State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ Engrossed ][ House Amendment 001 ]
[ House Amendment 002 ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_HB0522enr

      New Act
      5 ILCS 80/4.18 new
          Creates the Home Medical Equipment and Services  Provider
      License  Act  to  regulate  the  provision  of  home  medical
      equipment  and  services through licensure requirements. Sets
      forth criminal and civil  penalties.  Amends  the  Regulatory
      Agency  Sunset  Act  to repeal the Home Medical Equipment and
      Services Provider License Act on January 1,  2008.  Effective
      immediately.
                                                    LRB9000457DPccA
HB0522 Enrolled                               LRB9000457DPccA
 1        AN  ACT  creating the Home Medical Equipment and Services
 2    Provider License Act and amending a named Act.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the the
 6    Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License Act.
 7        Section  5.  Declaration  of  legislative  findings.  The
 8    General  Assembly  finds  that  home  medical  equipment  and
 9    services  providers in  the  State  of  Illinois  affect  the
10    public  health,  welfare, and safety, and therefore finds the
11    regulation and control  of  those  providers  to  be  in  the
12    public  interest. It is further declared that, as a matter of
13    public policy, home medical equipment and services  providers
14    should  merit  the confidence of the public and, to this end,
15    that only qualified entities be permitted to hold  themselves
16    out to the public as  home  medical  equipment  and  services
17    providers.  This  Act  shall  be  liberally construed to best
18    carry out these findings.
19        Section 10. Definitions.  As used in this Act:
20             (1)  "Department"   means    the    Department    of
21        Professional  Regulation.
22             (2)  "Director"  means  the Director of Professional
23        Regulation.
24             (3)  "Board" means the Home  Medical  Equipment  and
25        Services Board.
26             (4)  "Home  medical equipment and services provider"
27        or "provider" means a legal  entity, as defined by  State
28        law,  engaged  in the business of  providing home medical
29        equipment and services, whether directly   or  through  a
30        contractual   arrangement,   to   an  unrelated  sick  or
HB0522 Enrolled             -2-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1        disabled individual where that individual resides.
 2             (5)  "Home medical equipment and services" means the
 3        delivery,  installation,  maintenance,  replacement,   or
 4        instruction  in  the  use  of medical equipment used by a
 5        sick or disabled individual to allow the individual to be
 6        maintained in his or her residence.
 7             (6)  "Home medical equipment" means  technologically
 8        sophisticated  medical devices, apparatuses, machines, or
 9        other  similar  articles  bearing  a  label  that  states
10        "Caution:  federal  law  requires dispensing by or on the
11        order of a physician.", which are usable in a  home  care
12        setting, including but not  limited to:
13                  (A)  oxygen and oxygen delivery systems;
14                  (B)  ventilators;
15                  (C)  respiratory  disease  management  devices,
16             excluding compressor driven nebulizers;
17                  (D)  wheelchair seating systems;
18                  (E)  apnea monitors;
19                  (F)  transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator
20             (TENS) units;
21                  (G)  low air-loss cutaneous pressure management
22             devices;
23                  (H)  sequential compression devices;
24                  (I)  neonatal home phototherapy devices;
25                  (J)  enteral feeding pumps; and
26                  (K)  other  similar equipment as defined by the
27             Board.
28        "Home medical equipment" also includes hospital beds  and
29    electronic   and   computer-driven   wheelchairs,   excluding
30    scooters.
31        Section 15.  Licensure requirement; exempt activities.
32        (a)  No  entity  shall provide home medical equipment and
33    services, or  use  the  title  "home  medical  equipment  and
HB0522 Enrolled             -3-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1    services  provider"  in connection with his or her profession
 2    or business, without a license issued by the Department under
 3    this Act.
 4        (b)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing
 5    or  restricting the practices, services, or activities of the
 6    following, unless those practices,  services,  or  activities
 7    include providing home medical equipment and services through
 8    a separate legal entity:
 9             (1)  a  person  licensed or registered in this State
10        by any other law engaging in the profession or occupation
11        for which he or she is licensed or registered;
12             (2)  a home medical services provider entity that is
13        accredited under home  care  standards  by  a  recognized
14        accrediting body;
15             (3)  home  health agencies that do not have a Part B
16        Medicare supplier number or that do  not  engage  in  the
17        provision of home medical equipment and services;
18             (4)  hospitals,    excluding    hospital-owned   and
19        hospital-related providers  of home medical equipment and
20        services;
21             (5)  manufacturers  and  wholesale  distributors  of
22        home medical equipment who do  not  sell  directly  to  a
23        patient;
24             (6)  health    care   practitioners   who   lawfully
25        prescribe or order home medical equipment  and  services,
26        or  who  use home medical equipment and services to treat
27        their patients, including but not limited to  physicians,
28        nurses,   physical  therapists,  respiratory  therapists,
29        occupational  therapists,  speech-language  pathologists,
30        optometrists, chiropractors, and podiatrists;
31             (7)  pharmacists,  pharmacies,  and  home   infusion
32        pharmacies  that are not engaged in the sale or rental of
33        home medical equipment and services;
34             (8)  hospice programs that do not involve  the  sale
HB0522 Enrolled             -4-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1        or rental of home medical equipment and services;
 2             (9)  nursing homes;
 3             (10)  veterinarians;
 4             (11)  dentists; and
 5             (12)  emergency medical service providers.
