Bill Text: IL SB1579 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Changes the definition of "patient". Specifies that each patient has the right to be informed of additional information. Adds a right of each patient to be treated with courtesy and respect, to have the patient's human and civil rights maintained, and to have the patient's basic human needs accommodated in a timely manner. Adds a right of each patient to have the patient's medical directives reviewed with the health care provider before any procedures are scheduled or decisions are made. Adds a right of each patient to continuity and coordination of care among and between all disciplines serving the patient's needs. Adds a right of each patient who receives services from an outside provider to be told the identity of the provider. Updates the right of each patient to privacy and confidentiality, adding that (1) the patient shall be given current information in writing concerning certain aspects of the patient's care, (2) the patient may opt out, either digitally or in writing, from certain sharing of health information, and (3) the patient shall not be denied access to care if opting out. Makes changes to provisions regarding experimental procedures. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-05-15 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB1579 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB1579-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1579 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
410 ILCS 50/2.01 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5402.01
410 ILCS 50/3 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5403
410 ILCS 50/3.1 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5403.1
Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Changes the definition of "patient". Specifies that each patient has the right to be informed of additional information. Adds a right of each patient to be treated with courtesy and respect, to have the patient's human and civil rights maintained, and to have the patient's basic human needs accommodated in a timely manner. Adds a right of each patient to have the patient's medical directives reviewed with the health care provider before any procedures are scheduled or decisions are made. Adds a right of each patient to continuity and coordination of care among and between all disciplines serving the patient's needs. Adds a right of each patient who receives services from an outside provider to be told the identity of the provider. Updates the right of each patient to privacy and confidentiality, adding that (1) the patient shall be given current information in writing concerning certain aspects of the patient's care, (2) the patient may opt out, either digitally or in writing, from certain sharing of health information, and (3) the patient shall not be denied access to care if opting out. Makes changes to provisions regarding experimental procedures. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
SB1579 LRB104 07665 BDA 17709 b
AN ACT concerning health.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Medical Patient Rights Act is amended by
changing Sections 2.01, 3 and 3.1 as follows:
(410 ILCS 50/2.01) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5402.01)
Sec. 2.01. "Patient" means any person who has received or
is receiving medical care, treatment or services from an
individual or institution licensed to provide medical care or
treatment in this State. "Patient" includes any person whose
medical care, treatment, or services received include, but are
not limited to, medical care, treatment, or services for the
purpose of diagnosis or treatment bearing on the physical or
mental health of the person, whether as an inpatient or an
outpatient. "Patient" includes any person receiving medical
and related services provided in the person's residence to
support the person's health and well-being.
(Source: P.A. 81-1167.)
(410 ILCS 50/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5403)
Sec. 3. The following rights are hereby established:
(a) The right of each patient to care consistent with
sound nursing and medical practices, to be informed of the

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name, specialty, and contact information of the physician
responsible for coordinating his or her care, to be
informed of how to reach the facility administrator,
outside advocate, interpreter, and legal services, to
receive information concerning his or her condition and
proposed treatment, to refuse any treatment to the extent
permitted by law, and to privacy and confidentiality of
records except as otherwise provided by law. Current
facilities policies, inspection findings of State and
local health authorities, and further explanation of the
written statement of rights shall be available to
patients, their guardians, or their chosen representatives
in their preferred language upon reasonable request to the
administrator or other designated staff person consistent
with Illinois law.
(a-5) The right of each patient to be treated with
courtesy and respect for the patient's individuality by
employees or persons providing medical services or care
and to have the patient's human and civil rights
maintained in all aspects of medical care. Such employees
and persons shall have up-to-date certification,
licensure, and training under Illinois law. In accordance
with 42 CFR 483.10, patients shall have their basic human
needs, including, but not limited to, water, food,
medication, toileting, and personal hygiene, accommodated
in a timely manner.

