Illinois Senate Bill SB3508

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/24
• Refer: 2/9/24
• Refer: 2/28/24

Caption

END ORGAN HARVESTING ACT

Impact

If enacted, SB3508 would significantly alter the landscape of healthcare coverage related to organ transplants. It establishes guidelines for health insurers, enforcing a prohibition on coverage based on the geographic location of organ procurement. This legislative move will potentially limit resident access to transplants that could be deemed legitimate in other jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill empowers the Director of Public Health to designate countries engaged in forced organ harvesting, creating a framework for ongoing monitoring and designation of at-risk nations.

Summary

Senate Bill 3508, known as the End Organ Harvesting Act, aims to address the alarming issue of forced organ harvesting, particularly as it pertains to operations connected to nations like the People's Republic of China. The act prohibits health benefit plan issuers from covering organ transplants or post-transplant care if the transplant is conducted in a country identified as participating in forced organ harvesting. This includes any human organ that was procured via donation or sale from such countries. The bill not only seeks to safeguard residents from unknowingly engaging in such practices but also strives to raise public awareness regarding these human rights violations.

Contention

Noteworthy points of contention surrounding SB3508 include the implications of restricting healthcare coverage based on geographic criteria, which may be perceived as overly punitive or limiting for patients in critical need of transplants. Critics may argue that such measures could inadvertently harm patients who might otherwise receive appropriate care in the targeted countries. Additionally, there could be ongoing debates about how designations are made and the transparency of this process, ensuring that it is not influenced by political or diplomatic tensions rather than evidential human rights concerns.