 6        Section 20. Powers and duties of the Department.
 7        (a)  The  Department shall exercise the powers and duties
 8    prescribed by the Civil Administrative Code of  Illinois  for
 9    the administration of licensure Acts and shall exercise other
10    powers  and duties necessary for effectuating the purposes of
11    this Act.
12        (b)  The Department may adopt  rules  to  administer  and
13    enforce  this  Act,  including  but  not  limited to fees for
14    original licensure and renewal and restoration  of  licenses,
15    and  may  prescribe forms to be issued to implement this Act.
16    At a minimum, the  rules  adopted  by  the  Department  shall
17    include   standards   and  criteria  for  licensure  and  for
18    professional conduct and  discipline.  The  Department  shall
19    consult  with the Board in adopting rules. Notice of proposed
20    rulemaking  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  Board,  and  the
21    Department  shall  review  the  Board's  response   and   any
22    recommendations  made  in  the response. The Department shall
23    notify the  Board  in  writing  with  proper  explanation  of
24    deviations from the Board's recommendations and response.
25        (c)  The  Department  may at any time seek the advice and
26    expert knowledge of the Board on any matter relating  to  the
27    administration of this Act.
28        (d)  The Department shall issue a quarterly report to the
29    Board  of  the  status  of  all  complaints  related  to  the
30    profession and filed with the Department.
31        Section  25.  Home  Medical Equipment and Services Board.
32    The Director shall  appoint  a  Home  Medical  Equipment  and
HB0522 Enrolled             -5-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1    Services  Board,  in  consultation  with  a state association
 2    representing  the  home  medical   equipment   and   services
 3    industry,  to  serve in an advisory capacity to the Director.
 4    The Board shall consist of 7 members. Four members  shall  be
 5    home     medical     equipment    and    services    provider
 6    representatives, 2 of whom represent businesses grossing less
 7    than  $500,000 per year in  revenues,  2  of  whom  represent
 8    businesses  grossing  $500,000  or more per year in revenues,
 9    and at least one of  whom  shall  also  be  a  pharmacy-based
10    provider. The 3 remaining members shall include one home care
11    clinical  specialist,  one respiratory care practitioner, and
12    one consumer of home medical equipment and services.
13        Members  shall  serve  4  year  terms  and  until   their
14    successors  are  appointed  and qualified, except that of the
15    initial appointments, the consumer member shall be  appointed
16    to  serve for one year, 2 members shall be appointed to serve
17    for 2 years, 3 members shall be  appointed  to  serve  for  3
18    years,  and  one  member  who is a home medical equipment and
19    services provider representative shall be appointed to  serve
20    for  4    years, and until their successors are appointed and
21    qualified. No member shall be reappointed to the Board for  a
22    term  that  would  cause  continuous  service on the Board to
23    exceed 8 years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be  made
24    in   the  same  manner  as  original  appointments,  for  the
25    unexpired portion of the vacated term.
26        The  home  medical  equipment   and   services   provider
27    representatives appointed  to the Board shall have engaged in
28    the  provision  of  home  medical  equipment  and services or
29    related home care services for at  least  3  years  prior  to
30    their  appointment,  shall  be currently engaged in providing
31    home medical equipment and services in the State of Illinois,
32    and must have no record of convictions related  to  fraud  or
33    abuse under either State or federal law.
34        The  membership  of  the  Board should reasonably reflect
HB0522 Enrolled             -6-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1    representation from the geographic areas in this State.
 2        The Board shall annually elect  one  of  its  members  as
 3    chairperson and vice chairperson.
 4        Members  of  the  Board  shall  receive as compensation a
 5    reasonable sum as determined by the  Director  for  each  day
 6    actually  engaged  in  the duties of the office, and shall be
 7    reimbursed for authorized expenses incurred in performing the
 8    duties of the office.
 9        The Director may terminate the appointment of any  member
10    for  cause  which  in  the opinion of the Director reasonably
11    justifies the termination.
12        Through consultation with members of a state  association
13    for  the  home  medical  equipment and services industry, the
14    Board may recommend to the Department rules that specify  the
15    medical  equipment  to  be  included under this Act, that set
16    standards  for  the  licensure,  professional  conduct,   and
17    discipline   of  entities that provide home medical equipment
18    and services, and that govern the safety and quality of  home
19    medical  equipment  and services. The Director shall consider
20    the recommendations of the Board.
