State Rep. Anna Moeller – Spring Newsletter

Rep. Moeller Bills Moving Forward

Healthcare Protection Act

The Healthcare Protection Act (HB 5395) is an initiative of the Pritzker Administration and was passed out of committee two weeks ago. This bill seeks to reform the healthcare system in Illinois by prioritizing patient care over profits for insurance companies.  The legislation takes a multi-tiered approach to prioritizing patient care over insurance company profits:

UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT
Insurance companies cut their costs by denying and delaying access to patients’ necessary medical treatment. The legislation: 

• Requires insurers to use generally accepted care standards when deciding whether treatments recommended by a doctor will be covered
• Bans prior authorization for mental health treatment of in-patient care in hospital settings. Prior authorization requires consumers to get insurance permission before receiving treatment their doctor has prescribed
• Prevents delays in proper treatment from step therapy, where patients must first try less-effective – and less costly – treatments before they can get the treatment their doctor recommends
• Requires insurers to publicly disclose treatments requiring prior authorization
• Stops insurers from using “junk” plans that don’t cover basic ACA-required treatments, such as maternal health and pre-existing conditions

• Requires insurers to internal audits every 90 days to ensure their directories reflect the health care available to patients in those networks
• Directs health care providers to inform insurers timely when they’re no longer accepting patients

• Requires the Illinois Department of Insurance to approve any rate hikes on consumers
• Prevents premiums from being out of line with the actual cost of providing the insurance coverage

Preventing Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decisions

HB 4867 aims to prohibit discrimination on the basis of an individual’s reproductive health decisions. The bill would protect all individuals in Illinois from discrimination in employment, housing or public accommodation based on contraceptive use, fertility or sterilization care, miscarriage management care, healthcare related to the continuation or termination of pregnancy, as well as prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care.

Improving Access to Senior Services Through the Creation of a Caregiver Information Portal

The Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource Portal Act (HB 4677) creates a “one-stop shop” for all the of resources Illinois’ caregivers may need, providing greater and more streamlined access to state, federal, nonprofit, and professional caregiving information. The deadline to move this bill out of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee was extended to May 24th.

Protecting Illinois’ Wetlands

The Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act (HB5386) aims to provide Illinois’ streams, ponds, and wetlands with the protections formerly provided under the federal Clean Water Act. Wetlands are important in protecting our drinking water, preventing catastrophic flooding and sustaining native bird and other species.

Banning Inhumane and Harmful Killing Contests

HB 2900 amends the Wildlife Code to ban contests with the objective to kill fur-bearing mammals for cash or other prizes in the State of Illinois. Competitive hunts contribute to the decimation of  animal populations within a given area, causing significant damage to an ecosystem. 

Assisting Law Enforcement with Fentanyl-Overdose  Reporting 

HB 4942 requires County Coroners to report deaths linked to fentanyl  overdoses to local law enforcement agencies within 24 hours of receiving a toxicology report so that law enforcement may properly investigate  these incidents. 

Reducing Costs to Renters

HB 4926 amends the Landlord Tenant Act to prohibit a landlord from charging an application screening fee should an applicant provide a recent and properly prepared screening report by a third party credit rating agency.

In the Community

Road Work Update: Illinois 31 over U.S. 20 bridge work began April 1

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced last week that a project to replace the bridge carrying Illinois 31 (State Street) over U.S. 20 in Elgin would begin, weather permitting, Monday, April 1. To complete the work, Illinois 31 will be reduced from two to one lane in both directions, between Dana Drive and Oak Street. U.S. 20 will also be reduced to one lane in each direction, between Grace Street and McLean Boulevard. Additionally, motorists should also expect various lane shifts on Illinois 31 and on U.S. 20 approaching the bridge, along with various overnight lane closures on U.S. 20 at the bridge during that time.
 
Access to local residences and businesses will be maintained throughout construction.
 
The $19 million project consists of replacing the existing bridge with a new wider structure, widening the existing interchange ramps, installing new LED lighting and modernize traffic signals and constructing new sidewalks with ADA-compliant ramps and curbs.
 
The project is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026.