2017 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 410 - PUBLIC HEALTH
410 ILCS 70/ - Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act.
(410 ILCS 70/1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-1)
Sec. 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act".
(Source: P.A. 85-577.)
(410 ILCS 70/1a) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-1a)
Sec. 1a. Definitions. In this Act:
"Ambulance provider" means an individual or entity that owns and operates a business or service using ambulances or emergency medical services vehicles to transport emergency patients.
"Areawide sexual assault treatment plan" means a plan, developed by the hospitals in the community or area to be served, which provides for hospital emergency services to sexual assault survivors that shall be made available by each of the participating hospitals.
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Emergency contraception" means medication as approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after sexual assault.
"Follow-up healthcare" means healthcare services related to a sexual assault, including laboratory services and pharmacy services, rendered within 90 days of the initial visit for hospital emergency services.
"Forensic services" means the collection of evidence pursuant to a statewide sexual assault evidence collection program administered by the Department of State Police, using the Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit.
"Health care professional" means a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse.
"Hospital" has the meaning given to that term in the Hospital Licensing Act.
"Hospital emergency services" means healthcare delivered to outpatients within or under the care and supervision of personnel working in a designated emergency department of a hospital, including, but not limited to, care ordered by such personnel for a sexual assault survivor in the emergency department.
"Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit" means a prepackaged set of materials and forms to be used for the collection of evidence relating to sexual assault. The standardized evidence collection kit for the State of Illinois shall be the Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit.
"Law enforcement agency having jurisdiction" means the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where an alleged sexual assault or sexual abuse occurred.
"Nurse" means a nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act.
"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in all its branches.
"Sexual assault" means an act of nonconsensual sexual conduct or sexual penetration, as defined in Section 11-0.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012, including, without limitation, acts prohibited under Sections 11-1.20 through 11-1.60 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Sexual assault survivor" means a person who presents for hospital emergency services in relation to injuries or trauma resulting from a sexual assault.
"Sexual assault transfer plan" means a written plan developed by a hospital and approved by the Department, which describes the hospital's procedures for transferring sexual assault survivors to another hospital in order to receive emergency treatment.
"Sexual assault treatment plan" means a written plan developed by a hospital that describes the hospital's procedures and protocols for providing hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors who present themselves for such services, either directly or through transfer from another hospital.
"Transfer services" means the appropriate medical screening examination and necessary stabilizing treatment prior to the transfer of a sexual assault survivor to a hospital that provides hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors pursuant to a sexual assault treatment plan or areawide sexual assault treatment plan.
"Voucher" means a document generated by a hospital at the time the sexual assault survivor receives hospital emergency and forensic services that a sexual assault survivor may present to providers for follow-up healthcare.
(Source: P.A. 99-454, eff. 1-1-16; 99-801, eff. 1-1-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
(410 ILCS 70/2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-2)
Sec. 2. Hospital requirements. Every hospital required to be licensed by the Department pursuant to the Hospital Licensing Act, approved July 1, 1953, as now or hereafter amended, which provides general medical and surgical hospital services shall provide either (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Department, to all sexual assault survivors who apply for either (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services in relation to injuries or trauma resulting from the sexual assault.
In addition, every such hospital, regardless of whether or not a request is made for reimbursement, shall submit to the Department a plan to provide either (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors. Such plan shall be submitted within 60 days after receipt of the Department's request for this plan, to the Department for approval prior to such plan becoming effective. The Department shall approve such plan for either (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors if it finds that the implementation of the proposed plan would provide adequate (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services for sexual assault survivors and provide sufficient protections from the risk of pregnancy to sexual assault survivors.
The Department shall periodically conduct on site reviews of such approved plans with hospital personnel to insure that the established procedures are being followed.
On January 1, 2007, and each January 1 thereafter, the Department shall submit a report to the General Assembly containing information on the hospitals in this State that have submitted a plan to provide either (i) transfer services or (ii) hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors. The Department shall post on its Internet website the report required in this Section. The report shall include all of the following:
(1) A list of all hospitals that have submitted a
plan.
(2) A list of hospitals whose plans have been found
by the Department to be in compliance with this Act.
(3) A list of hospitals that have failed to submit an
acceptable Plan of Correction within the time required by Section 2.1 of this Act.
(4) A list of hospitals at which the periodic site
review required by this Act has been conducted.
