HB 5417

Abstract

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Establishes the role of HIV Treatment Innovation Coordinator to be housed within the Department. Provides that the Department shall create and fill the Coordinator role within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Coordinator to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to adopt a Rapid Start model for HIV treatment as the standard of care. Requires compensation and benefits for the Coordinator be at the Program Director level. Describes the specific job responsibilities of the Coordinator. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections, including any laboratory costs of processing the home test kit, that are deemed medically necessary or appropriate and ordered directly by a clinician or furnished through a standing order for patient use based on clinical guidelines and individual patient health needs. Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Public Aid Code regarding coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections. Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act. Creates the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Provides that Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications shall be processed within 72 hours after the time of submission. Provides for conditional approval of Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications within 24 hours after time of submission. Requires Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program applicants to document residency within the State of Illinois. Provides for 8 Rapid Start for HIV Treatment pilot sites established by the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall publish a report on the operation of the pilot program 15 months after the pilot sites have launched. Establishes requirements for the report, requires that the report be shared with the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and requires that the report be made available on the Department's Internet website. Amends the County Jail Act. Creates new annual adult correctional facility public inspection report requirements on the topics of HIV and AIDS. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2305/6.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Deletes references to the role of HIV Treatment Innovation Coordinator. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in the State after January 1, 2026 (instead of January 1, 2025) shall provide coverage for home test kits for sexually transmitted infections, including any laboratory costs of processing the kit, that are deemed medically necessary or appropriate and ordered directly by a clinician (instead of a clinician or furnished through a standing order) for patient use. Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act. Defines "conditional approval" to mean Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program approval within one business day after submission of documentation of Illinois residency, Program Agreement form, and attestation of remaining eligibility requirements (instead of approval within 24 hours after submission of the materials). Deletes a requirement that an applicant seeking conditional approval must document resident in the State. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish one Rapid Start for HIV Treatment pilot site per HIV Care Connect Region (instead of 8 pilot sites throughout the State). Provides that the Department may implement the pilot program in accordance with industry standards informed by the most current Health Resources and Services Administration guidance on HIV care and treatment (in addition to the most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance). Provides that the Department shall compile reports from each of the pilot sites on the operation of the pilot program upon completion of the pilot period (instead of publishing a report on the operation of the program 15 months after the pilot sites have launched). Makes other changes. Amends the County Jail Act. Removes a provision that required a report by the Department of Corrections to include whether the warden of the jail had sought certain information from the Department of Public Health or community-based organizations certified to provide HIV/AIDS testing.