HB1355 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 03907 ASK 13942 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB1355

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. Angelo Saviano - Dan Reitz - Brandon W. Phelps

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 60/7.5
225 ILCS 60/9	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-9
225 ILCS 60/18	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-18
225 ILCS 60/19	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-19
225 ILCS 60/23	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-23
225 ILCS 60/26	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-26
225 ILCS 60/32 rep.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that in determining what action to take or whether to proceed with prosecution of a complaint, the Complaint Committee shall consider any recommendation made by the Department. Sets forth criteria that the Medical Licensing Board may consider in making a determination of professional capacity, and makes other changes concerning professional capacity. Makes a change concerning a visiting professor permit. Changes references from "licensure without examination" to "licensure by endorsement". Makes a change concerning requiring an examination. Requires the State's Attorney of each county to report to the Disciplinary Board, within 5 days after a conviction, all instances in which a person licensed under the Act is convicted of any felony or a class A misdemeanor for an act or conduct similar to an act or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action (now, the State's Attorney must report all instances in which a licensee is convicted or otherwise found guilty of any felony). Allows the disclosure of certain confidential information to a medical licensing authority of another state or jurisdiction in certain instances. Makes other changes. Repeals a Section concerning the practice of medicine by persons licensed in any other state who have applied to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for a license to practice medicine in all of its branches. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning professional regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Medical Practice Act of 1987 is amended by changing Sections 7.5, 9, 18, 19, 23, and 26 as follows:

(225 ILCS 60/7.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 7.5. Complaint Committee.

(a) There shall be a Complaint Committee of the Disciplinary Board composed of at least one of the medical coordinators established by subsection (g) of Section 7 of this Act, the Chief of Medical Investigations (person employed by the Department who is in charge of investigating complaints against physicians and physician assistants), and at least 3 voting members of the Disciplinary Board (at least 2 of whom shall be physicians) designated by the Chairman of the Medical Disciplinary Board with the approval of the Disciplinary Board. The Disciplinary Board members so appointed shall serve one-year terms and may be eligible for reappointment for subsequent terms.

(b) The Complaint Committee shall meet at least twice a month to exercise its functions and duties set forth in subsection (c) below. At least 2 members of the Disciplinary Board shall be in attendance in order for any business to be transacted by the Complaint Committee. The Complaint Committee shall make every effort to consider expeditiously and take prompt action on each item on its agenda.

(c) The Complaint Committee shall have the following duties and functions:

(1) To recommend to the Disciplinary Board that a complaint file be closed.

(2) To refer a complaint file to the office of the Chief of Medical Prosecutions (person employed by the Department who is in charge of prosecuting formal complaints against licensees) for review.

(3) To make a decision in conjunction with the Chief of Medical Prosecutions regarding action to be taken on a complaint file.

(d) In determining what action to take or whether to proceed with prosecution of a complaint, the Complaint Committee shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors: sufficiency of the evidence presented, prosecutorial merit under Section 22 of this Act, any recommendation made by the Department, and insufficient cooperation from complaining parties.

(Source: P.A. 93-214, eff. 1-1-04.)

(225 ILCS 60/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-9)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 9. Application for license. Each applicant for a license shall:

(A) Make application on blank forms prepared and furnished by the Department of Professional Regulation hereinafter referred to as the Department.

(B) Submit evidence satisfactory to the Department that the applicant:

(1) is of good moral character. In determining moral character under this Section, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or activities which would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act. The Department may also request the applicant to submit, and may consider as evidence of moral character, endorsements from 2 or 3 individuals licensed under this Act;

(2) has the preliminary and professional education required by this Act;

(3) (blank); and

(4) is physically, mentally, and professionally capable of practicing medicine with reasonable judgment, skill, and safety. In determining physical, mental and professional capacity under this Section, the Medical Licensing Board may, upon a showing of a possible incapacity, compel any applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both. The Licensing Board may condition or restrict any license, subject to the same terms and conditions as are provided for the Medical Disciplinary Board under Section 22 of this Act. Any such condition of a restricted license shall provide that the Chief Medical Coordinator or Deputy Medical Coordinator shall have the authority to review the subject physician's compliance with such conditions or restrictions, including, where appropriate, the physician's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment, to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records of patients.