When a hospital listed as noncompliant under item (3) of this Section submits and implements the required Plan of Correction, the Department shall immediately update the report on its Internet website to reflect that hospital's compliance.
(Source: P.A. 94-762, eff. 5-12-06; 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/2.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-2.1)
Sec. 2.1. Plan of correction; penalties. If the Department surveyor determines that the hospital is not in compliance with its approved plan, the surveyor shall provide the hospital with a written list of the specific items of noncompliance within 10 working days after the conclusion of the on site review. The hospital shall have 10 working days to submit to the Department a plan of correction which contains the hospital's specific proposals for correcting the items of noncompliance. The Department shall review the plan of correction and notify the hospital in writing within 10 working days as to whether the plan is acceptable or unacceptable.
If the Department finds the Plan of Correction unacceptable, the hospital shall have 10 working days to resubmit an acceptable Plan of Correction. Upon notification that its Plan of Correction is acceptable, a hospital shall implement the Plan of Correction within 60 days.
The failure to submit an acceptable Plan of Correction or to implement the Plan of Correction, within the time frames required in this Section, will subject a hospital to the imposition of a fine by the Department. The Department may impose a fine of up to $500 per day until a hospital complies with the requirements of this Section.
Before imposing a fine pursuant to this Section, the Department shall provide the hospital via certified mail with written notice and an opportunity for an administrative hearing. Such hearing must be requested within 10 working days after receipt of the Department's Notice. All hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Department's rules in administrative hearings.
(Source: P.A. 94-762, eff. 5-12-06; 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/2.2)
Sec. 2.2. Emergency contraception.
(a) The General Assembly finds:
(1) Crimes of sexual assault and sexual abuse cause
significant physical, emotional, and psychological trauma to the victims. This trauma is compounded by a victim's fear of becoming pregnant and bearing a child as a result of the sexual assault.
(2) Each year over 32,000 women become pregnant in
the United States as the result of rape and approximately 50% of these pregnancies end in abortion.
(3) As approved for use by the Federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), emergency contraception can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after the sexual assault.
(4) By providing emergency contraception to rape
victims in a timely manner, the trauma of rape can be significantly reduced.
(b) Within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, every hospital providing services to sexual assault survivors in accordance with a plan approved under Section 2 must develop a protocol that ensures that each survivor of sexual assault will receive medically and factually accurate and written and oral information about emergency contraception; the indications and counter-indications and risks associated with the use of emergency contraception; and a description of how and when victims may be provided emergency contraception upon the written order of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant. The Department shall approve the protocol if it finds that the implementation of the protocol would provide sufficient protection for survivors of sexual assault.
The hospital shall implement the protocol upon approval by the Department. The Department shall adopt rules and regulations establishing one or more safe harbor protocols and setting minimum acceptable protocol standards that hospitals may develop and implement. The Department shall approve any protocol that meets those standards. The Department may provide a sample acceptable protocol upon request.
(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
(410 ILCS 70/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-3)
Sec. 3. Areawide sexual assault treatment plans; submission. Hospitals in the area to be served may develop and participate in areawide plans that shall describe the hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors that each participating hospital has agreed to make available. Each hospital participating in such a plan shall provide such services as it is designated to provide in the plan agreed upon by the participants. Areawide plans may include hospital transfer plans. All areawide plans shall be submitted to the Department for approval, prior to becoming effective. The Department shall approve a proposed plan if it finds that the implementation of the plan would provide for appropriate hospital emergency services and forensic services for the people of the area to be served.
(Source: P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/4)
Sec. 4. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-587, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed by P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-5)
Sec. 5. Minimum requirements for hospitals providing hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors.
