House Bill 4125--Speech/Language Therapy for Treatment of Pervasive Developmental Disorders HB 4125, now Public Act 94-906, amends the Illinois Insurance Code to require group health plans or policies delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or modified after June 23, 2006 (the effective date of the new Act) to provide coverage for 20 additional outpatient visits for speech and language therapy for the treatment of pervasive developmental disorders. This coverage is in addition to the 35 outpatient visits already required to be covered under the Code. Sponsors of the bill were Rep. Mary Flowers(D-Chicago) and Sen. Susan Garrett(D-Highwood).

Senate Bill 2308--Medicaid Spenddown Payment SB 2308, now Public Act 94-847, effective January 1, 2007, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), by no later than July 1, 2007, to allow persons who must meet a monthly spenddown to qualify for Medicaid to pay the spenddown amount or to have a third party pay the spenddown amount. This is subject to federal approval of a State Medicaid Plan amendment which HFS is required to seek under this new Act. This would allow a Medicaid recipient to opt to pay the spenddown amount each month instead of verifying every month that medical bills in the amount of the spenddown have been incurred. It will prevent delays in eligibility determinations and relieve recipients and DHS local office staff of what is often a significant administrative burden. It will also facilitate dual eligibility determinations for Medicare and Medicaid under the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program. It will be particularly helpful for recipients whose medical expenses do not vary significantly from month to month. Sponsors of SB 2308 were Sen. Terry Link (D-Lake Bluff) and Rep. Kathy Ryg (D-Vernon Hills).