Effective this year, a new Illinois statute requires that at least 30 days before a health care practitioner or health care facility cease operations, a public notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the practitioner or health care facility is located.  The law applies to medical offices, health care clinics, group practices and ambulatory surgical centers, as well as any entity where patients receive health care services.  The notice much include information explaining how patients may access copies of their medical records.