HB0179 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 05632 LCB 35681 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0179

Introduced 1/11/2005, by Rep. David R. Leitch - Jack McGuire - Elizabeth Coulson - Frank J. Mautino - Carolyn H. Krause

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

745 ILCS 49/30

Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act. Provides that the immunity for civil damages provided for services performed without compensation at free medical clinics also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation. Makes changes in the definition of "free medical clinic".

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning medical clinics.

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

Section 5. The Good Samaritan Act is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:

(745 ILCS 49/30)

Sec. 30. Free medical clinic; exemption from civil liability for services performed without compensation.

(a) A person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a person licensed to practice the treatment of human ailments in any other state or territory of the United States, or a health care professional, including but not limited to an advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, podiatrist, or social worker licensed in this State or any other state or territory of the United States, who, in good faith, provides medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice as a part of the services of an established free medical clinic providing care to medically indigent patients which is limited to care that does not require the services of a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center and who receives no fee or compensation from that source shall not be liable for civil damages as a result of his or her acts or omissions in providing that medical treatment, except for willful or wanton misconduct.

(b) For purposes of this Section, a "free medical clinic" is an organized community based program providing medical care without charge to individuals unable to pay for it, at which the care provided does not include the use of general anesthesia or require an overnight stay in a health-care facility.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Section do not apply to a particular case unless the free medical clinic has posted in a conspicuous place on its premises an explanation of the exemption from civil liability provided herein.

(d) The immunity from civil damages provided under subsection (a) also applies to physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers that provide further medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice to a patient upon referral from an established free medical clinic without fee or compensation. The immunity for civil damages provided under subsection (a) also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation.

(e) Nothing in this Section prohibits a free medical clinic from accepting voluntary contributions for medical services provided to a patient who has acknowledged his or her ability and willingness to pay a portion of the value of the medical services provided.

Any voluntary contribution collected for providing care at a free medical clinic shall be used only to pay overhead expenses of operating the clinic. No portion of any moneys collected shall be used to provide a fee or other compensation to any person licensed under Medical Practice Act of 1987.

(Source: P.A. 89-607, eff. 1-1-97; 90-742, eff. 8-13-98.)