Suzanne Ness

Creates the Global Hospital Budget Authority Act. Defines terms. Established the Global Hospital Budget Authority as a Division of the Department of Public Health. Provides that the powers and duties of the Authority shall be vested in and exercised by the Global Hospital Budget Board, which shall have the sole power to employ staff, including an executive director, legal counsel, consultants, or any other staff deemed necessary by the Board to effectuate the purposes of the Act. Provides that individuals employed by the Board shall not be employees of the State for any purpose, including for purposes of compensation, pension benefits, or retirement. Sets forth provisions concerning membership requirements; powers and duties of the Board; roles of participating payers; roles of participant hospitals; data collection and retention; confidentiality of data, contracts, and agreements; and the Global Hospital Budget Fund. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that, in reviewing and issuing permits and licenses, the Department shall accept, as factors that satisfy staffing and service-line presence requirements, one or a combination of the following alternative mechanisms if the Department finds that patient safety and continuity of care are maintained: (i) on-site staffing by appropriately licensed clinicians; (ii) written and operative affiliation agreements meeting standards adopted by the Department that provide timely specialty coverage; (iii) documented telemedicine coverage that meets certain standards; or (iv) a waiver issued under certain provisions for a rural or critical access hospital. In provisions concerning requirements for the employment of physicians, provides that employing entities may employ physicians to practice medicine in all of its branches if employment, privileging, and oversight requirements are met. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; certificates of exemption for change of ownership of a health care facility; applications for permit for discontinuation of a health care facility or category of service; and the powers and duties of State Board. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.