SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — As the calendar flips to 2025, a new chapter begins in state regulations. Over 290 new state laws will take effect when the clock strikes midnight. Some of the changes will improve access to healthcare and help struggling consumers.
Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the Healthcare Protection Act with sponsors and advocates on July 10, 2024.
Many Illinoisans who struggle with asthma and other lung diseases currently pay between $180 to $300 per month for rescue and controller inhalers. A new state law will cap the monthly cost of prescription inhalers at $25 for people with health insurance. The law also bans health insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage for inhalers starting January 1, 2026.
"Last year, 5,541 children alone had to go to the ER for asthma attacks, which cost on average per visit to the ER $1,548, which was over $8 million last year," said Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake). "When people have access to affordable medication, trips to the ER are reduced."
Another law will prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt in credit reports. Sponsors said this change will ensure people are no longer unfairly penalized for needing medical care or struggling to pay healthcare costs.
"This legislation, I want to stress, does not mean consumers don't have to pay that medical debt and their medical bills," said Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). "I just believe medical debt is different than other debt. It's spontaneous."
Gov. JB Pritzker also signed a historic plan into law to crack down on predatory insurance practices and lift up consumers. The Healthcare Protection Act bans step therapy, or the fail first method, so insurance companies can no longer force people to receive less effective treatment before moving to options recommended by doctors.
"The HPA was conceived, written and passed with the goal of empowering the two most important stakeholders in the medical system - our patients and their doctors," Pritzker said.
Illinois is now the first state to ban prior authorization for in-patient adult and children's mental healthcare. The new law also requires prior approval from the Illinois Department of Insurance before large group insurance plans can increase fees. Premiums must align with the actual cost of providing care as well.
"It's about recognizing that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege," said Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). "It's about ensuring that our healthcare system serves the needs of patients and supports the dedicated professionals who provide their care."
Patients across central Illinois will be happy to know that the law also bans ghost networks, by forcing insurance companies to follow strict network adequacy standards. The law states that insurers must complete internal audits every 90 days to ensure their directories reflect the care available to patients.
"We're going to ease the stress for you and your loved ones during a mental health crisis," said Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago). "We're going to reduce the confusion when it comes to finding a provider. Instead of the steep steps of care that existed before, we're building an elevator to the treatment you need and deserve."
A separate law will protect low-income utility customers from having their service shut off. Electric and gas companies serving more than 500,000 customers will be banned from disconnecting service from people seeking energy payment assistance. Customers applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or Percentage of Income Payment Plan will be protected from disconnection for 30 days.
"The goal here is to make sure that utility customers, our most vulnerable community members, do not have to face the threat of losing essential utility services while they're seeking much needed financial assistance," Stadelman said. "It's common sense legislation."
Illinoisans will soon have the ability to ask for a digital driver's license or state ID. A state law taking effect Wednesday will allow the Secretary of State to launch the process of finding vendors for digital ID production.Â
The digital IDs will include a barcode so people won't have to give their phone to police during traffic stops. However, Republicans worry there won't be enough safeguards in place for your private information.
"If for some reason someone did feel compelled to give their device to an officer, a sheriff, or a trooper, we've got some very specific language here in Section 9 that says the display of a license shall not serve as authorization for law enforcement or any other person to search, view or access any other data in your phone," said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago).Â
Eighteen other states are currently working on implementing digital ID systems. Twelve states already offer digital forms of identification.
A separate law will make major changes for the state's name, image and likeness law for college athletes. The new law will allow athletes to earn NIL compensation directly from their universities.Â
Buckner said this change will give universities a significant advantage for recruiting and retaining players. The law also blocks media and the public from requesting how much athletes make from their private NIL deals.
"Our position is that that's not the public's business," said University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman. "Those are private transactions that are happening between Coleman Hawkins as an individual and third party entities that exist outside of the athletic program or outside of the university. This would provide us the tool to protect that information from having to pass it off to the media."
This law also allows universities to create athletic department incentives for fans to support student athlete NIL activities. For example, fans could potentially get better parking spots or seats at an arena if they donate to NIL funds.
The Illinois minimum wage will also go up to $15 Wednesday. This is the final minimum wage increase included in Pritzker's historic 2019 law.Â
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