Sec. 356z.60. Coverage for abortifacients, hormonal therapy, and human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis.

703 words·~3 min read·/il/chapter-215/act-5/356z-60·

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(a)As used in this Section:

"Abortifacients" means any medication administered to terminate a pregnancy as prescribed or ordered by a health care professional.

"Health care professional" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

"Hormonal therapy medication" means hormonal treatment administered to treat gender dysphoria.

"Therapeutic equivalent version" means drugs, devices, or products that can be expected to have the same clinical effect and safety profile when administered to patients under the conditions specified in the labeling and that satisfy the following general criteria:

(1)it is approved as safe and effective;

(2)it is a pharmaceutical equivalent in that it:

(A)contains identical amounts of the same active drug ingredient in the same

dosage form and route of administration; and

(B)meets compendial or other applicable standards of strength, quality, purity,

and identity;

(3)it is bioequivalent in that:

(A)it does not present a known or potential bioequivalence problem and it meets

an acceptable in vitro standard; or

(B)if it does present such a known or potential problem, it is shown to meet an

appropriate bioequivalence standard;

(4)it is adequately labeled; and

(5)it is manufactured in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice

regulations adopted by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

(b)An individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2024 shall provide coverage for all abortifacients, hormonal therapy medication, human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis, and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and follow-up services related to that coverage, including, but not limited to, management of side effects, medication self-management or adherence counseling, risk reduction strategies, and mental health counseling. This coverage shall include drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are prescribed or ordered for off-label use for the purposes described in this Section.

(c)The coverage required under subsection

(b)is subject to the following conditions:

(1)If the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved one or more

therapeutic equivalent versions of an abortifacient drug, a policy is not required to include all such therapeutic equivalent versions in its formulary so long as at least one is included and covered without cost sharing and in accordance with this Section.

(2)If an individual's attending provider recommends a particular drug approved by the

United States Food and Drug Administration based on a determination of medical necessity with respect to that individual, the plan or issuer must defer to the determination of the attending provider and must cover that service or item without cost sharing.

(3)If a drug is not covered, plans and issuers must have an easily accessible,

transparent, and sufficiently expedient process that is not unduly burdensome on the individual or a provider or other individual acting as a patient's authorized representative to ensure coverage without cost sharing.

The conditions listed under this subsection

(c)also apply to drugs prescribed for off-label use as abortifacients.

(d)Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a policy subject to this Section shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to coverage of procedures to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 223.

(e)Except as otherwise authorized under this Section, a policy shall not impose any restrictions or delays on the coverage required under this Section.

(f)The coverage requirements in this Section for abortifacients do not, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 18054(a)(6), apply to a multistate plan that does not provide coverage for abortion.

(g)If the Department concludes that enforcement of any coverage requirement of this Section for abortifacients may adversely affect the allocation of federal funds to this State, the Department may grant an exemption to that requirement, but only to the minimum extent necessary to ensure the continued receipt of federal funds.