HB2904 creates the Health Care Transparency Act, a new Illinois law intended to increase public disclosure about health care services that may be denied or restricted for nonmedical reasons. The bill directs the Department of Public Health to identify reproductive health care services, LGBTQ health care services, and end-of-life health care services that may be subject to denial of care, and to create a standardized disclosure form explaining which services are generally available, which are restricted, and whether referrals are limited. Covered entities would be required to submit the form to the Department and provide it to patients as part of the informed consent process.
The bill also requires the Department to maintain a public website listing covered entities and their disclosure forms, adopt rules, investigate complaints, and assess fines for noncompliance. It further directs the Department to run a public education and awareness program about the effects of denial of care and how it may be avoided. The measure applies to hospitals, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, and freestanding emergency centers, but not individual health care practitioners.
Impact
HB2904 would add a new regulatory and disclosure framework to Illinois health law by imposing affirmative reporting and patient-notice duties on certain licensed health care facilities. It would not authorize denial of care; instead, it seeks to make existing restrictions more transparent to patients and the public, while preserving any existing causes of action and remedies under state or federal law. The bill also states that compliance does not limit liability and that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act may not be used to challenge the act’s application or enforcement.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the overall posture of the measure appears supportive of patient access, informed consent, and transparency. The findings section frames the bill as a response to hidden restrictions that can affect reproductive, LGBTQ, and end-of-life care, suggesting the sponsor’s intent is to protect patients and vulnerable communities. No contrary testimony or vote history is available in the provided materials, so no formal legislative opposition can be identified from the record here.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s focus on reproductive health, gender-affirming/LGBTQ care, and end-of-life services, and its requirement that facilities publicly disclose service restrictions and referral limits. Covered entities and advocates for conscience-based refusals may object to the mandatory disclosure and reporting obligations, especially because the bill expressly bars reliance on the Health Care Right of Conscience Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as defenses. Supporters, by contrast, are likely to emphasize informed consent, patient safety, and the need to identify facilities that do not provide the full range of services.
Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations.
Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations.