CHICAGO, Ill. (WIFR) – A bill designed to cut some of the red tape in health care becomes law in Illinois.
On July 10, Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Healthcare Protection Act after it was originally proposed earlier this year.
The Healthcare Protection Act or HPA bans step therapy, which is a tactic used by insurance companies to require patients to try less expensive treatment options before they can get the care recommended by their doctor. The law also bans prior authorization for urgent mental health care and requires insurance companies to be transparent about authorization requirements for coverage to ensure patients can find in-network care in their area.
“With the signing of these bills, we’re putting power back into the hands of patients and their doctors and out of the grasps of predatory insurance companies who prioritize profits over patient outcomes,” Pritzker said. “Accessing care shouldn’t require endless bureaucracy and navigation, especially when someone is at their most vulnerable, and this legislation will make care more affordable and accessible for millions of Illinoisans.”
In 2023, unfair rate increases were banned for individual policy holders and small group insurance. Under the HPA, large group insurance providers are included in that regulation. Any junk insurance plans that fail to meet the Affordable Care Act standards are also banned by the HPA.
For more information about the HPA, visit the Illinois General Assembly’s website.
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