(a) Every hospital providing hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors under this Act shall, as minimum requirements for such services, provide, with the consent of the sexual assault survivor, and as ordered by the attending physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant, the following:
(1) appropriate medical examinations and laboratory
tests required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of a sexual assault survivor or which may be used as evidence in a criminal proceeding against a person accused of the sexual assault, or both; and records of the results of such examinations and tests shall be maintained by the hospital and made available to law enforcement officials upon the request of the sexual assault survivor;
(2) appropriate oral and written information
concerning the possibility of infection, sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy resulting from sexual assault;
(3) appropriate oral and written information
concerning accepted medical procedures, medication, and possible contraindications of such medication available for the prevention or treatment of infection or disease resulting from sexual assault;
(4) an amount of medication for treatment at the
hospital and after discharge as is deemed appropriate by the attending physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant and consistent with the hospital's current approved protocol for sexual assault survivors;
(5) an evaluation of the sexual assault survivor's
risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the sexual assault;
(6) written and oral instructions indicating the need
for follow-up examinations and laboratory tests after the sexual assault to determine the presence or absence of sexually transmitted disease;
(7) referral by hospital personnel for appropriate
counseling; and
(8) when HIV prophylaxis is deemed appropriate, an
initial dose or doses of HIV prophylaxis, along with written and oral instructions indicating the importance of timely follow-up healthcare.
(b) Any person who is a sexual assault survivor who seeks emergency hospital services and forensic services or follow-up healthcare under this Act shall be provided such services without the consent of any parent, guardian, custodian, surrogate, or agent.
(b-5) Every treating hospital providing hospital emergency and forensic services to sexual assault survivors shall issue a voucher to any sexual assault survivor who is eligible to receive one. The hospital shall make a copy of the voucher and place it in the medical record of the sexual assault survivor. The hospital shall provide a copy of the voucher to the sexual assault survivor after discharge upon request.
(c) Nothing in this Section creates a physician-patient relationship that extends beyond discharge from the hospital emergency department.
(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 99-454, eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
(410 ILCS 70/5.5)
Sec. 5.5. Minimum reimbursement requirements for follow-up healthcare.
(a) Every hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy that provides follow-up healthcare to a sexual assault survivor, with the consent of the sexual assault survivor and as ordered by the attending physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant shall be reimbursed for the follow-up healthcare services provided. Follow-up healthcare services include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) a physical examination;
(2) laboratory tests to determine the presence or
absence of sexually transmitted disease; and
(3) appropriate medications, including HIV
prophylaxis.
(b) Reimbursable follow-up healthcare is limited to office visits with a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant within 90 days after an initial visit for hospital emergency services.
(c) Nothing in this Section requires a hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy to provide follow-up healthcare to a sexual assault survivor.
(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
(410 ILCS 70/6)
Sec. 6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.1)
Sec. 6.1. Minimum standards. The Department shall prescribe minimum standards, rules, and regulations necessary to implement this Act, which shall apply to every hospital required to be licensed by the Department that provides general medical and surgical hospital services. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to, a uniform system for recording results of medical examinations and all diagnostic tests performed in connection therewith to determine the condition and necessary treatment of sexual assault survivors, which results shall be preserved in a confidential manner as part of the hospital record of the sexual assault survivor.
(Source: P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.2)
Sec. 6.2. Assistance and grants. The Department shall assist in the development and operation of programs which provide hospital emergency services and forensic services to sexual assault survivors, and, where necessary, to provide grants to hospitals for this purpose.
(Source: P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.3)
Sec. 6.3. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-577. Repealed by P.A. 95-432, eff. 1-1-08.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-6.4)
Sec. 6.4. Sexual assault evidence collection program.
(a) There is created a statewide sexual assault evidence collection program to facilitate the prosecution of persons accused of sexual assault. This program shall be administered by the Illinois State Police. The program shall consist of the following: (1) distribution of sexual assault evidence collection kits which have been approved by the Illinois State Police to hospitals that request them, or arranging for such distribution by the manufacturer of the kits, (2) collection of the kits from hospitals after the kits have been used to collect evidence, (3) analysis of the collected evidence and conducting of laboratory tests, (4) maintaining the chain of custody and safekeeping of the evidence for use in a legal proceeding, and (5) the comparison of the collected evidence with the genetic marker grouping analysis information maintained by the Department of State Police under Section 5-4-3 of the Unified Code of Corrections and with the information contained in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National DNA database; provided the amount and quality of genetic marker grouping results obtained from the evidence in the sexual assault case meets the requirements of both the Department of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) policies. The standardized evidence collection kit for the State of Illinois shall be the Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Kit and shall include a written consent form authorizing law enforcement to test the sexual assault evidence and to provide law enforcement with details of the sexual assault.
(a-5) (Blank).
