurance plan, transportation services and 29 covered inpatient and outpatient hospital services furnished 30 by a provider qualified to furnish those services that are 31 needed to evaluate or stabilize an emergency medical 32 condition. "Emergency services" does not refer to 33 post-stabilization medical services. HB2187 Engrossed -3- LRB9105755JSpc 1 "Enrollee" means any person and his or her dependents 2 enrolled in or covered by a health insurance plan. 3 "Health care provider" means any physician, hospital 4 facility, or other person that is licensed or otherwise 5 authorized to deliver health care services. 6 "Health care services" means any services included in the 7 furnishing to any individual of medical care, or the 8 hospitalization or incident to the furnishing of such care or 9 hospitalization as well as the furnishing to any person of 10 any and all other services for the purpose of preventing, 11 alleviating, curing, or healing human illness or injury 12 including home health and pharmaceutical services and 13 products. 14 "Health insurance plan" means any policy, contract, plan, 15 or other arrangement that pays for or furnishes medical 16 services pursuant to the Illinois Insurance Code, the 17 Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act, the Health 18 Maintenance Organization Act, or the Illinois Public Aid 19 Code. 20 "Physician" means a person licensed under the Medical 21 Practice Act of 1987. 22 "Post-stabilization medical services" means health care 23 services provided to an enrollee that are furnished in a 24 licensed hospital by a physician or health care provider that 25 is qualified to furnish such services, and determined to be 26 medically necessary and directly related to the emergency 27 medical condition following stabilization. 28 "Stabilization" means, with respect to an emergency 29 medical condition, to provide such medical treatment of the 30 condition as may be necessary to assure, within reasonable 31 medical probability, that no material deterioration of the 32 condition is likely to result from or occur during the 33 transfer of the enrollee from a facility. HB2187 Engrossed -4- LRB9105755JSpc 1 Section 15. Emergency services prior to stabilization. 2 (a) A health insurance plan subject to this Act that 3 provides or that is required by law to provide coverage for 4 emergency services shall provide coverage such that payment 5 under this coverage is not dependent upon whether the 6 services are performed by a plan or non-plan physician or 7 health care provider and without regard to prior 8 authorization. This coverage shall be at the same benefit 9 level as if the services or treatment had been rendered by 10 the health insurance plan physician or health care provider. 11 (b) Prior authorization or approval by the plan shall 12 not be required for emergency services. 13 (c) Coverage and payment shall not be retrospectively 14 denied, with the following exceptions: 15 (1) upon reasonable determination that the 16 emergency services claimed were never performed; 17 (2) upon reasonable determination that the 18 emergency evaluation and treatment were rendered to an 19 enrollee who sought emergency services and whose 20 circumstance did not meet the definition of emergency 21 medical condition; 22 (3) upon determination that the patient receiving 23 such services was not an enrollee of the health insurance 24 plan; or 25 (4) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee 26 or health care provider; "material" means a fact or 27 situation that is not merely technical in nature and 28 results or could result in a substantial change in the 29 situation. 30 (d) When an enrollee presents to a hospital seeking 31 emergency services, the determination as to whether the need 32 for those services exists shall be made for purposes of 33 treatment by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all 34 its branches or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, HB2187 Engrossed -5- LRB9105755JSpc 1 by other appropriately licensed personnel under the 2 supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine in 3 all its branches. The physician or other appropriate 4 personnel shall indicate in the patient's chart the results 5 of the emergency medical screening examination. 6 (e) The appropriate use of the 911 emergency telephone 7 system or its local equivalent shall not be discouraged or 8 penalized by the health insurance plan when an emergency 9 medical condition exists. This provision shall not imply that 10 the use of 911 or its local equivalent is a factor in 11 determining the existence of an emergency medical condition. 12 (f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the 13 imposition of deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance. 14 Section 20. Post-stabilization medical services. 15 (a) If prior authorization for covered post-stabilization 16 services is required by the health insurance plan, the plan 17 shall provide access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to persons 18 designated by the plan to make such determinations. 