HR0108 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0108 LRB097 10762 GRL 51167 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The mission of the Illinois Professionals Health Program (IPHP) is to support and guide Illinois health care professionals to wellness and healing, thereby promoting safe professional practice and enriching the lives of healers and their patients; and

WHEREAS, IPHP is available to assist and advocate for a number of health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and chiropractors; and

WHEREAS, The types of problems that referrals and participants typically face include allegations or actual instances of addictions of all kinds, disruptive behavior, boundary violations, sexual misconduct, and physical and emotional illness; and

WHEREAS, The IPHP, which was initially developed by the Illinois State Medical Society, has no disciplinary authority; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has approved the IPHP as a monitoring and support service and routinely refers health care professionals for participation in the IPHP; and

WHEREAS, According to news reports, the IPHP has received $234,275 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation since fiscal year 2009 to monitor nurses and pharmacists and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has more than 100 confidential "Agreements of Care, Counseling, or Treatment" in place that allow physicians and other health workers to submit to private monitoring instead of public discipline; and

WHEREAS, Concerns have been raised as to whether adequate accountability and oversight exists over the IPHP to ensure patient safety; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed to conduct a management audit of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's use and monitoring of the Illinois Professionals Health Program during fiscal years 2009 through 2011; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the audit shall include, but need not be limited to, the following determinations:

(1) whether the IPHP is providing the services contracted for by the Department and is adequately monitoring the health professionals' compliance with treatment and rehabilitation plans;

(2) whether other requirements established by the contract between the Department and the IPHP are being met;

(3) whether health professionals who do not comply with treatment and rehabilitation plans established by the IPHP are appropriately referred to the Department and whether the Department takes disciplinary action, if applicable; and

(4) whether the Department has assessed how well the IPHP is performing, such as by determining that the health professionals receiving treatment and rehabilitation services through the IPHP do not pose a risk to the safety and well-being of patients; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Illinois Professionals Health Program, and any other entity having information relevant to this audit cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's Office in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.