Illinois State Medical Society

05/30/2026

Please join us in congratulating our longtime member, Dr. Kruse on his retirement!

Throughout his career, Dr. Kruse has made a lasting impact through compassionate care, leadership, and dedication to patients and the Illinois State Medical Society. We are proud to have him as an ISMS member.

Wishing Dr. Kruse a happy and well-deserved retirement. Congratulations! https://buff.ly/AvUeDgX

05/30/2026

Big congratulations to Speaker Shastri “Swami” Swaminathan, M.D. on his well-deserved recognition! We are proud to have you representing Illinois physicians and grateful for your leadership and dedication to the community! https://buff.ly/gIgpSnI

05/29/2026

When insurance companies use automated systems to quietly downcode a health insurance claim (reducing the billing code without ever reviewing the patient's actual medical record), they aren't just shortchanging providers; they're threatening patients' access to care by making it financially unsustainable for providers to treat those with the most complex and chronic conditions. The knock-on effect also leads to higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients.

Senate Bill 3114 puts a stop to the practice of faceless algorithms overriding a doctor's clinical judgment and increases transparency in the process. The bill was unanimously passed by the House Insurance Committee yesterday, and I look forward to it receiving a vote on the House Floor.

More info on the bill here ▶️ https://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=3114&GAID=18&SessionID=114&LegID=165735

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

State lawmakers are taking down a new insurance scheme that’s used to short-change doctors. Full story in the comments.

05/28/2026

Big win for physicians: The Illinois legislature has unanimously passed the ISMS-backed Transparency in Downcoding Act. It cleared the House by a vote of 111-0 Wednesday evening and now heads to the governor’s desk for consideration.

“This bill is another example of how Illinois leads the way in passing laws that improve access to medical care, making the state a more attractive place to practice medicine,” ISMS president Dr. Tripti Kataria said. “Once signed into law, the Transparency in Downcoding Act will bring greater clarity to the claims process, establish a clear and accessible pathway for disputing downcoded claims and ensure that a live person — not an automated system — is reviewing medical claims and their accompanying clinical documentation.”

Learn more about the bill here: https://buff.ly/OqRutG0

05/27/2026

The Women In Medicine Summit brings together physicians and health care workers from across the country to discuss the future of the industry. If you’re interested in becoming a student ambassador, the application deadline is fast approaching. Learn more: https://buff.ly/phO3o63

05/27/2026

Save money on supplies, business expenses with group purchasing partner CCPA! https://buff.ly/2maWASr

05/24/2026

The Illinois State Medical Society invites its members to join TaskForce, an ISMS Benefit Partner, for a review of proper documentation and coding practices and a discussion of current trends in physician billing and reimbursement. Members can register here for the live webinar: “Are You Confident in Your Coding Levels? Documenting and Billing for Clinical Encounters”

Figuring out how to get reimbursed appropriately for the services you provide to patients can feel as challenging as caring for your most complex patients. The financial pressures affecting physici...

05/23/2026

ISMS’ legislative team has ensured wording in the new menopause bills keeping our physicians in mind.

The two bills related to menopause and perimenopause advanced out of their respective chambers, and ISMS was active at the statehouse for both.

We have all the details here: https://buff.ly/nAzJCsk