19 (b) The treating physician or health care provider shall 20 contact the health insurance plan or delegated physician or 21 health care provider as designated on the enrollee's health 22 insurance card to obtain authorization, denial, or 23 arrangements for an alternate plan of treatment or transfer 24 of the enrollee. 25 (c) The treating physician licensed to practice medicine 26 in all its branches or health care provider shall document in 27 the enrollee's medical record the enrollee's presenting 28 symptoms; emergency medical condition; and time, phone number 29 dialed, and result of the communication for request for 30 authorization of post-stabilization medical services. The 31 health insurance plan shall provide reimbursement for covered 32 post-stabilization medical services if: 33 (1) authorization to render them is received from HB2187 Engrossed -6- LRB9105755JSpc 1 the health insurance plan or its delegated physician or 2 health care provider; or 3 (2) after 2 documented good faith efforts, the 4 treating physician or health care provider has attempted 5 to contact the enrollee's health insurance plan or its 6 delegated physician or health care provider, as 7 designated on the enrollee's health insurance card, for 8 prior authorization of post-stabilization medical 9 services and neither the plan nor designated persons were 10 accessible or the authorization was not denied within 60 11 minutes of the request. "Two documented good faith 12 efforts" means the physician or health care provider has 13 called the telephone number on the enrollee's health 14 insurance card or other available number either 2 times 15 or one time and made an additional call to any referral 16 number provided. "Good faith" means honesty of purpose, 17 freedom from intention to defraud, and being faithful to 18 one's duty or obligation. For the purpose of this Act, 19 good faith shall be presumed. 20 (d) After rendering any post-stabilization medical 21 services, the treating physician or health care provider 22 shall continue to make every reasonable effort to contact the 23 health insurance plan or its delegated physician or health 24 care provider regarding authorization, denial, or 25 arrangements for an alternate plan of treatment or transfer 26 of the enrollee until the treating physician or health care 27 provider receives instructions from the health insurance plan 28 or delegated physician or health care provider for continued 29 care or the care is transferred to another physician or 30 health care provider or the patient is discharged. 31 (e) Payment for covered post-stabilization services may 32 be denied: 33 (1) if the treating physician or health care 34 provider does not meet the conditions outlined in HB2187 Engrossed -7- LRB9105755JSpc 1 subsection (c); 2 (2) upon determination that the post-stabilization 3 services claimed were not performed; 4 (3) upon determination that the post-stabilization 5 services rendered were contrary to the instructions of 6 the health insurance plan or its delegated physician or 7 health care provider if contact was made between those 8 parties prior to the service being rendered; 9 (4) upon determination that the patient receiving 10 such services was not an enrollee of the health insurance 11 plan; or 12 (5) upon material misrepresentation by the enrollee 13 or health care provider; "material" means a fact or 14 situation that is not merely technical in nature and 15 results or could result in a substantial change in the 16 situation. 17 (f) Coverage and payment for post-stabilization medical 18 services for which prior authorization or deemed approval is 19 received shall not be retrospectively denied. 20 (g) Nothing in this Section prohibits a health insurance 21 plan from delegating tasks associated with the 22 responsibilities enumerated in this Section to the health 23 insurance plan's contracted health care providers or another 24 entity. However, the ultimate responsibility for coverage 25 and payment decisions may not be delegated. 26 (h) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the 27 imposition of deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance. 28 Section 25. Enforcement. 29 (a) The Department shall enforce the provisions of this 30 Act. It shall promptly investigate complaints it receives 31 alleging violation of the Act. If the complaint is found to 32 be valid, the Department shall immediately seek appropriate 33 corrective action by the health insurance plan including, but HB2187 Engrossed -8- LRB9105755JSpc 1 not limited to, ceasing the noncompliant activity, restoring 2 coverage, paying or reimbursing claims, and other appropriate 3 restitution. 4 (b) Subject to the provisions of the Illinois 5 Administrative Procedure Act, the Department may impose an 6 administrative fine on a health insurance plan found to have 7 violated any provision of this Act up to a fine of $5,000 per 8 violation. A repeated violation shall result in a fine of 9 $10,000 per violation, per day. 10 (c) Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any 11 other remedy, the Department may, through the Attorney 12 General, seek an injunction to restrain or prevent any health 13 insurance plan from violation or continuing to violate any 14 provisions of this Act. 15 Section 30. Rules. The Department shall adopt emergency 16 rules to implement the provisions of this Act, in accordance 17 with Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure 18 Act. 19 Section 91. