SPRINGFIELD – Following the House passage of House Bill 3796 from State Representative Hoan Huynh, State Senator Rachel Ventura carried the legislation through the Senate Insurance Committee on Tuesday, seeking to protect Illinoisans from out-of-pocket charges for ongoing treatments if the appointment was scheduled before their provider was removed from the insurance network.

“As a former actuarial analyst, I saw firsthand how insurance companies prioritized profits over health care — that being the main reason I left the industry. When a doctor has been removed from a network, patients need time to transition,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation provides time for a transition of care for those currently undergoing treatments with scheduled appointments. It's one small change that can bring a bit of peace of mind to those currently undergoing changes in their medical journey.”

House Bill 3796 requires insurance to continue covering an ongoing course of treatment for up to 90 days if a provider is removed from the network, as long as the patient scheduled their appointment prior to being notified of the provider’s removal from network.

The bill specifies that this does not apply to any follow-up appointments after 90 days from the date of notice or to appointments that are rescheduled for a later date.

"When treating chronic conditions, patients' health outcomes are correlated to their ability to maintain continuity of care," said Huynh (D- Chicago). "No one should be subject to surprise crushing medical expenses just because their insurance company removed a provider. This bill will lower health care costs and improve the lives of policyholders throughout the state." 

House Bill 3796 moves to the full Senate for further action.