Gov. JB Pritzker took action Friday on dozens of proposals, including a bill to better track information on disability insurance plans. [Health News Illinois]

The new law tasks the Department of Insurance with collecting data on the plans, including information on limitations on mental health and substance use disorder benefits. The agency must present its findings to the General Assembly by next April.

Another signed bill  allows podiatrists to administer influenza, tetanus and COVID-19 vaccines to adult patients.

And another new law requires insurers and dental plans to allow providers to opt out of being included in leased networks. The law also adds protections for dental providers around contracting.

Other bills signed into law Friday will:

·    Require specific music venues to have opioid antagonists available, and to have staff that are properly trained to administer them during hours of operation.

·    Require insurance to cover an annual prostate screening, cervical smear or Pap smear test.

·    Increase the maximum loan repayment grant amounts for different workers in the behavioral healthcare field.

·    Require hospitals to adopt an immunization policy that includes procedures for identifying patients 50 and older for a flu vaccine and 65 or older for a pneumonia vaccine.

·    Allow advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe a 120-day supply of benzodiazepines without a consultation relationship with a physician.

·    Allow physician assistants who practice at federally qualified health centers to not have collaborative agreements.

·    Include paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the definition of a firefighter for the purposes of continued insurance coverage.

·    Prohibit insurance plans from denying or delaying coverage for medically necessary treatment because a patient received treatment for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections or pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric.

·    Require public guardians to complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia within six months of appointment and annually thereafter.

·    Allow pharmacy technicians to qualify as having completed certain education and training requirements if they have 500 hours of equivalent work experience.

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