IAFP Legislative Tracking

IAFP prepares for a range of advocacy issues in each legislative session, from scope of practice to tobacco cessation. Click here for an overview of this IAFP advocacy, and see below for legislative and regulatory initiatives being tracked.

Active Priority Legislative Actions Tracked by IAFP

(week of March 10th committee report forthcoming)

Recent History of Administrative Actions & Legislative Initiatives

Comprehensive Healthcare Reform

(Public Act 102-4)

Support

Creates comprehensive additions and changes to healthcare related statutes with numerous areas of focus, including:


Comment: contains part of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus 2020-21 healthcare package, see IAFP's full bill review; amendments were monitored regarding implicit bias, hospital closings, behavioral health workforce, consistency with the Synchronicity Report showcasing the Mental Health Collaborative Care Model, FQHC promotion to include family physicians, and dementia training for non-physicians

Prior Authorization Reform

(Public Act 102-409)

Support

Prior authorization reform legislation, as introduced, seeks to accomplish the following:

Comment: legislative activity to be coordinated with the Illinois State Medical Society; click here for Your Care Can't Wait coalition information; click here for the 2020 IAFP position statement, click here for the 2020 coalition position statement, and click here for AAFP Guidance; see companion SB158 & SB177; refiling of HB5510 & SB3822 from 101st GA (note: 2020 positions statements to be converted to 2021 references)

Telehealth Legislation

(Public Act 102-104)

Support

In 2021, the Illinois legislature codified some aspects of the Governor's 2020 telehealth executive order. While Public Act 102-104 recognizes telehealth as a modality for delivering otherwise in-person healthcare services, there will still be more work necessary to (1) justify telehealth costs for those seeking payment parity from private carriers and (2) preserve Medicaid telehealth payment parity beyond the current pandemic related administrative rules. More specifically, the legislation, effective July 22, 2021:

Healthcare Affordability & Feasability Study

(Public Act 101-649)

Support

"The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in consultation with the Department of Insurance, shall oversee a feasibility study to explore options to make health insurance more affordable for low-income and middle-income residents. The study shall include policies targeted at increasing health care affordability and access, including policies being discussed in other states and nationally. The study shall follow the best practices of other states and include an Illinois-specific actuarial and economic analysis of demographic and market dynamics."

Comment: click here for IAFP's feasibility study submission and click here for DHFS-IDOI response

Underserved Physician Workforce Act

(Public Act 101-118)

Support

Creates the Act to the Underserved Physician Workforce Act. Provides that the Act applies to primary care physicians, general surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, or obstetricians (rather than primary care physicians and other eligible primary care providers). Defines "primary care physician". Makes conforming and other changes, including amending the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, Nurses in Advancement Law, Private Medical Scholarship Agreement Act, and Illinois Public Aid Code.

Comment: click here for related information regarding Illinois Family Medicine Residency Programs; click here for IAFP's administrative rules submission.