(WIFR) – Illinois will see new laws go into effect Jan. 1 to restrict the state’s health insurance companies from reducing patient care.

On July 10, 2023, Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Healthcare Protection Act which includes measures to restrict the methods that health insurance companies use to reduce patient care.

“Step therapy,” which requires a patient to try and fail on treatments preferred by the insurance company before they can access doctor recommended treatment, is banned under this law.

The HPA also states that insurers cannot require prior authorization for a patient to get emergency treatment at a psychiatric facility.

“For thousands of Illinoisans, the reforms in this bill will mean the difference between suffering with curable health conditions and getting the care that they need in a timely manner, and for some, this bill will quite literally save their lives,” Pritzker says.

Unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies is also banned under the new law.

Another law going into effect Jan. 1 is SB 2672, requiring insurances to cover name brand prescription drugs if the generic drug is unavailable because of a supply issue.

Other new laws will not allow hospitals to directly bill patients who are 138% below the poverty line, and limit the cost of epinephrine injectors to $60 per twin-pack.

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