Bill Text: IL HB5219 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Prescription Produce Program to allow cancer patients who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance to receive coverage for fresh produce as they undergo cancer treatment. Provides that under the program, the Department shall provide Prescription Produce Program coupons to eligible persons who have a prescription from a licensed physician for fresh produce as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Provides that coupon holders may redeem their coupons at any participating food retailer. Provides that farmers markets located in "food deserts" and grocery stores that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may participate in the program as designated retailers that accept Prescription Produce Program coupons. Permits the Department to provide incentives to solicit food retailers to participate in the program. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act may provide coverage for fresh food prescribed by a licensed physician as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Defines "fresh food" to mean fresh food grown in the earth such as fruit, vegetables, and grain.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-03 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. LaToya Greenwood [HB5219 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB5219-Introduced.html

---

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB5219 Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
215 ILCS 5/356z.52 new
305 ILCS 5/5-45 new
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Prescription Produce Program to allow cancer patients who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance to receive coverage for fresh produce as they undergo cancer treatment. Provides that under the program, the Department shall provide Prescription Produce Program coupons to eligible persons who have a prescription from a licensed physician for fresh produce as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Provides that coupon holders may redeem their coupons at any participating food retailer. Provides that farmers markets located in "food deserts" and grocery stores that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may participate in the program as designated retailers that accept Prescription Produce Program coupons. Permits the Department to provide incentives to solicit food retailers to participate in the program. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act may provide coverage for fresh food prescribed by a licensed physician as part of any cancer treatment regimen. Defines "fresh food" to mean fresh food grown in the earth such as fruit, vegetables, and grain.
LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b
A BILL FOR
HB5219 LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b
AN ACT concerning public aid.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Fresh Food
Access for Cancer Patients Act.
Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
adding Section 356z.52 as follows:
(215 ILCS 5/356z.52 new)
Sec. 356z.52. Fresh food for cancer patients. A group or
individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed
care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
Assembly may provide coverage for fresh food prescribed by a
licensed physician as part of any cancer treatment regimen. As
used in this Section, "fresh food" means fresh food grown in
the earth such as fruit, vegetables, and grain.
Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
adding Section 5-45 as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/5-45 new)
Sec. 5-45. Prescription Produce Program.

HB5219 - 2 - LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b
(a) Findings.
(1) Social factors are associated with cancer risk.
The following estimates are discussed due to their
importance in understanding the factors that may affect
cancer incidence, mortality, treatment, and survivorship.
(2) Compared to the U.S. average, cancer incidence and
mortality rates indicate that Illinois residents generally
experience higher rates of cancer incidence and death.
Certain groups suffer disproportionately from cancer
incidence based on age, education, ethnicity, gender,
disability, geographic location, income, and race. Racial
and ethnic disparities play a role in cancer incidence and
mortality rate that are present in Illinois, as well as
low socioeconomic status.
(3) Access to fresh fruit and vegetables and other
heart-healthy food is important to reducing the risk of
cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic
illnesses. A report conducted by the Mari Gallagher
Research and Consulting Group in 2006 investigated the
determinants of food deserts in Chicago. The study found
that access to particular types of food providers was
linked to community demographics.
(4) In Chicago, the Mari Gallagher study found access
to grocery stores and fast food establishments to be
related to years of potential life lost and death rates
from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

HB5219 - 3 - LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b
(5) Medicaid is an important source of coverage for
people with cancer and cancer survivors. More than
2,000,000 Americans (children and adults under age 65)
with a history of cancer rely on Medicaid for their health
care, and in 2014 nearly one in 3 children diagnosed with
cancer were enrolled in Medicaid at the time of their
diagnosis.
(6) For cancer patients and other individuals
diagnosed with a serious medical condition for which
expensive treatment is necessary, Medicaid provides
individuals and families with financial protection.
Medicaid covers the cost of their medical treatment so
that they do not have to face financial distress or
bankruptcy in order to seek medical care.
(7) Coverage of fresh food by the State's Medical
Assistance program would result in a direct impact in
reducing costs for low-income residents in Illinois
located in or near a food desert for fresh food during
cancer treatment.
(b) Definitions.
"Cancer treatment" means any treatment that is
required for a cancer patient including, but not limited
to, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and any other
physical, medical, psychiatric, or counseling treatment
prescribed by a licensed physician.
"Cancer patient" means any individual undergoing

HB5219 - 4 - LRB102 24787 KTG 34030 b
cancer treatments who has been diagnosed with cancer by a
licensed physician.
"Fresh food" means fresh food grown in the earth such
as fruit, vegetables, and grain.
"Food deserts" means any urban area in the State in
which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality
fresh food.
(c) Prescription Produce Program. The Department of
Healthcare and Family Services shall establish a Prescription
Produce Program to allow cancer patients who are otherwise
eligible for medical assistance to receive coverage for fresh
produce as they undergo cancer treatment. Under the program,
the Department shall provide Prescription Produce Program
coupons to eligible persons who have a prescription from a
licensed physician for fresh produce as part of any cancer
treatment regimen. Coupon holders may redeem their coupons at
any participating food retailer. Farmers markets located in
"food deserts" and grocery stores that accept Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may participate in the
program as designated retailers that accept Prescription
Produce Program coupons. The Department may provide incentives
to solicit food retailers to participate in the program. The
Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the
program.