LATE/MISSED APPOINTMENT FEES

104th Regular Session Introduced by Rachel Ventura

Bars health care and veterinary providers from charging for missed or late appointments; permits incentive programs and imposes a $500 petty-offense fine per violation.

Referred to Assignments

Bill summary — SB 1972 (Late/Missed Appointment Fees)

Title: Late/Missed Appointment Fees

Bill number: SB 1972

Sponsor: Sen. Rachel Ventura

Introduced: February 6 / March 6, 2025 (filed and later formally received)

Current procedural status (per provided actions): Passed the Senate (April 30, 2025); received in the House May 1, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee on May 2, 2025. Companion: HB 1311.

Purpose / Intent

SB 1972 prohibits health care providers and persons engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine from charging patients or clients a fee for missed or late appointments. The bill seeks to eliminate financial penalties for appointment no‑shows and late arrivals while allowing providers to implement incentive programs to encourage appointment adherence.

Key provisions

Adds a new Section 8 to the Medical Patient Rights Act (410 ILCS 50) and new Section 14.3 to the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 (225 ILCS 115).

Prohibition: Except as otherwise required by law, a health care provider or a person engaged in veterinary medicine may not charge a patient or client, or require payment, for a missed or late appointment.

Definition scope: “Health care provider” is broadly defined to include (by example) licensed dentists and dental hygienists; physicians and physician assistants; advanced practice registered nurses and other nurses; pharmacists; optometrists; physical therapists; occupational therapists; podiatrists; clinical psychologists; clinical social workers; speech‑language pathologists; audiologists; dispensers of hearing instruments; and related licensed practitioners.

Incentives allowed: The bill explicitly permits development and use of incentive programs to encourage patients/clients to keep appointments.

Penalty: Violation is a petty offense with a $500 fine per violation.

Who is affected

Patients and clients (human and animal): would no longer be charged missed/late appointment fees by covered providers.

Licensed health care practitioners and veterinary practices: would be prohibited from assessing these fees and exposed to fines for violations.

Offices/clinics: may need to revise scheduling, reminder, and revenue-recovery policies; may adopt permissible incentive programs instead of penalty fees.

Enforcement, penalties, and limits

Enforcement is criminally framed as a petty offense (fine $500 per violation). The bill does not specify civil remedies, private causes of action, or administrative enforcement details beyond the fine.

The text includes the standard caveat “except as otherwise required by law,” leaving open conflicts with other legal requirements.

Notable considerations / potential impacts

Removes a common clinic revenue source and deterrent used to reduce missed appointments; could increase costs elsewhere (e.g., higher service fees, operational changes).

Encourages non‑punitive measures (incentives, reminders) but leaves open practical questions about defining “missed” vs. “late,” recordkeeping, and enforcement procedures.

Companion bill in the House (HB 1311) tracks the same policy.

This summary reflects provisions and actions as provided in the bill text and legislative action list through early May 2025.