HB5412eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5412 Engrossed LRB098 19365 RPM 54518 b

AN ACT concerning public health.

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

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-685 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-685 new)

Sec. 2310-685. Integrated team-based health care; community health workers; creation of board.

(a) In this Section:

"Community health worker" or "CHW" means a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison, link, and intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities, including outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.

"Community health worker practice" includes education, training, and experience on the core competencies in order to effectively provide services to the communities and populations served through a variety of distinct roles that are indicative of community health worker best practices.

(b) The core competencies of a community health worker include skills and areas of knowledge that are essential to bringing about expanded health and wellness in diverse communities and to reduce health disparities. As members of communities and health teams, the core competencies for effective community health workers may include, but are not limited to:

(1) outreach methods and strategies;

(2) client and community assessment;

(3) effective community-based and participatory methods, including research;

(4) culturally competent communication and care;

(5) health education for behavior change;

(6) support, advocacy, and health system navigation for clients;

(7) application of public health concepts and approaches;

(8) individual and community capacity building and mobilization; and

(9) writing, oral, and technical communication skills.

(c) Nothing in this Section shall permit a certified or non-certified community health worker to engage in or perform any act or service for which a license issued by a professional licensing board is required.

(d) Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Director shall establish and appoint the Illinois Community Health Worker Advisory Board (Board). The Board shall propose to the Department leadership the training and certification processes for community health workers. The Board shall also advise the Department, the Governor, and the General Assembly on all matters that impact the effective work of community health workers.

(e) The Board shall be comprised of 11 voting members. At least 6 members of the Board shall be community health workers, representing different racial and ethnic backgrounds and geographic areas, one of whom shall have served as a health insurance marketplace navigator. One member shall be a representative of the community colleges, universities, and educational institutions that may provide CHW training. The remaining positions shall be filled with 4 individual representatives appointed from the following categories, with no fewer than 3 categories being represented:

(1) health care or public health professionals, who are not community health workers, with community health and supervision experience, such as nurses and physicians; and

(2) training or curriculum specialists; and

(3) social service or social science professionals, such as social workers, counselors, anthropologists, and community psychologists; and

(4) agency administrators and CHW employer representatives or program administrators, excluding upper management; and

(5) health policy advisors, with experience in health care workforce policy.

(f) The Board shall also include non-voting, ex-officio members from the following State agencies:

(1) the Illinois Community College Board;

(2) the Department on Aging;

(3) the Department of Children and Family Services;

(4) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;

(5) the Department of Employment Security;

(6) the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation;

(7) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services;

(8) the Department of Human Services; and

(9) the Department of Public Health.

(g) The Director shall designate a chairperson from the 11 voting members of the Board. The Board shall consult with additional experts as needed.

(h) The Board shall develop and submit a proposed plan by December 31, 2014 for the certification process of community health workers to the Director of Public Health, the Governor, and the General Assembly within 9 months after their first meeting that shall include:

(1) researching best practices and proposing curriculum and training programs as models for designing an Illinois certification process, including the consideration of a multi-tiered educational or training system, which may include statewide certification, non-certification, and degree-based levels, and the requirements for experience-based certification;

(2) recommending certification and renewal processes and a system of approval and accreditation for curriculum and training;

(3) ensuring that the content, methodology, development, and delivery of any proposed programs is appropriate based on cultural, geographic, and other specialty needs and reflective of relevant CHW scope of practice; and

(4) investigating and identifying best practices for reimbursement options and pathways through which secure funding for community health workers may be obtained.

(i) Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of their duties as members of the Board from funds appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose.

(j) The Department shall provide administrative and staff support to the Board.

(k) The Board shall be dissolved on January 1, 2015.