SB0682 Summary

• Establishes the Emergency Opioid and Addiction Treatment Access Act to address Illinois' opioid epidemic, which has killed nearly 11,000 people since 2008 and become the leading cause of death for people under 50.

• Requires health insurers to cover treatment for substance use disorders consistent with parity requirements, including acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services, and opioid maintenance therapy at specified American Society of Addiction Medicine treatment levels.

• Prohibits prior authorization for substance use disorder treatment benefits; instead requires treatment providers to notify insurers within 24 hours (managed care) or 2 business days (other insurers) of treatment initiation.

• Mandates that insurers base medical necessity determinations for substance use disorder treatment on American Society of Addiction Medicine Patient Placement Criteria, with expedited external review available within 72 hours if coverage is denied.

• Requires insurers to provide 7 business days' advance notice before treatment discharge and ensure benefits are available regardless of additional diagnoses; effective January 1, 2019.