In determining professional capacity under this Section, an any individual who has not been actively engaged in the practice of medicine or as a medical, osteopathic, or chiropractic student or who has not been engaged in a formal program of medical education during the 2 years immediately preceding their application may be required to complete such additional testing, training, or remedial education as the Licensing Board may deem necessary in order to establish the applicant's present capacity to practice medicine with reasonable judgment, skill, and safety. The Medical Licensing Board may consider all of the following criteria as they relate to an applicant, as part of its determination of professional capacity:

(1) Medical research in an established research facility, hospital, college or university, or private corporation.

(2) Specialized training or education.

(3) Publication of original work in learned, medical or scientific journals.

(4) Participation in federal, State, local, or international public health programs or organizations.

(5) Professional service in a federal veterans or military institution.

(6) Any other professional activities deemed to maintain and enhance the clinical capabilities of the applicant.

Any applicant applying for a license to practice medicine in all of its branches or for a license as a chiropractic physician who has not been engaged in the active practice of medicine or has not been enrolled in a medical program for 2 years prior to application must submit proof of professional capacity to the Medical Licensing Board.

Any applicant applying for a temporary license that has not been engaged in the active practice of medicine or has not been enrolled in a medical program for longer than 5 years prior to application must submit proof of professional capacity to the Medical Licensing Board.

(C) Designate specifically the name, location, and kind of professional school, college, or institution of which the applicant is a graduate and the category under which the applicant seeks, and will undertake, to practice.

(D) Pay to the Department at the time of application the required fees.

(E) Pursuant to Department rules, as required, pass an examination authorized by the Department to determine the applicant's fitness to receive a license.

(F) Complete the application process within 3 years from the date of application. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, application fees shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 89-387, eff. 8-20-95; 89-702, eff. 7-1-97.)

(225 ILCS 60/18) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-18)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 18. Visiting professor, physician, or resident permits.

(A) Visiting professor permit.

(1) A visiting professor permit shall entitle a person to practice medicine in all of its branches or to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery provided:

(a) the person maintains an equivalent authorization to practice medicine in all of its branches or to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery in good standing in their native licensing jurisdiction during the period of the visiting professor permit;

(b) the person has received a faculty appointment to teach in a medical, osteopathic or chiropractic school in Illinois; and

(c) the Department may prescribe the information necessary to establish an applicant's eligibility for a permit. This information shall include without limitation (i) a statement from the dean of the medical school at which the applicant will be employed describing the applicant's qualifications and (ii) a statement from the dean of the medical school listing every affiliated institution in which the applicant will be providing instruction as part of the medical school's education program and justifying any clinical activities at each of the institutions listed by the dean.

(2) Application for visiting professor permits shall be made to the Department, in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by the required fee established by rule, which shall not be refundable. Any application shall require the information as, in the judgment of the Department, will enable the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant.

(3) A visiting professor permit shall be valid for no longer than 2 years from the date of issuance or until the time the faculty appointment is terminated, whichever occurs first, and may be renewed only in accordance with subdivision (A)(6) of this Section.

(4) The applicant may be required to appear before the Medical Licensing Board for an interview prior to, and as a requirement for, the issuance of the original permit and the renewal.

(5) Persons holding a permit under this Section shall only practice medicine in all of its branches or practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery in the State of Illinois in their official capacity under their contract within the medical school itself and any affiliated institution in which the permit holder is providing instruction as part of the medical school's educational program and for which the medical school has assumed direct responsibility.

(6) After the initial renewal of a visiting professor permit, a A visiting professor permit shall be valid until the last day of the next physician license renewal period, as set by rule, and may only be renewed for applicants who meet the following requirements:

(i) have obtained the required continuing education hours as set by rule; and

(ii) have paid the fee prescribed for a license under Section 21 of this Act.

For initial renewal, the visiting professor must successfully pass a general competency examination authorized by the Department by rule, unless he or she was issued an initial visiting professor permit on or after January 1, 2007, but prior to July 1, 2007.

(B) Visiting physician permit.

(1) The Department may, in its discretion, issue a temporary visiting physician permit, without examination, provided:

(a) (blank);

(b) that the person maintains an equivalent authorization to practice medicine in all of its branches or to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery in good standing in his or her native licensing jurisdiction during the period of the temporary visiting physician permit;

(c) that the person has received an invitation or appointment to study, demonstrate, or perform a specific medical, osteopathic, chiropractic or clinical subject or technique in a medical, osteopathic, or chiropractic school, a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, a hospital organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, or a facility operated pursuant to the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act; and

(d) that the temporary visiting physician permit shall only permit the holder to practice medicine in all of its branches or practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery within the scope of the medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, or clinical studies for which the holder was invited or appointed.

