* SJ-R…

Healthcare insurers could face more stringent regulations and severe fines through legislation advancing in the Illinois General Assembly.

The state’s Network Adequacy and Transparency Act requires insurers to keep an up-to-date provider directory, listing healthcare professionals that are in-network for its customers. However, these directories sometimes list providers no longer taking new patients, who have moved or are no longer in practice creating what are called “ghost networks.”

Legislation pushed by Gov. JB Pritzker would buttress the 2017 law by ensuring provider-per-patient ratios, maximum travel time and distance and appointment wait time standards adhere to federal law. More severe penalties would also be levied for issuers not adhering to the law. […]

The language of Pritzker’s proposal is listed in House Bill 5395, which advanced out of a House committee Thursday. It will return with further amendments before a full floor vote.

* WAND…

The legislation could also crack down on ghost networks by forcing insurance companies to follow strict network adequacy and transparency standards. House Bill 5395 states that insurers would need to complete internal audits every 90 days to ensure their directories reflect the healthcare available to patients in those networks. […]

“It’s not just making sure that rates aren’t too high,” said Emily Miller, Senior Policy and Legislative Affairs Advisor for the Pritzker administration. “It’s also making sure that rates aren’t too low. You don’t want to have a situation where an insurer goes under and then people don’t have the coverage that they signed up for. So, that is also a reason to do it.” […]

The Illinois Life & Health Insurance Council currently opposes the bill language. While President Laura Minzer said she appreciated that Moeller and Miller will continue to negotiate changes, she stressed that the plan could lead to higher insurance costs and reduced access to medical care.

* Tribune…

Illinois lawmakers are considering two bills aimed at blocking children and teenagers from obtaining and concealing electronic cigarettes.

One bill would ban e-cigarettes that are designed to look like objects commonly carried by schoolchildren, such as highlighters and markers, and therefore not spotted for what they actually are by adults. […]

A second bill would prohibit e-cigarettes from being purchased remotely by anyone other than a distributor or seller.

Both bills passed out of the Senate executive committee earlier this month and are awaiting a vote by the full chamber.

* Center Square…

[Sen. Julie Morrison] said educators have complained to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services about finding e-cigarettes on school property that are designed to look like school supplies such as highlighters and pencil sharpeners.

“This measure will prohibit tobacco companies from pulling the wool over the eyes of the adults whose job it is to keep our children safe,” said Morrison. […]

Elizabeth Hicks, spokesperson with the Consumer Choice Center, said continued restrictions on vaping may prompt some smokers back to regular cigarettes.

“If consumers are pushed back towards smoking combustible tobacco, then taxpayers could end up footing an even higher bill,” said Hicks.

* WAND…

Senate Democratic staff explained Morrison’s plan would be enforced by the Illinois Department of Revenue, Attorney General and local law enforcement. […]

“It’s important for us to continue to put guardrails in place to prevent kids from easily getting and accessing vapes and e-cigarettes,” said Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have to do what we can to protect our youth from this high risk to their health.” […]

This change could be enforced by the Department of Revenue and law enforcement.

Both bills have passed unanimously out of the Senate Executive Committee and await votes on the Senate floor.

* SJ-R…

The End-of-Life Options Act, contained in Senate Bill 3499, creates an option for terminally ill patients to request and take medication that would allow them to end their lives in a peaceful manner. Those who have the “right-to-die” would specifically apply to patients older than 18 with an irreversible illness and have six months left to live and make an oral and written statement on the decision.

Once a patient makes this request then the attending physician must inform the patient of all of their other options including hospice and palliative care before going through the process. It is also written in the bill that a healthcare professional cannot be held liable for prescribing or refusing the treatment. […]

For bill sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, her dad was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was a teenager. Only 49, the disease “macerated” him over the course of three months before his death, according to Holmes. […]

The bill is currently still sitting in a Senate subcommittee.

* Sen. Rachel Ventura…

State Senator Rachel Ventura, along with several mental health advocates and professionals, spoke to the Senate Executive Committee to outline their support of legalizing psilocybin, commonly known as “magic mushrooms” during a subject matter hearing.

“With today’s subject matter hearing we heard from numerous advocates and medical professionals detailing their own struggles with the current lack of effective treatments available. Psilocybin has so much potential to help Illinoisans from any walk of life,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “My aspiration is for plant medicines to shed its stigma and be recognized for its safe and beneficial qualities. The CURE Act is dedicated to bringing relief to those suffering with mental illnesses, PTSD, substance abuse and more and offers a real-life changing solution to the mental health epidemic our state is suffering from.”

Senate Bill 3695 known as the CURE Act – or the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act – aims to tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it facilitates research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

“Law Enforcement Action Partnership recognizes this bill as nothing short of life saving. Providing a proven means for people to work through their traumas and live happier, healthier, and more productive lives,” said Dave Franco, retired police officer and speaker for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. “The benefits for mental and behavioral health can also have a sizable impact on community and public safety.”

An estimated 6.8% of Americans will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Preliminary research of psychedelic programs by King’s College in London suggests that over 80% of veterans experience significant improvement after participating in just one psychedelic program. […]

Under Senate Bill 3695, psychedelic therapies would be administered in controlled, supervised settings to ensure safety and treatment effectiveness. Retail sales of these medicines would be prohibited and could only be used under supervision at designated service centers.

“Psilocybin and other psychedelic medicines have demonstrated the potential to allow people to deeply process trauma and grief and heal from anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders,” said Katie Sullivan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C and co-founder of Modern Compassionate Care. “The CURE Act was crafted with the input of healthcare providers and advocates to provide a framework to deliver this breakthrough therapeutic option safely and ethically, while centering the needs of patients and our communities. My hope is that our legislators will consider this a vote of conscience and allow our citizens access to this life-changing treatment.”

The bill would also establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board under the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation which would create a training program, ethical standards, and licensing requirements. […]

Ventura looks forward to continuing conversations with colleagues, advocates and stakeholders with the goal of moving this historic legislation forward.

* WAND…

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) told reporters Thursday that she wants Illinois families with children between the ages of 3 and 5 who attend preschool programs to receive an early childhood education tax credit of up to $1,500 per child.

“While there are various credits to help parents cover costs for K-12 students, there is nothing for parents of pre-K aged students,” Rezin said. “It’s a significant gap in the support we provide to parents.”

Senate Republicans are also calling for a tax credit to help families paying for childcare services. Qualifying families would receive a state tax credit equal to 25% of the current federal childcare tax credit for each of their children.

Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said she hopes her plan will gain bipartisan support to help many Illinoisans struggling to keep up with the state’s high cost of living. Tracy noted that the tax credit of up to $500 per child could also help more people get back to work.

* Rep. Jed Davis…

Yesterday, House Bill 5434, filed by State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville), passed the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee with a vote of 15-0.

“Yesterday’s committee passage of House Bill 5434 was a huge win for children across Illinois,” said Rep. Davis. “This bill will protect kids by ensuring no student falls through the cracks of our education system.”

House Bill 5434 will require schools to await official documentation of a student enrolling at another school before releasing them from their roster. This requirement will ensure continuity of education and also deter kids from disappearing into horrific situations like trafficking.

Rep. Davis continued, “Right now, schools can take the word of a parent or guardian when removing kids from their roster. This bill will hold everyone accountable to these students, ensuring no child is left behind. I want to thank Plano Community Unit School District 88 Assistant Principal Faith Skinner, who brought this initiative to me. I look forward to seeing this bill receive bipartisan support on the House floor.”

This bill is one of five bills included in the Protecting Kids legislative package filed by Representative Davis.