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Government Affairs
August 2021 Update
by Christopher W. Crank, PharmD, MS, BCPS; ICHP Executive Vice President
Many bills related to healthcare were proposed in Illinois in 2021. At one point, ICHP and the Division of Government Affairs were following over 100 bills. The dust has settled for the most part, and the bill summary included below lists the status of key pieces of legislation that moved as of 6/17/2021. All of the bills summarized below have passed both chambers and are awaiting the Governor’s signature to become law. A complete list of the bills with updates is available online at www.ichpnet.org/pharmacy_practice/advocacy/.
HB 119: Numerous sponsors - Creates the Prescription Drug Repository Program Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to, by rule, establish a prescription drug repository program, under which any person may donate a prescription drug or supplies needed to administer a prescription drug to be used by an individual who meets eligibility criteria specified by the Department.
HB 135: Michelle Mussman, Deb Conroy, Lindsey LaPointe, and Suzanne Ness - Provides that the definition of "practice of pharmacy" includes the dispensing of hormonal contraceptives pursuant to the standing order under provisions of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the medical assistance program to cover patient care services provided by a pharmacist for hormonal contraceptives assessment and consultation. Effective January 1, 2023.
HB 711: Numerous sponsors - Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review organization, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions.
HB 2589: Deb Conroy - Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that a health care professional or other person acting under the direction of a health care professional may store and, without generating or affixing a patient-specific label, dispense an opioid antagonist to a patient in a hospital, hospital affiliate, or ambulatory treatment center if certain pertinent information is provided to the patient.
HB 3596: Dagmara Avelar - Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a prescription for a substance in Schedule II, III, IV, or V must be sent electronically, in accordance with provisions regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program.
SB 579: Laura Fine - Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act, the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, the Hospital Licensing Act, and the Pharmacy Practice Act. Requires hospitals and facilities to offer a patient any unused portion of a facility-provided medication upon discharge when it is administered to a patient at the hospital or facility and is required for continuing treatment.
SB 2172: Neil Anderson - Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Pharmacy Practice Act from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2030. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2022), it shall be the joint responsibility of a pharmacy and its pharmacist in charge to ensure that all new pharmacy technicians are educated and trained using a standard nationally accredited education and training program. Makes a corresponding change in provisions concerning the qualifications for licensure of a registered certified pharmacy technician.
