When it comes to competition in the commercial health insurance market, Illinois has earned the dubious distinction of being one of ten states in the category of "least competitive," according to a recently released study by the American Medical Association (AMA).

High levels of health insurance market concentration, largely due to consolidations such as mergers and acquisitions, can lead to "monopoly power" in that geographic area. 

Get the word out to your patients about the next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day being held on October 26, sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 

ISMS offers downloadable patient flyers to help you promote the Take Back Day. 

Medical assistants are not licensed in Illinois, and have no practice act or administrative rules. The exact role and responsibilities of medical assistants can be confusing.

That’s why ISMS developed a medical legal guideline that outlines the function of medical assistants and clarifies their tasks.

As we go to press, an outbreak of respiratory illness continues to escalate, with 12 deaths and 805 cases in 46 states and one U.S. territory – all tied to the use of e-cigarettes and similar devices to inhale aerosolized liquid.

Illinois was the first state in the United States to report a death of a patient who contracted a serious lung disease after vaping. 

In a letter to Congress, ISMS joined 368 national and state medical organizations in strong support of recently introduced legislation, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 (H.R. 3107).

This bill would streamline and standardize prior authorization requirements under the Medicare Advantage program, reducing burdens on medical professionals and helping protect patients from unnecessary delays in care.