(2) The application for the temporary visiting physician permit shall be made to the Department, in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department, and shall be accompanied by the required fee established by rule, which shall not be refundable. The application shall require information that, in the judgment of the Department, will enable the Department to pass on the qualification of the applicant, and the necessity for the granting of a temporary visiting physician permit.

(3) A temporary visiting physician permit shall be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance or until the time the medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, or clinical studies are completed, whichever occurs first.

(4) The applicant for a temporary visiting physician permit may be required to appear before the Medical Licensing Board for an interview prior to, and as a requirement for, the issuance of a temporary visiting physician permit.

(5) A limited temporary visiting physician permit shall be issued to a physician licensed in another state who has been requested to perform emergency procedures in Illinois if he or she meets the requirements as established by rule.

(C) Visiting resident permit.

(1) The Department may, in its discretion, issue a temporary visiting resident permit, without examination, provided:

(a) (blank);

(b) that the person maintains an equivalent authorization to practice medicine in all of its branches or to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery in good standing in his or her native licensing jurisdiction during the period of the temporary visiting resident permit;

(c) that the applicant is enrolled in a postgraduate clinical training program outside the State of Illinois that is approved by the Department;

(d) that the individual has been invited or appointed for a specific period of time to perform a portion of that post graduate clinical training program under the supervision of an Illinois licensed physician in an Illinois patient care clinic or facility that is affiliated with the out-of-State post graduate training program; and

(e) that the temporary visiting resident permit shall only permit the holder to practice medicine in all of its branches or practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery within the scope of the medical, osteopathic, chiropractic or clinical studies for which the holder was invited or appointed.

(2) The application for the temporary visiting resident permit shall be made to the Department, in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department, and shall be accompanied by the required fee established by rule. The application shall require information that, in the judgment of the Department, will enable the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant.

(3) A temporary visiting resident permit shall be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance or until the time the medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, or clinical studies are completed, whichever occurs first.

(4) The applicant for a temporary visiting resident permit may be required to appear before the Medical Licensing Board for an interview prior to, and as a requirement for, the issuance of a temporary visiting resident permit.

(Source: P.A. 95-915, eff. 8-26-08.)

(225 ILCS 60/19) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-19)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 19. Licensure by endorsement without examination. The Department may, in its discretion, issue a license by endorsement without examination to any person who is currently licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, or to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs or operative surgery, in any other state, territory, country or province, upon the following conditions:

(A) (Blank);

(B) That the applicant is of good moral character. In determining moral character under this Section, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or activities which would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act. The Department may also request the applicant to submit, and may consider as evidence of moral character, endorsements from 2 or 3 individuals licensed under this Act;

(C) That the applicant is physically, mentally and professionally capable of practicing medicine with reasonable judgment, skill and safety. In determining physical, mental and professional capacity under this Section the Medical Licensing Board may, upon a showing of a possible incapacity, compel an applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, and may condition or restrict any license, subject to the same terms and conditions as are provided for the Medical Disciplinary Board under Section 22 of this Act. The Medical Licensing Board or the Department may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning this mental or physical examination of the applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the applicant and the examining physician. Any condition of restricted license shall provide that the Chief Medical Coordinator or Deputy Medical Coordinator shall have the authority to review the subject physician's compliance with such conditions or restrictions, including, where appropriate, the physician's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment, to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records of patients.

(D) That if the applicant seeks to practice medicine in all of its branches:

(1) if the applicant was licensed in another jurisdiction prior to January 1, 1988, that the applicant has satisfied the educational requirements of paragraph (1) of subsection (A) or paragraph (2) of subsection (A) of Section 11 of this Act; or

(2) if the applicant was licensed in another jurisdiction after December 31, 1987, that the applicant has satisfied the educational requirements of paragraph (A)(2) of Section 11 of this Act; and

(3) the requirements for a license to practice medicine in all of its branches in the particular state, territory, country or province in which the applicant is licensed are deemed by the Department to have been substantially equivalent to the requirements for a license to practice medicine in all of its branches in force in this State at the date of the applicant's license;

(E) That if the applicant seeks to treat human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery:

(1) the applicant is a graduate of a chiropractic school or college approved by the Department at the time of their graduation;

