Federal
What’s in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (passed in the Senate on 8/7/2022) (The Hill, 8/8/22):
Health Care:
- Medicare can negotiate lower prices
- Drug costs can be capped but largely only for Medicare
- People enrolled in ACA plans get an extension on premium assistance.
H.R.8351: Formula Act. Became public law 7/21/2022. Provides duty-free treatment to infant formula through December 31, 2022.
Administration declares monkeypox a public health emergency (Roll Call, 8/4/2022)
Illinois
Several items have recently been filed or are moving through the state legislature. Here are a few of interest:
House Resolution 907 – Commends Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on utilizing Cook County’s ARPA funds to pay off the medical debts of Cook County residents in order to give those individuals some much needed debt relief. [Filed 8/1/2022]
House Bill 5779 – Amends the Reproductive Health Act. Specifies that every individual has certain fundamental rights with respect to the use of assisted reproductive technology. Prohibits the State from taking certain actions that would restrict or interfere with those rights. Defines “assisted reproductive technology”. Makes conforming changes. [Filed 8/1/2022.]
House Bill 5776 – Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. In provisions concerning written collaborative agreements, deletes a provision prohibiting a prescribing psychologist from prescribing medications to patients who are less than 17 years of age or over 65 years of age. Provides that no prescriptive authority for any Schedule II opioid shall be delegated. Provides that after the collaborating physician files a notice delegating authority to prescribe any nonnarcotic, nonopioid Schedule II through V controlled substances (rather than any nonnarcotic Schedule III through V controlled substances), the licensed clinical psychologist shall be eligible to register for a mid-level practitioner controlled substance license under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Defines “opioid”. Makes corresponding changes in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Effective immediately. [Filed 7/28/2022]
House Bill 4221 – Creates the Pregnancy Center Disclosure Act. Presents the findings of the General Assembly. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of pregnant women. Provides that a limited services pregnancy facility shall disseminate to clients on-site, and in any print and digital advertising materials, notice stating that the facility is not licensed as a medical facility by Illinois and has no licensed medical provider who provides or directly supervises the provision of services. Contains other notice requirements. Provides that the Attorney General shall bring an action to impose civil penalties of $500 for a first offense and $5,000 for each subsequent offense against a limited services pregnancy facility that fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that a private party may bring a civil action for injunctive relief to enforce the Act. Contains requirements for notice of noncompliance. Defines “limited services pregnancy facility”. Contains a severability provision. Contains other provisions. [Filed 11/16/2022; Added a co-sponsor on 7/28/2022]
Public Act 102-1053 – Creates the Ensuring a More Qualified, Competent, and Diverse Community Behavioral Health Workforce Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, to award grants or contracts to licensed community mental health centers or behavioral health clinics to establish or enhance training and supervision of interns and behavioral health providers-in-training pursuing licensure as a licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical professional counselor, and licensed marriage and family therapist. Creates the Mental Health Assessment Reform Act to remove barriers to care in the Medicaid mental health assessment and treatment planning process. Creates the Recovery and Mental Health Tax Credit Act. Requires the Department to establish and administer a recovery tax credit program to provide tax incentives to qualified employers who employ eligible individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness in part-time and full-time positions. Creates an Advisory Council to advise the Department regarding employment of persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders in minority communities. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take all necessary action to ensure that proposed modifications, additions, deletions, or amendments to the healthcare and behavioral healthcare (mental health and substance use disorder) provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code are announced, shared, disseminated, and explained prior to the Department undertaking such proposed modifications, if legally possible and subject to federal law. Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that an individual applying for licensure as a clinical social worker who has been licensed at the independent level in another jurisdiction for 5 (rather than 10) consecutive years without discipline is not required to submit proof of completion of education and supervised clinical professional experience. Makes similar changes to the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act and to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Effective immediately. [Filed 1/19/2022; Passed 6/10/2022]