SB2541 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16373 ASK 31637 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2541

Introduced 1/12/2010, by Sen. A. J. Wilhelmi

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act. Provides for the registration of volunteer health practitioners with a registration system for the provision of health or veterinary services in the State for a host entity or disaster relief organization while an emergency declaration is in effect. Sets forth a provision concerning the uniformity of application and construction of the Act. Provides for the creation of the registration system. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall be the administrating authority of the Uniform Act.

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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.

Section 2. Definitions. In this Act:

(1) "Disaster relief organization" means an entity that provides emergency or disaster relief services that include health or veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners and that:

(A) is designated or recognized as a provider of those services pursuant to a disaster response and recovery plan adopted by an agency of the federal government or the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; or

(B) regularly plans and conducts its activities in coordination with an agency of the federal government or the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(2) "Emergency" means an event or condition that is a disaster as defined in Section 4 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(3) "Emergency declaration" means a declaration of emergency issued by a person authorized to do so under the laws of this State or a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(4) (Reserved).

(5) "Entity" means a person other than an individual.

(6) "Health facility" means an entity licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services.

(7) "Health practitioner" means an individual licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services.

(8) "Health services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of individuals or human populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including:

(A) the following, concerning the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or affecting the structure or function of the body:

(i) preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care; and

(ii) counseling, assessment, procedures, or other services;

(B) sale or dispensing of a drug, a device, equipment, or another item to an individual in accordance with a prescription; and

(C) funeral, cremation, cemetery, or other mortuary services.

(9) "Host entity" means an entity operating in this State which uses volunteer health practitioners to respond to an emergency, including a healthcare facility, system, clinic or other fixed or mobile location where health care services are provided. A disaster relief organization may also be a host entity under this subsection to the extent that it operates a healthcare facility, system, clinic, or other fixed or mobile location in providing emergency or disaster relief services.

(10) "License" means authorization by a state to engage in health or veterinary services that are unlawful without the authorization.

(11) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(12) "Scope of practice" means the extent of the authorization to provide health or veterinary services granted to a health practitioner by a license issued to the practitioner in the state in which the principal part of the practitioner's services are rendered, including any conditions imposed by the licensing authority.

(13) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(14) "Veterinary services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency declaration, including:

(A) diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of an animal disease, injury, or other physical or mental condition by the prescription, administration, or dispensing of vaccine, medicine, surgery, or therapy;

(B) use of a procedure for reproductive management; and

(C) monitoring and treatment of animal populations for diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans.

(15) "Volunteer health practitioner" means a health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services, whether or not the practitioner receives compensation for those services. The term does not include a practitioner who receives compensation pursuant to an employment relationship existing at the time of the emergency with a host entity which requires the practitioner to provide health services in this State, unless the practitioner is not a resident of this State and is employed by a disaster relief organization providing services in this State while an emergency declaration is in effect.

Section 3. Applicability to volunteer health practitioners. This Act applies to volunteer health practitioners registered with a registration system that complies with Section 5 and who provide health or veterinary services in this State for a host entity or disaster relief organization while an emergency declaration is in effect.

Section 4. Regulation of services during emergency.

(a) While a disaster proclamation under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act is in effect, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency may limit, restrict, or otherwise regulate:

(1) the duration of practice by volunteer health practitioners;

(2) the geographical areas in which volunteer health practitioners may practice;

(3) the types of volunteer health practitioners who may practice; and

(4) any other matters necessary to coordinate effectively the provision of health or veterinary services during the emergency.

(b) An order issued pursuant to subsection (a) may take effect immediately, without prior notice or comment, and is not a rule within the meaning of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(c) A host entity or disaster relief organization that uses volunteer health practitioners to provide health or veterinary services in this State shall:

(1) consult and coordinate its activities with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to the extent practicable to provide for the efficient and effective use of volunteer health practitioners; and

(2) comply with any laws relating to the management of emergency health or veterinary services.

Section 5. Volunteer Health Practitioner Registration Systems.

(a) To qualify as a volunteer health practitioner registration system, a system must:

(1) accept applications for the registration of volunteer health practitioners before or during an emergency;

(2) include information about the licensure and good standing of health practitioners which is accessible by authorized persons;

(3) be capable of confirming the accuracy of information concerning whether a health practitioner is licensed and in good standing before health services or veterinary services are provided under this Act; and

(4) meet one of the following conditions:

(A) be an emergency system for advance registration of volunteer health-care practitioners established by a state and funded through the Department of Health and Human Services under Section 319I of the Public Health Services Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 247d-7b (as amended);

(B) be a local unit consisting of trained and equipped emergency response, public health, and medical personnel formed pursuant to Section 2801 of the Public Health Services Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300hh (as amended);

(C) be operated by a:

(i) disaster relief organization;

(ii) licensing board;

(iii) national or regional association of licensing boards or health practitioners;

(iv) health facility that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient health-care services, including a tertiary care, teaching hospital, or ambulatory surgical treatment center; or

(v) governmental entity; or

(D) be designated by the Department of Public Health as a registration system for purposes of this Act.

