A House committee signed off Wednesday on a measure that looks to improve the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s ability to process healthcare licenses.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, tasks the agency to extend the expiration date or renewal period for any professional license if it is determined the issue is not the fault of the applicant or licensee.
Morgan said the language will give clarity to providers who are “desperately waiting for their employees and future employees” to have their licenses addressed.
Another provision lays out language for the department to have an expedited and competitive bid procurement process to update its software, which officials have identified as a key challenge facing the licensing process.
Morgan said the department will have three months to secure the contract to reform its licensing system and another three months to implement the changes.
“This will not solve all the issues that we are facing in healthcare or in IDFPR, but this is a very significant step forward in a very, very quick period,” he told members of the House’s Health Care Licenses Committee.
Department Secretary Mario Treto Jr. thanked lawmakers for their support, saying the bill will allow them to “bring a crucial component of the license processing system into the 21st century.”
“One pivotal component of effectuating positive change within the agency lies with (our) antiquated licensing processing system, which is a root cause of the department’s license processing delays,” he said.
Morgan noted the six-month time frame for the bill, telling colleagues it is an issue they will continue to follow in the spring session.
The plan passed the committee unanimously and now heads to the full House for further discussion. The Senate unanimously approved the bill on Tuesday.