(215 ILCS 5/Art. XXXI.5 heading)
(215 ILCS 5/512-1) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-1)
Sec. 512-1. Short Title. This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Third Party Prescription Program Act".
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-2) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-2)
Sec. 512-2. Purpose. It is hereby determined and declared that the purpose of this Article is to regulate certain practices engaged in by third-party prescription program administrators.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-3) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-3)
Sec. 512-3. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Article have the meanings ascribed to them herein:
(a) "Third party prescription program" or "program" means any system of providing for the reimbursement of pharmaceutical services and prescription drug products offered or operated in this State under a contractual arrangement or agreement between a provider of such services and another party who is not the consumer of those services and products. Such programs may include, but need not be limited to, employee benefit plans whereby a consumer receives prescription drugs or other pharmaceutical services and those services are paid for by an agent of the employer or others.
(b) "Third party program administrator" or "administrator" means any person, partnership or corporation who issues or causes to be issued any payment or reimbursement to a provider for services rendered pursuant to a third party prescription program, but does not include the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or any agent authorized by the Director to reimburse a provider of services rendered pursuant to a program of which the Department of Healthcare and Family Services is the third party.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-4) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-4)
Sec. 512-4. Registration. All third party prescription programs and administrators doing business in the State shall register with the Director of Insurance. The Director shall promulgate regulations establishing criteria for registration in accordance with the terms of this Article. The Director may by rule establish an annual registration fee for each third party administrator.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-5) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-5)
Sec. 512-5. Fiduciary and Bonding Requirements. A third party prescription program administrator shall (1) establish and maintain a fiduciary account, separate and apart from any and all other accounts, for the receipt and disbursement of funds for reimbursement of providers of services under the program, or (2) post, or cause to be posted, a bond of indemnity in an amount equal to not less than 10% of the total estimated annual reimbursements under the program.
The establishment of such fiduciary accounts and bonds shall be consistent with applicable State law. If a bond of indemnity is posted, it shall be held by the Director of Insurance for the benefit and indemnification of the providers of services under the third party prescription program.
An administrator who operates more than one third party prescription program may establish and maintain a separate fiduciary account or bond of indemnity for each such program, or may operate and maintain a consolidated fiduciary account or bond of indemnity for all such programs.
The requirements of this Section do not apply to any third party prescription program administered by or on behalf of any insurance company, Health Care Service Plan Corporation or Pharmaceutical Service Plan Corporation authorized to do business in the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-6) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-6)
Sec. 512-6. Notice. Notice of any change in the terms of a third party prescription program, including but not limited to drugs covered, reimbursement rates, co-payments, and dosage quantity, shall be given to each enrolled pharmacy at least 30 days prior to the time it becomes effective.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-7) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-7)
Sec. 512-7. Contractual provisions.
(a) Any agreement or contract entered into in this State between the administrator of a program and a pharmacy shall include a statement of the method and amount of reimbursement to the pharmacy for services rendered to persons enrolled in the program, the frequency of payment by the program administrator to the pharmacy for those services, and a method for the adjudication of complaints and the settlement of disputes between the contracting parties.
(b)(1) A program shall provide an annual period of at least 30 days during which any pharmacy licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act may elect to participate in the program under the program terms for at least one year.
(c) The program administrator shall cause to be issued an identification card to each person enrolled in the program. The identification card shall include:
(Source: P.A. 95-689, eff. 10-29-07.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-8) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-8)
Sec. 512-8. Cancellation procedures. (a) The administrator of a program shall notify all pharmacies enrolled in the program of any cancellation of the coverage of benefits of any group enrolled in the program at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such cancellation. However, if the administrator of a program is not notified at least 45 days prior to the effective date of such cancellation, the administrator shall notify all pharmacies enrolled in the program of the cancellation as soon as practicable after having received notice.
(b) When a program is terminated, all persons enrolled therein shall be so notified, and the employer shall make every reasonable effort to gain possession of any plan identification cards in such persons' possession.
(c) Any person who intentionally uses a program identification card to obtain services from a pharmacy after having received notice of the cancellation of his benefits shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Persons shall be liable to the program administrator for all monies paid by the program administrator for any services received pursuant to any improper use of the identification card.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-9) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-9)
Sec. 512-9. Denial of Payment. (a) No administrator shall deny payment to any pharmacy for covered pharmaceutical services or prescription drug products rendered as a result of the misuse, fraudulent or illegal use of an identification card unless such identification card had expired, been noticeably altered, or the pharmacy was notified of the cancellation of such card. In lieu of notifying pharmacies which have a common ownership, the administrator may notify a party designated by the pharmacy to receive such notice, in which case, notification shall not become effective until 5 calendar days after the designee receives notification.
(b) No program administrator may withhold any payment to any pharmacy for covered pharmaceutical services or prescription drug products beyond the time period specified in the payment schedule provisions of the agreement, except for individual claims for payment which have been returned to the pharmacy as incomplete or illegible. Such returned claims shall be paid if resubmitted by the pharmacy to the program administrator with the appropriate corrections made.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/512-10) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.59-10)
Sec. 512-10. Failure to Register. Any third party prescription program or administrator which operates without a certificate of registration or fails to register with the Director and pay the fee prescribed by this Article shall be construed to be an unauthorized insurer as defined in Article VII of this Code and shall be subject to all penalties contained therein.
The provisions of the Article shall apply to all new programs established on or after January 1, 1983. Existing programs shall comply with the provisions of this Article on the anniversary date of the programs that occurs on or after January 1, 1983.
(Source: P.A. 82-1005.)