Governor Signs 2025 State Budget and Medicaid Omnibus Bill into Law
June 14, 2024
Last week Governor Pritzker signed the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget package, which includes nearly $200 million for Illinois' Budget Stabilization Fund, more commonly referred to as its Rainy Day Fund. In the last few years, Illinois has increased this once empty fund to more than $2 billion and paid off nearly $8 billion in bill backlogs.
Also last week, the governor signed the Medicaid omnibus bill into law, which:
- Provides psychiatrists a one-time reimbursement rate hike of $264 per hour.
- Removes prior authorization for administration of prescription psychotropic drugs for adults with serious mental illness.
- Increases current Medicaid rates for home renal dialysis providers, children’s
community-based healthcare centers and custom prosthetic and orthotic devices.
- Establishes a “gold card” program to exempt highly rated physicians from prior authorization for at least one year starting in 2026.
- Adds testing and treatment for SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, Group A strep infection and adult-stage head lice to pharmacists’ scope of practice, which ISMS opposes.
- Sets new reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers in the Medicaid program.
- Establishes a new rule for emergency department physicians to admit a patient for inpatient care to stabilize a medical emergency condition without seeking prior authorization from a managed care organization.
The 2024 Illinois Spring Legislative Session wrapped up a couple of weeks ago and your governmental affairs team secured numerous wins for medicine! For a complete end-of-session rundown, access ISMS’ 2024 Legislative Report.
ISMS’ work to effect positive changes for Illinois physicians and their patients continues as preparations are now underway for the fall veto session and the 2025 Spring Legislative Session.
If you have questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.