Latest news with #WilliamHauter
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill heading to Pritzker's desk to prevent time limit on anesthesia
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois lawmakers passed a bill that would prevent insurance companies from putting time limits on anesthesia coverage to protect patients from financial burden. This comes after the fall of 2024, when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield tried do just that in New York, Missouri and Connecticut by tying payments to the length of time a patient was under anesthesia. In other words, they would stop covering the patient after an arbitrary length of time, and the rest of the anesthesia would be billed to the patient directly. Illinois may update missing person database policy with bill in Statehouse Now, that bill has passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support and is heading to Governor JB Pritzker's desk. This would cover anesthesia regardless of how long the procedure takes. The bill's sponsor in the House, Rep. William Hauter (R-Morton), who is a physician and anesthesiologist himself, said this will make sure it cannot be tried in Illinois. 'So, this is outrageous, it's just another tactic that we see insurance companies using to reduce coverage or to deny payments to people,' Hauter said. 'That's not how things work. Just another way to put profits over patients and so we put a stop to it.' Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed their policy on the issue after public outcry, saying it was misinformation. Bill preventing AI instructors in Illinois community college courses passes Senate Sen. Doris Turner (D-Decatur) who carried the bill in the Senate, said people have been taken advantage of for far too long. 'Instead of lining their own pockets, let's put patients' health first,' Turner said. 'Under this plan, people can rest assured that a time limit can't be put on anesthesia services, requiring patients to pay the cost.' If the governor signs the bill into law, it will take effect next year for all insurances. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Editorial: Let health care volunteers help ease the worker shortage
'First, do no harm' is a guiding principle in medicine, reflecting the commitment from doctors and nurses to ensure treatment and care to protect patients while not worsening outcomes. Illinois' licensing rules for medical professionals who want to volunteer in retirement run counter to this core tenet. Physician and state Rep. William Hauter, R-Morton, introduced a bill to fix the problem. Several Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors. Hauter's House Bill 1270 would allow retired health care professionals in Illinois to switch from an active medical license, which costs $543 for a three-year renewal, to a free volunteer license, provided they meet certain conditions and do not receive compensation. The bill simplifies a previously unimplemented 2014 law and is supported by state regulators for its streamlined approach. That it's even necessary to legislate this fix is, frankly, baffling. On this, let all Illinoisans agree: Volunteers are helpful, and we should encourage them whenever possible. People shouldn't have to go through an entire bureaucratic process because they're switching from full-time paid work to part-time volunteerism. We should be encouraging this kind of honorable service — not making it needlessly burdensome. That's especially true in health care settings, where doctor and nurse shortages plague Illinois' health systems. Health care associations estimate our state will face a shortage of about 15,000 registered nurses by 2025, and we'll need an additional 1,063 primary care physicians by 2030 to maintain patient needs with many practitioners expected to retire and demand increasing as our population ages. Retired physicians and nurses can volunteer to provide primary care, specialty services and mentorship to medical students. In the Chicago area especially, where numerous medical schools and networks operate, the demand for experienced volunteers is high. Removing volunteer licensing fees and simplifying the process could have a ripple effect on access to care, allowing retired providers to serve in free clinics, rural areas or underserved neighborhoods with persistent gaps in access to basic care. And, unlike recruitment campaigns or new workforce subsidies, this is a no-cost solution. Volunteers bring experience, stability, coaching abilities and invaluable perspective — especially from years of direct patient care — with virtually zero taxpayer investment. They not only expand access to care but also serve as mentors — passing on skills and wisdom to the next generation. Illinois lawmakers are right to consider easing requirements that prevent willing, qualified individuals from volunteering in hospitals and clinics. With health care worker shortages straining the system, removing red tape for volunteers is a smart, low-cost way to expand capacity. The state should continue identifying and eliminating unnecessary barriers that limit skilled people from contributing in this way. At a time when political gridlock is the norm, it's refreshing to see both Republicans and Democrats align behind a commonsense proposal. HB1270 passed the Illinois House with unanimous support and is under consideration in the Senate. Lawmakers should seize the momentum and get this done. We hope the General Assembly sends this slam-dunk reform to the governor's desk soon. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Let health care volunteers help ease the worker shortage
'First, do no harm' is a guiding principle in medicine, reflecting the commitment from doctors and nurses to ensure treatment and care to protect patients while not worsening outcomes. Illinois' licensing rules for medical professionals who want to volunteer in retirement run counter to this core tenet. Physician and state Rep. William Hauter, R-Morton, introduced a bill to fix the problem. Several Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors. Hauter's House Bill 1270 would allow retired health care professionals in Illinois to switch from an active medical license, which costs $543 for a three-year renewal, to a free volunteer license, provided they meet certain conditions and do not receive compensation. The bill simplifies a previously unimplemented 2014 law and is supported by state regulators for its streamlined approach. That it's even necessary to legislate this fix is, frankly, baffling. On this, let all Illinoisans agree: Volunteers are helpful, and we should encourage them whenever possible. People shouldn't have to go through an entire bureaucratic process because they're switching from full-time paid work to part-time volunteerism. We should be encouraging this kind of honorable service — not making it needlessly burdensome. That's especially true in health care settings, where doctor and nurse shortages plague Illinois' health systems. Health care associations estimate our state will face a shortage of about 15,000 registered nurses by 2025, and we'll need an additional 1,063 primary care physicians by 2030 to maintain patient needs with many practitioners expected to retire and demand increasing as our population ages. Retired physicians and nurses can volunteer to provide primary care, specialty services and mentorship to medical students. In the Chicago area especially, where numerous medical schools and networks operate, the demand for experienced volunteers is high. Removing volunteer licensing fees and simplifying the process could have a ripple effect on access to care, allowing retired providers to serve in free clinics, rural areas or underserved neighborhoods with persistent gaps in access to basic care. And, unlike recruitment campaigns or new workforce subsidies, this is a no-cost solution. Volunteers bring experience, stability, coaching abilities and invaluable perspective — especially from years of direct patient care — with virtually zero taxpayer investment. They not only expand access to care but also serve as mentors — passing on skills and wisdom to the next generation. Illinois lawmakers are right to consider easing requirements that prevent willing, qualified individuals from volunteering in hospitals and clinics. With health care worker shortages straining the system, removing red tape for volunteers is a smart, low-cost way to expand capacity. The state should continue identifying and eliminating unnecessary barriers that limit skilled people from contributing in this way. At a time when political gridlock is the norm, it's refreshing to see both Republicans and Democrats align behind a commonsense proposal. HB1270 passed the Illinois House with unanimous support and is under consideration in the Senate. Lawmakers should seize the momentum and get this done. We hope the General Assembly sends this slam-dunk reform to the governor's desk soon.