21        Members of the Board shall be  immune  from  suit  in  an
22    action  based  upon  any  disciplinary  proceedings  or other
23    activities performed in good faith as members of the Board.
24        A majority of Board  members  currently  appointed  shall
25    constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board
26    shall  not  impair  the  rights  of  a quorum to exercise the
27    rights and perform all of the duties of the Board.
28        Section   30.   Application   for   original   licensure.
29    Applications  for original licensure shall  be  made  to  the
30    Department  in  writing  and signed by the applicant on forms
31    prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by    a
32    nonrefundable   fee  set  by  rule  of  the  Department.  The
33    Department may require from an applicant information that, in
HB0522 Enrolled             -7-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1    its judgment, will enable  the  Department  to  pass  on  the
 2    qualifications of the applicant for licensure.
 3        An  applicant has 3 years from the date of application to
 4    complete the application process.  If  the  process  has  not
 5    been  completed  in 3 years, the application shall be denied,
 6    the fee shall be forfeited, and the  applicant  must  reapply
 7    and   meet   the  requirements  in  effect  at  the  time  of
 8    reapplication.
 9        Section 35. Qualifications for licensure.
10        (a)  An entity is qualified to  receive a  license  as  a
11    home  medical  equipment and services  provider if the entity
12    meets each of the following requirements:
13             (1)  complies with all applicable federal and  State
14        licensure and regulatory requirements;
15             (2)  maintains   a  physical  facility  and  medical
16        equipment  inventory.  There shall only  be  one  license
17        permitted at each  address;
18             (3)  establishes   proof   of   commercial   general
19        liability  insurance,    including  but  not  limited  to
20        coverage   for   products   liability   and  professional
21        liability;
22             (4)  establishes  and  provides  records  of  annual
23        continuing  education  for  personnel  engaged   in   the
24        delivery,   maintenance,   repair,   cleaning,  inventory
25        control,  and  financial  management  of   home   medical
26        equipment and services;
27             (5)  maintains  records  on  all patients to whom it
28        provides home medical equipment and services;
29             (6)  establishes equipment management and  personnel
30        policies;
31             (7)  makes  life  sustaining  home medical equipment
32        and services available 24 hours per day and  7  days  per
33        week;
HB0522 Enrolled             -8-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1             (8)  complies with any additional qualifications for
 2        licensure as determined by rule of the Department.
 3        (b)  The  Department  may request a personal interview of
 4    an applicant   before  the  Board  to  further  evaluate  the
 5    entity's  qualifications for licensure.
 6        Section  40.  Issuance  of  license. The Department shall
 7    begin issuing licenses under this Act within  2  years  after
 8    the  effective date of this Act. The Department shall issue a
 9    license to an applicant  who  has  met  the  requirements  of
10    Section 35 and has paid the required application fee.
11        Section 45. Display of license; advertising; penalties.
12        (a)  An entity that advertises home medical equipment and
13    services shall, at its place of business, display the license
14    of the entity.
15        (b)  No  entity  that  provides  home  medical  equipment
16    services may advertise the equipment and services unless that
17    entity  includes in the advertisement the statement "Licensed
18    in the State of Illinois".
19        Section 50. License expiration; renewal.  The  expiration
20    date,  renewal  period,  renewal  fees,  and  procedures  for
21    renewal  of  licenses  issued  under this Act shall be set by
22    rule of the Department. An entity may renew  its  license  by
23    paying   the   required   fee  and  by  meeting  the  renewal
24    requirements adopted by the Department under this Section.
25        Section  55.  Restoration  of  expired  license.  A  home
26    medical equipment and services  provider  whose  license  has
27    expired  may  have the license restored by making application
28    to the Department, by paying the required fees, and by filing
29    proof acceptable to the Department of  fitness  to  have  the
30    license  restored as established by rule.