(2) the requirements for the applicant's license to practice the treatment of human ailments without the use of drugs are deemed by the Department to have been substantially equivalent to the requirements for a license to practice in this State at the date of the applicant's license;

(F) That the Department may, in its discretion, issue a license by endorsement , without examination, to any graduate of a medical or osteopathic college, reputable and in good standing in the judgment of the Department, who has passed an examination for admission to the United States Public Health Service, or who has passed any other examination deemed by the Department to have been at least equal in all substantial respects to the examination required for admission to any such medical corps;

(G) That applications for licenses by endorsement without examination shall be filed with the Department, under oath, on forms prepared and furnished by the Department, and shall set forth, and applicants therefor shall supply such information respecting the life, education, professional practice, and moral character of applicants as the Department may require to be filed for its use;

(H) That the applicant undergo the criminal background check established under Section 9.7 of this Act.

In the exercise of its discretion under this Section, the Department is empowered to consider and evaluate each applicant on an individual basis. It may take into account, among other things, the extent to which there is or is not available to the Department, authentic and definitive information concerning the quality of medical education and clinical training which the applicant has had. Under no circumstances shall a license be issued under the provisions of this Section to any person who has previously taken and failed the written examination conducted by the Department for such license. In the exercise of its discretion under this Section, the Department may, upon the recommendation of the Medical Licensing Board, require an applicant to successfully complete an examination as recommended by the Medical Licensing Board. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or activities which would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act. The Department may also request the applicant to submit, and may consider as evidence of moral character, evidence from 2 or 3 individuals licensed under this Act. Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fees shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 89-702, eff. 7-1-97; 90-722, eff. 1-1-99.)

(225 ILCS 60/23) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-23)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 23. Reports relating to professional conduct and capacity.

(A) Entities required to report.

(1) Health care institutions. The chief administrator or executive officer of any health care institution licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health shall report to the Disciplinary Board when any person's clinical privileges are terminated or are restricted based on a final determination made , in accordance with that institution's by-laws or rules and regulations, that a person has either committed an act or acts which may directly threaten patient care, and not of an administrative nature, or that a person may be mentally or physically disabled in such a manner as to endanger patients under that person's care. Such officer also shall report if a person accepts voluntary termination or restriction of clinical privileges in lieu of formal action based upon conduct related directly to patient care and not of an administrative nature, or in lieu of formal action seeking to determine whether a person may be mentally or physically disabled in such a manner as to endanger patients under that person's care. The Medical Disciplinary Board shall, by rule, provide for the reporting to it of all instances in which a person, licensed under this Act, who is impaired by reason of age, drug or alcohol abuse or physical or mental impairment, is under supervision and, where appropriate, is in a program of rehabilitation. Such reports shall be strictly confidential and may be reviewed and considered only by the members of the Disciplinary Board, or by authorized staff as provided by rules of the Disciplinary Board. Provisions shall be made for the periodic report of the status of any such person not less than twice annually in order that the Disciplinary Board shall have current information upon which to determine the status of any such person. Such initial and periodic reports of impaired physicians shall not be considered records within the meaning of The State Records Act and shall be disposed of, following a determination by the Disciplinary Board that such reports are no longer required, in a manner and at such time as the Disciplinary Board shall determine by rule. The filing of such reports shall be construed as the filing of a report for purposes of subsection (C) of this Section.

(2) Professional associations. The President or chief executive officer of any association or society, of persons licensed under this Act, operating within this State shall report to the Disciplinary Board when the association or society renders a final determination that a person has committed unprofessional conduct related directly to patient care or that a person may be mentally or physically disabled in such a manner as to endanger patients under that person's care.

(3) Professional liability insurers. Every insurance company which offers policies of professional liability insurance to persons licensed under this Act, or any other entity which seeks to indemnify the professional liability of a person licensed under this Act, shall report to the Disciplinary Board the settlement of any claim or cause of action, or final judgment rendered in any cause of action, which alleged negligence in the furnishing of medical care by such licensed person when such settlement or final judgment is in favor of the plaintiff.

(4) State's Attorneys. The State's Attorney of each county shall report to the Disciplinary Board, within 5 days, any all instances in which a person licensed under this Act is convicted or otherwise found guilty of the commission of any felony or a class A misdemeanor for an act or conduct similar to an act or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action under Section 22 of this Act. The State's Attorney of each county may report to the Disciplinary Board through a verified complaint any instance in which the State's Attorney believes that a physician has willfully violated the notice requirements of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995.