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(a-10) The right of each patient to have the patient's
medical directives reviewed with the health care provider
before any procedures are scheduled or decisions are made.
(a-15) The right of each patient to continuity and
coordination of care among and between all disciplines
serving the patient's medical diagnoses and needs.
(a-20) The right of each patient who receives services
from an outside provider to, upon request, be told the
identity of the provider. Disclosed information shall
include the name of the outside provider, the address, and
a description of the service which may be rendered. In
cases where it is medically advisable, as documented by
the attending physician in a patient's care record, the
information shall be given to the patient's guardian or
other person designated by the patient as the patient's
representative.
(b) The right of each patient, regardless of source of
payment, to examine and receive a reasonable explanation
of his total bill for services rendered by his physician
or health care provider, including the itemized charges
for specific services received. Each physician or health
care provider shall be responsible only for a reasonable
explanation of those specific services provided by such
physician or health care provider.
(c) In the event an insurance company or health
services corporation cancels or refuses to renew an

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individual policy or plan, the insured patient shall be
entitled to timely, prior notice of the termination of
such policy or plan.
An insurance company or health services corporation
that requires any insured patient or applicant for new or
continued insurance or coverage to be tested for infection
with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other
identified causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) shall (1) give the patient or applicant
prior written notice of such requirement, (2) proceed with
such testing only upon the written authorization of the
applicant or patient, and (3) keep the results of such
testing confidential. Notice of an adverse underwriting or
coverage decision may be given to any appropriately
interested party, but the insurer may only disclose the
test result itself to a physician designated by the
applicant or patient, and any such disclosure shall be in
a manner that assures confidentiality.
The Department of Insurance shall enforce the
provisions of this subsection.
(d) The right of each patient to privacy and
confidentiality in health care. Each physician, health
care provider, health services corporation and insurance
company shall provide current information concerning the
patient's diagnosis, treatment, alternatives, risks, and
prognosis in writing to the patient or the patient's legal

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designee upon request and shall refrain from disclosing
the nature or details of services provided to patients,
except that such information may be disclosed: (1) to the
patient, (2) to the party making treatment decisions if
the patient is incapable of making decisions regarding the
health services provided, (3) for treatment in accordance
with 45 CFR 164.501 and 164.506, (4) for payment in
accordance with 45 CFR 164.501 and 164.506, (5) to those
parties responsible for peer review, utilization review,
and quality assurance, (6) for health care operations in
accordance with 45 CFR 164.501 and 164.506, (7) to those
parties required to be notified under the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act or the Illinois Sexually
Transmitted Infection Control Act, or (8) as otherwise
permitted, authorized, or required by State or federal
law. This right may be waived in writing by the patient or
the patient's guardian or legal representative, but a
physician or other health care provider may not condition
the provision of services on the patient's, guardian's, or
legal representative's agreement to sign such a waiver. In
the interest of public health, safety, and welfare,
patient information, including, but not limited to, health
information, demographic information, and information
about the services provided to patients, may be
transmitted to or through a health information exchange,
as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Mental Health

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and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, in
accordance with the disclosures permitted pursuant to this
Section. Patients shall be provided the opportunity to opt
out, either digitally or in writing, of their health
information being transmitted to or through a health
information exchange in accordance with Section 9.6 of the
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Confidentiality Act, Section 9.6 of the AIDS
Confidentiality Act, or Section 31.8 of the Genetic
Information Privacy Act, as applicable. Patients shall not
be denied access to care if they choose to opt out of the
sharing of such information. In the case of a patient
choosing to opt out of having his or her information
available on an HIE, nothing in this Act shall cause the
physician or health care provider to be liable for the
release of a patient's health information by other
entities that may possess such information, including, but
not limited to, other health professionals, providers,
laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgical
centers, and nursing homes.
(Source: P.A. 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)
(410 ILCS 50/3.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5403.1)
Sec. 3.1. (a) Any patient who is the subject of a research
program or an experimental procedure, as defined under the
rules and regulations of the Hospital Licensing Act, shall

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have, at a minimum, the right to receive an explanation both in
spoken and written words of the nature and possible
consequences of such research or experiment before the
research or experiment is scheduled or conducted, and to
consent to or reject it.
(b) No physician or other provider may conduct any
research program or experimental procedure on a patient
without the prior informed consent of the patient in writing
or, if the patient is unable to consent, the patient's
guardian, spouse, parent, or authorized agent. Both the
consent and the refusal shall be documented in the
individual's care record.
(c) This Section shall not apply to any research program
or medical experimental procedure for patients subject to a
life-threatening emergency that is conducted in accordance
with Part 50 of Title 21 of, and Part 46 of Title 45 of, the
Code of Federal Regulations.
(Source: P.A. 90-36, eff. 6-27-97.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.