Bill Text: IL HB1030 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by garnishing wages, seizing moneys from tax returns, or pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure on the patient's home. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than the patient. Provides that the hospital, and not the patient, is responsible for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-10 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1030 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB1030-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1030 Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
210 ILCS 88/35
Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by garnishing wages, seizing moneys from tax returns, or pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure on the patient's home. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than the patient. Provides that the hospital, and not the patient, is responsible for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance programs, the medical assistance program established under the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program.
LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b
A BILL FOR
HB1030 LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Fair Patient Billing Act is amended by
changing Section 35 as follows:
(210 ILCS 88/35)
Sec. 35. Collection limitations.
(a) The hospital shall not pursue legal action for
non-payment of a hospital bill against uninsured patients who
have clearly demonstrated that they have neither sufficient
income nor assets to meet their financial obligations provided
the patient has complied with Section 45 of this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
a hospital or a hospital's agent may not aggressively pursue
debt collection for non-payment of a hospital bill against a
patient with an annual household income of $51,000 or less by:
(1) garnishing wages;
(2) seizing moneys from tax returns; or
(3) pursuing an action that may result in foreclosure
on the patient's home.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
a hospital, whenever possible and after reviewing a patient's
eligibility, shall charge as much as possible of the patient's

HB1030 - 2 - LRB103 04884 CPF 49894 b
hospital bill to insurers, public assistance programs, the
medical assistance program established under Article V of the
Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare program rather than
the patient. The hospital, and not the patient, is responsible
for seeking reimbursement from insurers, public assistance
programs, the medical assistance program established under
Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, or the Medicare
program under this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)