IL SB0229

Requires health plans and pharmacy benefit managers to provide real-time prescription drug cost, benefit, and coverage data to patients, healthcare providers, or authorized third parties upon request, effective July 1, 2026

Mandates that pricing data be updated within one business day of any change and delivered through electronic health record systems using industry-standard formats (facsimile transmission is explicitly prohibited)

Required disclosures include patient-specific eligibility information, formulary and cost-sharing details, cost variations by pharmacy, lower-cost clinically appropriate alternatives, and utilization management requirements

Prohibits health plans and pharmacy benefit managers from restricting prescribers from sharing information about cash prices, lower-cost alternatives, patient assistance programs, or costs at the patient's preferred pharmacy

Bars health plans and PBMs from penalizing healthcare providers for disclosing cost information or prescribing lower-cost alternatives, and prohibits real-time benefit tools from requiring patients to use specific plan-preferred drugs or pharmacies