(5) State agencies. All agencies, boards, commissions, departments, or other instrumentalities of the government of the State of Illinois shall report to the Disciplinary Board any instance arising in connection with the operations of such agency, including the administration of any law by such agency, in which a person licensed under this Act has either committed an act or acts which may be a violation of this Act or which may constitute unprofessional conduct related directly to patient care or which indicates that a person licensed under this Act may be mentally or physically disabled in such a manner as to endanger patients under that person's care.

(B) Mandatory reporting. All reports required by items (34), (35), and (36) of subsection (A) of Section 22 and by Section 23 shall be submitted to the Disciplinary Board in a timely fashion. The reports shall be filed in writing within 60 days after a determination that a report is required under this Act. All reports shall contain the following information:

(1) The name, address and telephone number of the person making the report.

(2) The name, address and telephone number of the person who is the subject of the report.

(3) The name and date of birth of any patient or patients whose treatment is a subject of the report, if available, or other means of identification if such information is not available, identification of the hospital or other healthcare facility where the care at issue in the report was rendered, provided, however, no medical records may be revealed.

(4) A brief description of the facts which gave rise to the issuance of the report, including the dates of any occurrences deemed to necessitate the filing of the report.

(5) If court action is involved, the identity of the court in which the action is filed, along with the docket number and date of filing of the action.

(6) Any further pertinent information which the reporting party deems to be an aid in the evaluation of the report.

The Disciplinary Board or Department may also exercise the power under Section 38 of this Act to subpoena copies of hospital or medical records in mandatory report cases alleging death or permanent bodily injury. Appropriate rules shall be adopted by the Department with the approval of the Disciplinary Board.

When the Department has received written reports concerning incidents required to be reported in items (34), (35), and (36) of subsection (A) of Section 22, the licensee's failure to report the incident to the Department under those items shall not be the sole grounds for disciplinary action.

Nothing contained in this Section shall act to in any way, waive or modify the confidentiality of medical reports and committee reports to the extent provided by law. Any information reported or disclosed shall be kept for the confidential use of the Disciplinary Board, the Medical Coordinators, the Disciplinary Board's attorneys, the medical investigative staff, and authorized clerical staff, as provided in this Act, and shall be afforded the same status as is provided information concerning medical studies in Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the Department may disclose information and documents to a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency pursuant to a subpoena in an ongoing criminal investigation or to a medical licensing authority of another state or jurisdiction pursuant to an official request made by that authority. Furthermore, information and documents disclosed to a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency may be used by that agency only for the investigation and prosecution of a criminal offense or, in the case of disclosure to another medical licensing authority, only for investigations and disciplinary action proceedings with regard to a license.

(C) Immunity from prosecution. Any individual or organization acting in good faith, and not in a wilful and wanton manner, in complying with this Act by providing any report or other information to the Disciplinary Board or a peer review committee, or assisting in the investigation or preparation of such information, or by voluntarily reporting to the Disciplinary Board or a peer review committee information regarding alleged errors or negligence by a person licensed under this Act, or by participating in proceedings of the Disciplinary Board or a peer review committee, or by serving as a member of the Disciplinary Board or a peer review committee, shall not, as a result of such actions, be subject to criminal prosecution or civil damages.

(D) Indemnification. Members of the Disciplinary Board, the Medical Coordinators, the Disciplinary Board's attorneys, the medical investigative staff, physicians retained under contract to assist and advise the medical coordinators in the investigation, and authorized clerical staff shall be indemnified by the State for any actions occurring within the scope of services on the Disciplinary Board, done in good faith and not wilful and wanton in nature. The Attorney General shall defend all such actions unless he or she determines either that there would be a conflict of interest in such representation or that the actions complained of were not in good faith or were wilful and wanton.

Should the Attorney General decline representation, the member shall have the right to employ counsel of his or her choice, whose fees shall be provided by the State, after approval by the Attorney General, unless there is a determination by a court that the member's actions were not in good faith or were wilful and wanton.

The member must notify the Attorney General within 7 days of receipt of notice of the initiation of any action involving services of the Disciplinary Board. Failure to so notify the Attorney General shall constitute an absolute waiver of the right to a defense and indemnification.

The Attorney General shall determine within 7 days after receiving such notice, whether he or she will undertake to represent the member.