(b) While an emergency declaration is in effect, the Department of Public Health, a person authorized to act on behalf of the Department of Public Health, or a host entity or disaster relief organization, may confirm whether volunteer health practitioners utilized in this State are registered with a registration system that complies with subsection (a). Confirmation is limited to obtaining identities of the practitioners from the system and determining whether the system indicates that the practitioners are licensed and in good standing.

(c) Upon request of a person in this State authorized under subsection (b), or a similarly authorized person in another state, a registration system located in this State shall notify the person of the identities of volunteer health practitioners and whether the practitioners are licensed and in good standing.

(d) A host entity or disaster relief organization is not required to use the services of a volunteer health practitioner even if the practitioner is registered with a registration system that indicates that the practitioner is licensed and in good standing.

Section 6. Recognition of volunteer health practitioners licensed in other states.

(a) While an emergency declaration is in effect, a volunteer health practitioner, registered with a registration system that complies with Section 5 and licensed and in good standing in the state upon which the practitioner's registration is based, may practice in this State to the extent authorized by this Act as if the practitioner were licensed in this State.

(b) A volunteer health practitioner qualified under subsection (a) is not entitled to the protections of this Act if the practitioner is licensed in more than one state and any license of the practitioner is suspended, revoked, or subject to an agency order limiting or restricting practice privileges, or has been voluntarily terminated under threat of sanction.

Section 7. No effect on credentialing and privileging.

(a) In this Section:

(1) "Credentialing" means obtaining, verifying, and assessing the qualifications of a health practitioner to provide treatment, care, or services in or for a health facility.

(2) "Privileging" means the authorizing by an appropriate authority, such as a governing body, of a health practitioner to provide specific treatment, care, or services at a health facility subject to limits based on factors that include license, education, training, experience, competence, health status, and specialized skill.

(b) This Act does not affect credentialing or privileging standards of a health facility and does not preclude a health facility from waiving or modifying those standards while an emergency declaration is in effect.

Section 8. Provision of volunteer health or veterinary services; administrative sanctions.

(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c), a volunteer health practitioner shall adhere to the scope of practice for a similarly licensed practitioner established by the licensing provisions, practice Acts, or other laws of this State.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), this Act does not authorize a volunteer health practitioner to provide services that are outside the practitioner's scope of practice, even if a similarly licensed practitioner in this State would be permitted to provide the services.

(c) Consistent with the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or the Department of Public Health may modify or restrict the health or veterinary services that volunteer health practitioners may provide pursuant to this Act during an emergency. A proclamation under this subsection may take effect immediately, without prior notice or comment, and is not a rule within the meaning of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(d) A host entity or disaster relief organization may restrict the health or veterinary services that a volunteer health practitioner may provide pursuant to this Act.

(e) A volunteer health practitioner does not engage in unauthorized practice unless the practitioner has reason to know of any limitation, modification, or restriction under this Section or that a similarly licensed practitioner in this State would not be permitted to provide the services. A volunteer health practitioner has reason to know of a limitation, modification, or restriction or that a similarly licensed practitioner in this State would not be permitted to provide a service if:

(1) the practitioner knows the limitation, modification, or restriction exists or that a similarly licensed practitioner in this State would not be permitted to provide the service; or

(2) from all the facts and circumstances known to the practitioner at the relevant time, a reasonable person would conclude that the limitation, modification, or restriction exists or that a similarly licensed practitioner in this State would not be permitted to provide the service.

(f) In addition to the authority granted by law of this State to regulate the conduct of health practitioners, a licensing board or other disciplinary authority in this State:

(1) may impose administrative sanctions upon a health practitioner licensed in this State for conduct outside of this State in response to an out-of-state emergency;

(2) may impose administrative sanctions upon a practitioner not licensed in this State for conduct in this State in response to an in-state emergency; and

(3) shall report any administrative sanctions imposed upon a practitioner licensed in another state to the appropriate licensing board or other disciplinary authority in any other state in which the practitioner is known to be licensed.

(g) In determining whether to impose administrative sanctions under subsection (f), a licensing board or other disciplinary authority shall consider the circumstances in which the conduct took place, including any exigent circumstances, and the practitioner's scope of practice, education, training, experience, and specialized skill.

Section 9. Relation to other laws.

(a) This Act does not limit rights, privileges, or immunities provided to volunteer health practitioners by laws other than this Act. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), this Act does not affect requirements for the use of health practitioners pursuant to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

(b) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, pursuant to any mutual aid compacts entered into by this State, may incorporate into the emergency forces of this State volunteer health practitioners who are not officers or employees of this State, a political subdivision of this State, or a municipality or other local government within this State.

Section 10. Regulatory authority. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may implement this Act. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall consult with and consider the recommendations of the entity established to coordinate the implementation of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and shall also consult with and consider rules promulgated by similarly empowered agencies in other states to promote uniformity of application of this Act and make the emergency response systems in the various states reasonably compatible.

Section 11. Workers' compensation coverage. A volunteer health practitioner providing health or veterinary services pursuant to this Act may be considered a volunteer in accordance with subsection (k) of Section 10 of the Illinois Emergency Management Act for the purposes of worker's compensation coverage.

Section 12. Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and construing this Uniform Act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.