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by 20 changing Section 370g and adding Sections 155.36, 370s, and 21 511.118 as follows: 22 (215 ILCS 5/155.36 new) 23 Sec. 155.36. Access to Emergency Services Act. 24 Insurance companies that transact the kinds of insurance 25 authorized under Class 1(b) or Class 2(a) of Section 4 of 26 this Code shall comply with the Access to Emergency Services 27 Act. 28 (215 ILCS 5/370g) (from Ch. 73, par. 982g) 29 Sec. 370g. Definitions. As used in this Article, the 30 following definitions apply: HB2187 Engrossed -9- LRB9105755JSpc 1 (a) "Health care services" means health care services or 2 products rendered or sold by a provider within the scope of 3 the provider's license or legal authorization. The term 4 includes, but is not limited to, hospital, medical, surgical, 5 dental, vision and pharmaceutical services or products. 6 (b) "Insurer" means an insurance company or a health 7 service corporation authorized in this State to issue 8 policies or subscriber contracts which reimburse for expenses 9 of health care services. 10 (c) "Insured" means an individual entitled to 11 reimbursement for expenses of health care services under a 12 policy or subscriber contract issued or administered by an 13 insurer. 14 (d) "Provider" means an individual or entity duly 15 licensed or legally authorized to provide health care 16 services. 17 (e) "Noninstitutional provider" means any person 18 licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, as now or 19 hereafter amended. 20 (f) "Beneficiary" means an individual entitled to 21 reimbursement for expenses of or the discount of provider 22 fees for health care services under a program where the 23 beneficiary has an incentive to utilize the services of a 24 provider which has entered into an agreement or arrangement 25 with an administrator. 26 (g) "Administrator" means any person, partnership or 27 corporation, other than an insurer or health maintenance 28 organization holding a certificate of authority under the 29 "Health Maintenance Organization Act", as now or hereafter 30 amended, that arranges, contracts with, or administers 31 contracts with a provider whereby beneficiaries are provided 32 an incentive to use the services of such provider. 33 (h) "Emergency medical condition" means a medical 34 condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient HB2187 Engrossed -10- LRB9105755JSpc 1 severity (including, but limited to, severe pain) such that a 2 prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of 3 health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of 4 immediate medical attention to result in: 5 (1) placing the health of the individual (or, with 6 respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or 7 her unborn child) in serious jeopardy; 8 (2) serious impairment to bodily functions; or 9 (3) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or 10 part."Emergency" means an accidental bodily injury or11emergency medical condition which reasonably requires the12beneficiary or insured to seek immediate medical care13under circumstances or at locations which reasonably14preclude the beneficiary or insured from obtaining needed15medical care from a preferred provider.16 (Source: P.A. 88-400.) 17 (215 ILCS 5/370s new) 18 Sec. 370s. Access to Emergency Services Act. All 19 administrators shall comply with the Access to Emergency 20 Services Act. 21 (215 ILCS 5/511.118 new) 22 Sec. 511.118. Access to Emergency Services Act. All 23 administrators shall comply with the Access to Emergency 24 Services Act. 25 Section 93. The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act 26 is amended by adding Section 8.6 as follows: 27 (215 ILCS 105/8.6 new) 28 Sec. 8.6. Access to Emergency Services Act. The plan is 29 subject to the provisions of the Access to Emergency Services 30 Act. HB2187 Engrossed -11- LRB9105755JSpc 1 Section 95. The Health Maintenance Organization Act is 2 amended by adding Section 5-3.6 as follows: 3 (215 ILCS 125/5-3.6 new) 4 Sec. 5-3.6. Access to Emergency Services Act. Health 5 maintenance organizations are subject to the provisions of 6 the Access to Emergency Services Act. 7 Section 97. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 8 adding Section 5-16.12 as follows: 9 (305 ILCS 5/5-16.12 new) 10 Sec. 5-16.12. Access to Emergency Services Act. The 11 medical assistance program and other programs administered by 12 the Department are subject to the provisions of the Access to 13 Emergency Services Act. The Department may adopt rules to 14 implement those provisions. These rules shall require 15 compliance with that Act in the medical assistance managed 16 care programs and other programs administered by the 17 Department. 18 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect 19 January 1, 2000.