(E) Deliberations of Disciplinary Board. Upon the receipt of any report called for by this Act, other than those reports of impaired persons licensed under this Act required pursuant to the rules of the Disciplinary Board, the Disciplinary Board shall notify in writing, by certified mail, the person who is the subject of the report. Such notification shall be made within 30 days of receipt by the Disciplinary Board of the report.

The notification shall include a written notice setting forth the person's right to examine the report. Included in such notification shall be the address at which the file is maintained, the name of the custodian of the reports, and the telephone number at which the custodian may be reached. The person who is the subject of the report shall submit a written statement responding, clarifying, adding to, or proposing the amending of the report previously filed. The person who is the subject of the report shall also submit with the written statement any medical records related to the report. The statement and accompanying medical records shall become a permanent part of the file and must be received by the Disciplinary Board no more than 30 days after the date on which the person was notified by the Disciplinary Board of the existence of the original report.

The Disciplinary Board shall review all reports received by it, together with any supporting information and responding statements submitted by persons who are the subject of reports. The review by the Disciplinary Board shall be in a timely manner but in no event, shall the Disciplinary Board's initial review of the material contained in each disciplinary file be less than 61 days nor more than 180 days after the receipt of the initial report by the Disciplinary Board.

When the Disciplinary Board makes its initial review of the materials contained within its disciplinary files, the Disciplinary Board shall, in writing, make a determination as to whether there are sufficient facts to warrant further investigation or action. Failure to make such determination within the time provided shall be deemed to be a determination that there are not sufficient facts to warrant further investigation or action.

Should the Disciplinary Board find that there are not sufficient facts to warrant further investigation, or action, the report shall be accepted for filing and the matter shall be deemed closed and so reported to the Secretary. The Secretary shall then have 30 days to accept the Medical Disciplinary Board's decision or request further investigation. The Secretary shall inform the Board in writing of the decision to request further investigation, including the specific reasons for the decision. The individual or entity filing the original report or complaint and the person who is the subject of the report or complaint shall be notified in writing by the Secretary of any final action on their report or complaint.

(F) Summary reports. The Disciplinary Board shall prepare, on a timely basis, but in no event less than once every other month, a summary report of final actions taken upon disciplinary files maintained by the Disciplinary Board. The summary reports shall be made available to the public upon request and payment of the fees set by the Department. This publication may be made available to the public on the Department's Internet website.

(G) Any violation of this Section shall be a Class A misdemeanor.

(H) If any such person violates the provisions of this Section an action may be brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, through the Attorney General of the State of Illinois, for an order enjoining such violation or for an order enforcing compliance with this Section. Upon filing of a verified petition in such court, the court may issue a temporary restraining order without notice or bond and may preliminarily or permanently enjoin such violation, and if it is established that such person has violated or is violating the injunction, the court may punish the offender for contempt of court. Proceedings under this paragraph shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all other remedies and penalties provided for by this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-677, eff. 8-25-05; 95-639, eff. 10-5-07.)

(225 ILCS 60/26) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-26)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2010)

Sec. 26. Advertising.

(1) Any person licensed under this Act may advertise the availability of professional services in the public media or on the premises where such professional services are rendered. Such advertising shall be limited to the following information:

(a) Publication of the person's name, title, office hours, address and telephone number;

(b) Information pertaining to the person's areas of specialization, including appropriate board certification or limitation of professional practice;

(c) Information on usual and customary fees for routine professional services offered, which information shall include, notification that fees may be adjusted due to complications or unforeseen circumstances;

(d) Announcement of the opening of, change of, absence from, or return to business;

(e) Announcement of additions to or deletions from professional licensed staff;

(f) The issuance of business or appointment cards.

(2) It is unlawful for any person licensed under this Act to use testimonials or claims of superior quality of care to entice the public. It shall be unlawful to advertise fee comparisons of available services with those of other persons licensed under this Act.

(3) This Act does not authorize the advertising of professional services which the offeror of such services is not licensed to render. Nor shall the advertiser use statements which contain false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading material or guarantees of success, statements which play upon the vanity or fears of the public, or statements which promote or produce unfair competition.

(4) A licensee shall include in every advertisement for services regulated under this Act his or her title as it appears on the license or the initials authorized under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-310, eff. 1-1-00.)

(225 ILCS 60/32 rep.)

Section 10. The Medical Practice Act of 1987 is amended by repealing Section 32.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.