Impacting Legislation
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE March 14, 2012 Illinois MGMA Members, We appreciate your help to oppose HB 5823 that we alerted you to back on March 6. Unfortunately, the bill was passed in Committee and could get voted upon by the House. We would encourage you to keep the pressure on your legislators! CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY TO OPPOSE HB 5823 Urge your state representative to vote against House Bill 5823, legislation introduced by the ILLINOIS TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION that is designed to reduce your reimbursement for services provided to injured patients while increasing the payments made to the attorneys. Current law protects the right of a physician to pursue collection of his or her reasonable charges for services provided to an injured person. HB 5823 will repeal this right by limiting the amount of any lien to a reimbursement rate established by the injured party’s health insurance company, even though this insurance company is not responsible for payment of the claim. The bill would also reduce the amount of a lien or other claim that a party would have on an award if the injured party is found to be partially at fault. Whether or not the injured party contributes to their own injury is irrelevant to a legitimate claim for payment of services rendered. In this instance, HB 5823 also requires a lien holder to pay a pro rata share of the injured party’s attorney’s fees and litigation expenses and bars the pursuit of any unpaid balance. This is just patently unfair. Lien holders should not be responsible for another party’s expense. It should be noted that the Health Care Services Lien Act currently protects a plaintiff’s overall recovery because the total of all health care liens cannot exceed 40% of the recovery. HB 5823 is on the House Floor and could be called for a vote as early as next week. The General Assembly is on break this week and legislators are in their district offices. Call your state representative in his or her district office today and urge him or her to vote NO on HB 5823. If you are unsure if these Committee members represent you, please visit the following site. Be sure to have your full 9 digit zip code: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByZip.aspx LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
March 6, 2012
We want to alert Illinois MGMA members to a bill pending in Springfield that is clearly unfair to the medical community. House Bill “HB 5823” would restrict the current, legal rights of the health care professional, health care provider, or attorney as they seek payment of its charges for services provided to an injured person. This bill seeks to repeal this right by limiting the amount of any lien to the reimbursement rate established by the injured party’s health insurance company even though this insurance company is not responsible for payment of the claim. Information on the bill can be downloaded here – We have also voiced our concern with the bill by being a co signer, along with other concerned organizations, to a notice that has been sent to Legislators.
The bill has been assigned to the Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee who will debate and discuss it on Wednesday, March 7th. Members of this Committee can be reviewed by clicking this link - All members of Illinois MGMA are urged to contact these legislators. If your home residence and/or your organization (s) are in the district of one of these Committee members, you definitely need to call them directly – You are a constituent! This bill could die in Committee with a strong “NO” from constituents and concerned entities.
If you are unsure if these Committee members represent you, please visit the following site. Be sure to have your full 9 digit zip code: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByZip.aspx
Call the office direct – either the District and/or Springfield office. Speak to the Legislators Chief of Staff and tell them to vote "NO" on HB 5823 when it comes up for discussion on Wednesday.
Please contact me if you have any questions!
Everyone is also encouraged to fax and/or email the opposition notice (“Oppose HB 5823” attachment, click here to download)
Legislative Updates, designed to keep Illinois MGMA members informed, are submitted by:
Andrew L Digate
Illinois MGMA Legislative Liaison
Email: andrew_digate@pbcgroup.com
Phone: 630-571-6770
If you are interested in volunteering to help with Illinois MGMA's legislative/advocacy committee, please email Andrew Digate for more information.
Find your state and national legislators:
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
Visit MGMA's Advocacy Center:
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