Pritzker signs law banning health insurance companies' 'predatory tactics,' including step therapy

lllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed into law measures to block insurance companies from shortchanging consumers on their medical needs. Pritzker signed the laws Wednesday. They crack down on what he called insurance companies’ “predatory tactics.” The Healthcare Protection Act codifies one of the Democrat's top initiatives from last spring’s legislation session. It outlaws step therapy, prior authorization for mental health crises and junk insurance. Step therapy mandates more cost-effective treatment even if a doctor recommends costlier care. In-patient mental health care no longer needs pre-authorization. And the junk insurance prohibition limits short-term plans with insufficient coverage.