Chicago and Cook County Legislative Updates

July 31, 2017

Memorandum

Chicago Pharmacy Work Rules Ordinance

Chicago City Council Finance Chairman Ed Burke intends to call an amended version of his Pharmacy Work Rules ordinance for a vote at the August 2017 Finance Committee meeting. This move comes in response to the delay of similar legislation in Springfield.

Chairman Burke and his staff have committed to IHA that hospital and hospital-affiliated pharmacies will be exempt from this ordinance. IHA thanks Chairman Burke for his appreciation and understanding of the numerous safeguards hospitals already have in place to ensure that the right medication reaches the right patient at the right time.

If passed by the full City Council in its original form, the Chairman’s ordinance would cap the number of prescriptions that can be filled hourly as well as the number of hours a pharmacist can work.

Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance

At the June 2017 City Council meeting, Progressive Reform Caucus Chair Alderman Scott Waguespack (32), Ald. Toni Foulkes (15), Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) and several other Chicago City Council aldermen introduced the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would reform employer scheduling practices to:

  • Require that workers receive two weeks’ advance notice of their work schedule;
  • Have the opportunity to consent or decline to hours being added to their schedule with less than 14 days’ notice; and
  • Be provided additional “predictability pay” for last-minute shifts that are removed or changed.

IHA has significant concerns about the impact of this ordinance on hospital scheduling practices. We are requesting your input on how this will impact your hospital in order to more effectively communicate with the Chicago City Council.

Please contact IHA to share your feedback on the ordinance or to receive additional information.

Cook County Medical Examiner Fee Increases

In response to rising costs, the Cook County Board last week approved several fee increases at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office:

  • Storage fee will rise from $50 to a flat fee of $500;
  • Lab use fee will rise from $100 per week to $250 per day;
  • Expert witness fee for the Chief Medical Examiner, Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, Assistant Medical Examiners and Toxicologists will rise by $100 each; and
  • Cremation fee will rise from $100 to $250.

The new rates take effect December 1, 2017.