DHFS-TRANSPARENCY

Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law. Provides that, to ensure that the actions of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services are fairly and equitably communicated to both the provider community and Medicaid managed care organizations under contract with the State, to the full extent permitted by federal and State law, the Department shall coordinate with and communicate to statewide organizations representing substance use disorder and mental health facilities and providers (statewide organizations) the Department's actions or modifications to those provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code or Department rules concerning managed care services for persons with substance use disorders or mental health conditions, at the same time the Department communicates such actions or modifications to Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) or plans. Specifies that the requirements of the amendatory Act apply to actions, communications, or modifications involving mental health and substance use disorder provisions to or from the Illinois Public Aid Code or adopted rules for which the Department has authority over. Provides that, to the full extent permitted by federal and State law, the Department shall provide a statewide organization with notice of the Department's proposed actions or modifications to such State laws or Department rules, at the same time the Department communicates such proposed actions or modifications to MCOs. Provides that, to the extent that the Department is prohibited by a federal or State law, a contractual obligation, or any other privacy restriction from disclosing certain information related to the Department's action or modification to a State law or Department rule, the Department shall disclose such information to the statewide organization as soon as permitted and to the full extent permissible under the applicable law or contract or when the privacy restriction has been removed.