HR0954 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0954 LRB101 23409 MST 74642 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act (20 ILCS 3305/7), the Governor of the State of Illinois has issued a proclamation declaring that a public health emergency exists related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, As the Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, ordered during the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, the requirement in the Section 2105-400 of the Civil Administrative Code, 20 ILCS 2105-400, and its accompanying regulations, authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to take certain actions to increase the number of licensed professionals responding to the disaster, is suspended to the extent it limits the Secretary's authority to those persons working under the direction of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) pursuant to a declared disaster by the Governor; and

WHEREAS, The Governor further ordered that the requirement that the Secretary shall only exercise this authority "in coordination with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Public Health" remains in effect and that in exercising this authority, the Secretary shall work closely with the Directors of the IEMA and the IDH to ensure any impacted licensed professionals are aiding in the response to the disaster; and

WHEREAS, Section 2105-400(a)(l) of the Civil Administrative Code (20 ILCS 2105) authorizes the Secretary of the IDFPR to suspend the requirements for permanent licensure of persons who are licensed in another state and modify the scope of practice restrictions under any licensing act administered by the Department; and

WHEREAS, The Secretary of IDFPR has coordinated a response to the declared public health emergency with IEMA and IDPH, including expanding the scope of practice of dentists in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, dentists are authorized to administer influenza (inactivated influenza vaccine and live attenuated influenza intranasal vaccinations) to patients 18 years of age and older pursuant to a valid prescription or standing order by a physician licensed; and

WHEREAS, Under the Illinois Dental Practice Act Administrative Rules section 1220.240(g)(2), dental hygienists may administer local anesthetics upon successful completion of a 32-hour course that covers pharmacology, anatomy, techniques in the use of mandibular block and infiltration injections, and post-operative instructions; and

WHEREAS, There are currently two vaccines approved under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and more approvals are expected in the coming months; and

WHEREAS, There is a shortage of healthcare providers available to administer the millions of vaccines needed to reach a level of herd immunity; and

WHEREAS, The inability to provide this needed vaccine due to a lack of healthcare providers trained to administer the necessary vaccinations will possibly contribute to unnecessary sickness and death; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor and the Secretary of the IDFPR to issue an Amended Emergency Proclamation to include an amended version that allows dentists to receive, store, and administer the COVID-19 vaccine and a second provision allowing Just in Time (JIT) training for both dentists and dental hygienists in order to participate in mass vaccination efforts throughout the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois licensed dentist's and dental hygienist's scope of practice under the Dental Practice Act, 225 ILCS 25, to be expanded to allow them to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to persons 16 years of age and older pursuant to a standing order and pursuant to the following requirements:

(1) The vaccine must be FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed;

(2) The vaccination must be ordered and administered according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) standard immunization schedule;

(3) The dentist must complete a practical training program of at least 4 hours that is approved by an Illinois approved sponsor pursuant to 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440(b)(2); this training program must include a review of hands-on injection techniques, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, the recognition and treatment of adverse reactions to vaccines including anaphylactic shock symptoms and treatment, the appropriate method of storage, handling and disposal of vaccines and all used supplies or contaminated equipment, and the proper administration and maintenance of written policies and procedures pursuant to Section 1220.403 of the Administrative Rules;

(4) The dentist must have a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

(5) The dentist must comply with record-keeping and reporting requirements of the jurisdiction in which he or she administers vaccines, including informing the patient's primary-care provider within 30 days after administration of a vaccine, submitting the required immunization information to the State or local immunization information system (vaccine registry), complying with requirements with respect to reporting adverse events, and complying with requirements whereby the person administering a vaccine must review the vaccine registry or other vaccination records prior to administering a vaccine; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we also urge that the scope of practice for a licensed dentist or a dental hygienist who has completed prior training in mandibular block and infiltration injection techniques and for those dentists and dental hygienists who wish to only volunteer as part of a mass vaccination effort for the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to persons 16 years of age and older pursuant to a standing order be additionally expanded to allow, as an alternative to the training provisions in (3), (4) and (5) above, the administration of vaccines under a Just in Time (JIT) training model, if provided, under the coordination and supervision of a medical facility or local health mass vaccination plan pursuant to the following requirements:

(1) The dentist or dental hygienist must complete a Just in Time (JIT) training program of at least 1 hour that is approved by an Illinois approved continuing education sponsor pursuant to 68 Ill Adm Code 1220.440(b)(2); this training program must include instruction on hands-on intramuscular injection techniques, medication dosage, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of adverse reactions to vaccines including anaphylactic shock symptoms and treatment;

(2) Proper handling of vaccines and all supplies or contaminated equipment and proper record-keeping policies and procedures required by the facility;

(3) The dentist and dental hygienist volunteering under this section must have a current proof of license and a certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

(4) Complete an orientation at the medical facility or public health facility on workstation requirements and protocol; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution should be delivered to the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Secretary of the IDFPR, and the Director of the IDPH.