SB 1665

Abstract

Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that a hospital subject to the Act shall disregard household income received through participation in a guaranteed income program reported by an uninsured patient who applies for financial assistance. Defines "guaranteed income program" to mean a publicly or privately funded program that provides one-time or recurring unconditional cash transfers or payments, or gifts to individuals or households, for a defined number of months or years for the purposes of reducing poverty, promoting economic mobility, or increasing the financial stability of Illinois residents. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of assistance under the Code, the Department of Human Services and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration any financial assistance, including cash transfers or gifts, that is provided to a person through a guaranteed income program (rather than the Department of Human Services and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration, for a period of no more than 60 months, any financial assistance, including wages, cash transfers, or gifts, that is provided to a person who is enrolled in a program or research project that is not funded with general revenue funds and that is intended to investigate the impacts of policies or programs designed to reduce poverty, promote social mobility, or increase financial stability for Illinois residents if there is an explicit plan to collect data and evaluate the program or initiative that is developed prior to participants in the study being enrolled in the program and if a research team has been identified to oversee the evaluation). Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Further amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Provides that in determining eligibility under this Act, a hospital subject to the Act shall exclude from consideration any unconditional cash transfers, payments, or gifts received under a guaranteed income program if: (A) such cash transfers, payments, or gifts are excluded from consideration for determining eligibility under public health insurance programs administered by the State in which the State has the authority to waive guaranteed income; and (B) the guaranteed income program is a program for a defined number of months or years designed to reduce poverty, promote social mobility, or increase financial stability for program participants and if there is an explicit plan to collect data. Provides that the preceding provision is inoperative on and after July 1, 2026. Adds the Health Benefits for Immigrants program to the list of public health insurance programs that an uninsured patient must first apply to before seeking any available hospital discounts under the Act. Removes language providing that household income received through participation in a guaranteed income program shall not be considered income for the purposes of reviewing eligibility for financial assistance under the Act. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Makes the bill effective January 1, 2024 (rather than upon becoming law).