(b) The Illinois State Police shall administer a program to train hospitals and hospital personnel participating in the sexual assault evidence collection program, in the correct use and application of the sexual assault evidence collection kits. A sexual assault nurse examiner may conduct examinations using the sexual assault evidence collection kits, without the presence or participation of a physician. The Department shall cooperate with the Illinois State Police in this program as it pertains to medical aspects of the evidence collection.
(c) In this Section, "sexual assault nurse examiner" means a registered nurse who has completed a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training program that meets the Forensic Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Education Guidelines established by the International Association of Forensic Nurses.
(Source: P.A. 99-801, eff. 1-1-17.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.5)
Sec. 6.5. Written consent to the release of sexual assault evidence for testing.
(a) Upon the completion of hospital emergency services and forensic services, the health care professional providing the forensic services shall provide the patient the opportunity to sign a written consent to allow law enforcement to submit the sexual assault evidence for testing. The written consent shall be on a form included in the sexual assault evidence collection kit and shall include whether the survivor consents to the release of information about the sexual assault to law enforcement.
(1) A survivor 13 years of age or older may sign the
written consent to release the evidence for testing.
(2) If the survivor is a minor who is under 13 years
of age, the written consent to release the sexual assault evidence for testing may be signed by the parent, guardian, investigating law enforcement officer, or Department of Children and Family Services.
(3) If the survivor is an adult who has a guardian of
the person, a health care surrogate, or an agent acting under a health care power of attorney, the consent of the guardian, surrogate, or agent is not required to release evidence and information concerning the sexual assault or sexual abuse. If the adult is unable to provide consent for the release of evidence and information and a guardian, surrogate, or agent under a health care power of attorney is unavailable or unwilling to release the information, then an investigating law enforcement officer may authorize the release.
(4) Any health care professional, including any
physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or nurse, sexual assault nurse examiner, and any health care institution, including any hospital, who provides evidence or information to a law enforcement officer under a written consent as specified in this Section is immune from any civil or professional liability that might arise from those actions, with the exception of willful or wanton misconduct. The immunity provision applies only if all of the requirements of this Section are met.
(b) The hospital shall keep a copy of a signed or unsigned written consent form in the patient's medical record.
(c) If a written consent to allow law enforcement to test the sexual assault evidence is not signed at the completion of hospital emergency services and forensic services, the hospital shall include the following information in its discharge instructions:
(1) the sexual assault evidence will be stored for 5
years from the completion of an Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit, or 5 years from the age of 18 years, whichever is longer;
(2) a person authorized to consent to the testing of
the sexual assault evidence may sign a written consent to allow law enforcement to test the sexual assault evidence at any time during that 5-year period for an adult victim, or until a minor victim turns 23 years of age by (A) contacting the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, or if unknown, the law enforcement agency contacted by the hospital under Section 3.2 of the Criminal Identification Act; or (B) by working with an advocate at a rape crisis center;
(3) the name, address, and phone number of the law
enforcement agency having jurisdiction, or if unknown the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency contacted by the hospital under Section 3.2 of the Criminal Identification Act; and
(4) the name and phone number of a local rape crisis
center.
(Source: P.A. 99-801, eff. 1-1-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
(410 ILCS 70/6.6)
Sec. 6.6. Submission of sexual assault evidence.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event more than 4 hours after the completion of hospital emergency services and forensic services, the hospital shall make reasonable efforts to determine the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the sexual assault occurred. The hospital may obtain the name of the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction from the local law enforcement agency.
(b) Within 4 hours after the completion of hospital emergency services and forensic services, the hospital shall notify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction that the hospital is in possession of sexual assault evidence and the date and time the collection of evidence was completed. The hospital shall document the notification in the patient's medical records and shall include the agency notified, the date and time of the notification and the name of the person who received the notification. This notification to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction satisfies the hospital's requirement to contact its local law enforcement agency under Section 3.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.
(c) If the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction has not taken physical custody of sexual assault evidence within 5 days of the first contact by the hospital, the hospital shall renotify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction that the hospital is in possession of sexual assault evidence and the date the sexual assault evidence was collected. The hospital shall document the renotification in the patient's medical records and shall include the agency notified, the date and time of the notification and the name of the person who received the notification.
