MEDICAID-HEPATITIS C-TREATMENT Senate SponsorsSen. Donne E. Trotter-Heather A. Steans-Jacqueline Y. Collins and Emil Jones, III House Sponsors(Rep. Sara Feigenholtz-Robyn Gabel) 1/10/2017SenateSession Sine Die 305 ILCS 5/5-5.12b newAmends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that prior approval by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to administer to a recipient of medical assistance any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus shall be limited to certain criteria, including that: (i) the recipient must be 18 years of age; (ii) the recipient must have a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection, genotype 1, 2, 3, or 4, confirmed by stage 2 fibrosis; (iii) the recipient must not have end stage renal disease requiring dialysis; and (iv) the recipient may not have abused a controlled substance within the past 6 months. Provides that the Department may not use certain criteria as a basis for requiring prior approval to administer to a recipient of medical assistance any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus, including: (a) any evidence or known diagnosis of malignancy of any body organ; (b) the recipient's mental capacity or any determination related to the recipient's ability to make appropriate decisions about the interferon-free therapy treatment or to comply with related instructions; and (c) the fact that the recipient was previously administered an interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus. Contains provisions concerning persons authorized to prescribe an interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus to a recipient of medical assistance; the submission of lab results; an appeals process; and payments to managed care entities for any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus that is prescribed to a recipient of medical assistance. Effective immediately.Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 In the list of persons authorized to prescribe any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus to a recipient of medical assistance, changes the list of authorized persons to include "any physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches with a current license who has received a written consultation report" from a board-certified gastroenterologist or specialist in a relevant sub-specialty or from an infectious disease specialist (rather than any physician holding a current unrestricted license to practice medicine who, within 6 months prior to submitting a prior approval request as prescribed by the Department, has (i) completed a course in Illinois with a 3-year certification period that is provided by a program which aims to build the healthcare system's capacity to diagnose and cure persons with the hepatitis C virus or (ii) received a written consultation report from a board-certified gastroenterologist or specialist in a relevant sub-specialty or from an infectious disease specialist). Provides that a formal request for prior approval to administer to a medical assistance recipient any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis "C virus shall not be submitted to the Department without a written" consultation report (rather than a formal request for prior approval to administer to a medical assistance recipient any interferon-free therapy for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus shall not be submitted before the Department receives either documentation that the physician has satisfied the 3-year certification period of an eligible program or a written consultation report). 2/20/2015SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Donne E. Trotter 2/20/2015SenateFirst Reading 2/20/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 3/3/2015SenateAssigned to Human Services 3/4/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Heather A. Steans 3/4/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 3/11/2015SenatePostponed - Human Services 3/18/2015SenatePostponed - Human Services 3/25/2015SenateDo Pass Human Services; 006-003-000 3/25/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 26, 2015 4/17/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Donne E. Trotter 4/17/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 4/21/2015SenateSecond Reading 4/21/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 22, 2015 4/21/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Human Services 4/22/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Human Services; 008-000-000 4/22/2015SenateRecalled to Second Reading 4/22/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Trotter 4/22/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 4/22/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III 4/22/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 032-020-000 4/23/2015HouseArrived in House 4/23/2015HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe 4/23/2015HouseFirst Reading 4/23/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/24/2015HouseAlternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Robyn Gabel 4/24/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe 5/4/2015HouseAssigned to Appropriations-Human Services Committee 5/8/2015HouseCommittee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 15, 2015 5/22/2015HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 11/18/2016HouseAlternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Sara Feigenholtz 11/18/2016HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Robyn Gabel 11/22/2016HouseAssigned to Appropriations-Human Services Committee 11/29/2016HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz 11/29/2016HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 11/29/2016HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Appropriations-Human Services Committee 11/30/2016HouseAlternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe 1/3/2017HouseRule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 1/3/2017HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 1/10/2017SenateSession Sine Die