Pritzker in Rockford says Healthcare Act would return power to doctors and patients

Saying that patients are being hit with unexpected roadblocks to treatment, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton made a third stop on a statewide health care reform campaign Tuesday at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.

The governor and lieutenant governor were joined by area legislators, health care professionals and patients to show support for HB5395, the Healthcare Protection Act. It was approved by the state House and is now moving to the Senate.

“For far too long, insurance companies — not doctors — have been free to determine what treatment options patients should have and how quickly they can receive it,” Pritzker said."With this bill, we're putting power back in the hands of doctors and patients."

The campaign started Monday with visits to hospitals in Belleville and Peoria.

The act bans what is called step therapy, the practice of insurance companies forcing patients to jump through medically unnecessary hoops before arriving at the treatment their doctor recommended in the first place. It also bans prior authorization for crisis mental health care, improves network adequacy, bans junk insurance plans and ends unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies.

OSF Saint Anthony President Paula Carynski said the reforms would protect patients from profit driven insurance company practices.

"That's the practice of health insurers delaying and denying coverage of needed medical procedures to control cost and limit exposure," Carynski said.

In a statement, Laura Minzer, president of the Illinois Life & Health Insurance Council, said the legislation could have unintended consequences that increase costs and reduce access to care. She said that it is insurance companies that make healthcare possible, and they share the goal of improving accessibility and affordability.

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Pritzker announces healthcare reform campaign with Rockford stop