(d) If the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction has not taken physical custody of the sexual assault evidence within 10 days of the first contact by the hospital and the hospital has provided renotification under subsection (c) of this Section, the hospital shall contact the State's Attorney of the county where the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction is located. The hospital shall inform the State's Attorney that the hospital is in possession of sexual assault evidence, the date the sexual assault evidence was collected, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, the dates, times and names of persons notified under subsections (b) and (c) of this Section. The notification shall be made within 14 days of the collection of the sexual assault evidence.
(Source: P.A. 99-801, eff. 1-1-17; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
(410 ILCS 70/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-7)
Sec. 7. Reimbursement.
(a) A hospital or health care professional furnishing hospital emergency services or forensic services, an ambulance provider furnishing transportation to a sexual assault survivor, a hospital, health care professional, or laboratory providing follow-up healthcare, or a pharmacy dispensing prescribed medications to any sexual assault survivor shall furnish such services or medications to that person without charge and shall seek payment as follows:
(1) If a sexual assault survivor is eligible to
receive benefits under the medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, the ambulance provider, hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy must submit the bill to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the appropriate Medicaid managed care organization and accept the amount paid as full payment.
(2) If a sexual assault survivor is covered by one
or more policies of health insurance or is a beneficiary under a public or private health coverage program, the ambulance provider, hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy shall bill the insurance company or program. With respect to such insured patients, applicable deductible, co-pay, co-insurance, denial of claim, or any other out-of-pocket insurance-related expense may be submitted to the Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Program of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 148.510 for payment at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' allowable rates under the Illinois Public Aid Code. The ambulance provider, hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy shall accept the amounts paid by the insurance company or health coverage program and the Illinois Sexual Assault Treatment Program as full payment.
(3) If a sexual assault survivor is neither eligible
to receive benefits under the medical assistance program under Article V of the Public Aid Code nor covered by a policy of insurance or a public or private health coverage program, the ambulance provider, hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy shall submit the request for reimbursement to the Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Program under the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 148.510 at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' allowable rates under the Illinois Public Aid Code.
(4) If a sexual assault survivor presents a voucher
for follow-up healthcare, the healthcare professional or laboratory that provides follow-up healthcare or the pharmacy that dispenses prescribed medications to a sexual assault survivor shall submit the request for reimbursement for follow-up healthcare, laboratory, or pharmacy services to the Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Program under the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 148.510 at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' allowable rates under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Nothing in this subsection (a) precludes hospitals from providing follow-up healthcare and receiving reimbursement under this Section.
(b) Nothing in this Section precludes a hospital, health care provider, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy from billing the sexual assault survivor or any applicable health insurance or coverage for inpatient services.
(c) (Blank).
(d) On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Act or the Illinois Public Aid Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
(e) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall establish standards, rules, and regulations to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 99-454, eff. 1-1-16.)
(410 ILCS 70/7.5)
Sec. 7.5. Prohibition on billing sexual assault survivors directly for certain services; written notice; billing protocols.
(a) A hospital, health care professional, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy furnishing hospital emergency services, forensic services, transportation, follow-up healthcare, or medication to a sexual assault survivor shall not:
(1) charge or submit a bill for any portion of the
costs of the services, transportation, or medications to the sexual assault survivor, including any insurance deductible, co-pay, co-insurance, denial of claim by an insurer, spenddown, or any other out-of-pocket expense;
(2) communicate with, harass, or intimidate the
sexual assault survivor for payment of services, including, but not limited to, repeatedly calling or writing to the sexual assault survivor and threatening to refer the matter to a debt collection agency or to an attorney for collection, enforcement, or filing of other process;
(3) refer a bill to a collection agency or attorney
for collection action against the sexual assault survivor;
(4) contact or distribute information to affect the
sexual assault survivor's credit rating; or
(5) take any other action adverse to the sexual
assault survivor or his or her family on account of providing services to the sexual assault survivor.
(b) Nothing in this Section precludes a hospital, health care provider, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy from billing the sexual assault survivor or any applicable health insurance or coverage for inpatient services.
(c) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, every hospital providing treatment services to sexual assault survivors in accordance with a plan approved under Section 2 of this Act shall provide a written notice to a sexual assault survivor. The written notice must include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) a statement that the sexual assault survivor
should not be directly billed by any ambulance provider providing transportation services, or by any hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy for the services the sexual assault survivor received as an outpatient at the hospital;
(2) a statement that a sexual assault survivor who is
admitted to a hospital may be billed for inpatient services provided by a hospital, health care professional, laboratory, or pharmacy;
(3) a statement that prior to leaving the emergency
department of the treating facility, the hospital will give the sexual assault survivor a voucher for follow-up healthcare if the sexual assault survivor is eligible to receive a voucher;
(4) the definition of "follow-up healthcare" as set
forth in Section 1a of this Act;
(5) a phone number the sexual assault survivor may
call should the sexual assault survivor receive a bill from the hospital for hospital emergency services and forensic services;
(6) the toll-free phone number of the Office of the
Illinois Attorney General, Crime Victim Services Division, which the sexual assault survivor may call should the sexual assault survivor receive a bill from an ambulance provider, a health care professional, a laboratory, or a pharmacy.
This subsection (c) shall not apply to hospitals that provide transfer services as defined under Section 1a of this Act.
(d) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, every health care professional, except for those employed by a hospital or hospital affiliate, as defined in the Hospital Licensing Act, or those employed by a hospital operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, who bills separately for hospital emergency services or forensic services must develop a billing protocol that ensures that no survivor of sexual assault will be sent a bill for any hospital emergency services or forensic services and submit the billing protocol to the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General for approval. Health care professionals who bill as a legal entity may submit a single billing protocol for the billing entity. The billing protocol must include at a minimum:
(1) a description of training for persons who prepare
bills for hospital emergency services and forensic services;
(2) a written acknowledgement signed by a person who
has completed the training that the person will not bill survivors of sexual assault;
(3) prohibitions on submitting any bill for any
portion of hospital emergency services or forensic services provided to a survivor of sexual assault to a collection agency;
(4) prohibitions on taking any action that would
adversely affect the credit of the survivor of sexual assault;
(5) the termination of all collection activities if
the protocol is violated; and
(6) the actions to be taken if a bill is sent to a
collection agency or the failure to pay is reported to any credit reporting agency.
The Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General may provide a sample acceptable billing protocol upon request.
The Office of the Attorney General shall approve a proposed protocol if it finds that the implementation of the protocol would result in no survivor of sexual assault being billed or sent a bill for hospital emergency services or forensic services.
If the Office of the Attorney General determines that implementation of the protocol could result in the billing of a survivor of sexual assault for hospital emergency services or forensic services, the Office of the Attorney General shall provide the health care professional with a written statement of the deficiencies in the protocol. The health care professional shall have 30 days to submit a revised billing protocol addressing the deficiencies to the Office of the Attorney General. The health care professional shall implement the protocol upon approval by the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
The health care professional shall submit any proposed revision to or modification of an approved billing protocol to the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General for approval. The health care professional shall implement the revised or modified billing protocol upon approval by the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
(Source: P.A. 99-454, eff. 1-1-16.)
(410 ILCS 70/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-8)
Sec. 8. Penalties.
(a) Any hospital violating any provisions of this Act other than Section 7.5 shall be guilty of a petty offense for each violation, and any fine imposed shall be paid into the general corporate funds of the city, incorporated town or village in which the hospital is located, or of the county, in case such hospital is outside the limits of any incorporated municipality.
(b) The Attorney General may seek the assessment of one or more of the following civil monetary penalties in any action filed under this Act where the hospital, health care professional, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy knowingly violates Section 7.5 of the Act:
(1) For willful violations of paragraphs (1), (2),
(4), or (5) of subsection (a) of Section 7.5 or subsection (c) of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 per violation.
(2) For violations of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), or
(5) of subsection (a) of Section 7.5 or subsection (c) of Section 7.5 involving a pattern or practice, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 per violation.
(3) For violations of paragraph (3) of subsection (a)
of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 for each day the bill is with a collection agency.
(4) For violations involving the failure to submit
billing protocols within the time period required under subsection (d) of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $100 per day until the health care professional complies with subsection (d) of Section 7.5.
All civil monetary penalties shall be deposited into the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund.
(Source: P.A. 99-454, eff. 1-1-16.)
(410 ILCS 70/8.5)
Sec. 8.5. Complaints. The Department shall implement a complaint system through which the Department may receive complaints of violations of this Act. The Department may use an existing complaint system to fulfill the requirements of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 94-762, eff. 5-12-06.)
(410 ILCS 70/9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-9)
Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a hospital to provide any services which relate to an abortion.
(Source: P.A. 79-564.)