HB0522 Enrolled             -9-               LRB9000457DPccA
 1        Section 65. Fees; returned checks. An entity who delivers
 2    a  check  or other payment to the Department that is returned
 3    to the Department unpaid by the  financial  institution  upon
 4    which it is drawn shall pay to the Department, in addition to
 5    the amount already owed to the Department, a fine of $50.  If
 6    the  check or other payment was for a renewal or issuance fee
 7    and that  entity  operates  without  paying  the  renewal  or
 8    issuance  fee  and  the  fine due, an additional fine of $100
 9    shall be imposed.  The fines imposed by this Section  are  in
10    addition  to any other discipline provided under this Act for
11    unlicensed practice or practice on a nonrenewed license.  The
12    Department shall notify the entity that fees and fines  shall
13    be  paid  to the Department by certified check or money order
14    within 30 calendar days of the notification.  If,  after  the
15    expiration  of 30 days from the date of the notification, the
16    entity has failed to submit  the  necessary  remittance,  the
17    Department  shall automatically terminate the license or deny
18    the application without a hearing.  If  the  entity  seeks  a
19    license  after  termination or denial, the entity shall apply
20    to the Department for restoration or issuance of the  license
21    and  pay  all  fees  and  fines  owed to the Department.  The
22    Department may establish a  fee  for  the  processing  of  an
23    application  for restoration of a license to pay all expenses
24    of processing that application. The Director  may  waive  the
25    fines  due  under  this Section in individual cases where the
26    Director finds  that  the  fines  would  be  unreasonable  or
27    unnecessarily burdensome.
28        Section  70.  Roster  of licensees.  The Department shall
29    maintain a roster of the names and addresses of all licensees
30    and of all entities  whose  license  has  been  suspended  or
31    revoked  within  the  previous  year.   This  roster shall be
32    available upon written request and payment  of  the  required
33    fee.
HB0522 Enrolled             -10-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1        Section  75.  Refused issuance, suspension, or revocation
 2    of license. The Department may refuse  to  issue,  renew,  or
 3    restore  a  license,  or  may  revoke,    suspend,  place  on
 4    probation,  reprimand, impose a fine not to exceed $1,000 for
 5    each violation, or take  other  disciplinary  action  as  the
 6    Department  may deem proper with regard to a licensee for any
 7    one or combination of the following reasons:
 8             (1)  Making a material  misstatement  in  furnishing
 9        information to the Department.
10             (2)  Negligent  or intentional disregard of this Act
11        or its rules.
12             (3)  Conviction of a crime under  the  laws  of  the
13        United States or any state or territory thereof that is a
14        felony or a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is
15        dishonesty,  or  conviction  of  a crime that is directly
16        related to the provision of home  medical  equipment  and
17        services.
18             (4)  Making  a misrepresentation to obtain licensure
19        or to violate a provision of this Act.
20             (5)  Gross negligence in practice under this Act.
21             (6)  Engaging in a  pattern  of  practice  or  other
22        behavior  that demonstrates incapacity or incompetence to
23        practice under this Act.
24             (7)  Aiding,  assisting,  or  willingly   permitting
25        another person in violating any provision  of this Act or
26        its rules.
27             (8)  Failing, within 60 days, to provide information
28        in response to a written request made by the Department.
29             (9)  Engaging   in   dishonorable,   unethical,   or
30        unprofessional  conduct of a character likely to deceive,
31        defraud, or harm the public.
32             (10)  Discipline  by  another  state,  District   of
33        Columbia,  territory,  or foreign nation, if at least one
34        of  the  grounds  for  the  discipline  is  the  same  or
HB0522 Enrolled             -11-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1        substantially equivalent to one set forth in this Act.
 2             (11)  Directly or indirectly giving to or  receiving
 3        from  any  person,  firm,  corporation,  partnership,  or
 4        association any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of
 5        compensation  for any services not actually or personally
 6        rendered.
 7             (12)  A finding that the licensee, after having  its
 8        license  placed  on probationary status, has violated the
 9        terms of probation.
10             (13)  Willfully making or filing  false  records  or
11        reports in the course of providing home medical equipment
12        and  services, including but not limited to false records
13        or reports filed with  State agencies or departments.
14             (14)  Solicitation of business services, other  than
15        according to permitted advertising.
16             (15)  The  use of any words, abbreviations, figures,
17        or letters with the intention of indicating practice as a
18        home medical equipment and services  provider  without  a
19        license issued under this Act.
20             (16)  Failure  to  file a return, or to pay the tax,
21        penalty, or  interest shown in a filed return, or to  pay
22        any  final  assessment   of tax, penalty, or interest, as
23        required by any tax Act  administered by  the  Department
24        of  Revenue,  until such  time as the requirements of any
25        such tax Act are satisfied.
26             (17)  Failure  to  comply  with  federal  laws   and
27        regulations   concerning   home   medical  equipment  and
28        services providers.
29             (18)  Solicitation of  professional  services  using
30    false or misleading advertising.
31             (19)  Failure  to  display  a  license in accordance
32        with Section 45.
33        Section 80. Cease and desist order.
HB0522 Enrolled             -12-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1        (a)  If any entity violates a provision of this Act,  the
 2    Director  may,  in  the  name  of  the People of the State of
 3    Illinois, through  the  Attorney  General  of  the  State  of
 4    Illinois,  petition  for  an order enjoining the violation or
 5    for an order enforcing compliance with this  Act.   Upon  the
 6    filing of a verified petition in court, the court may issue a
 7    temporary  restraining order, without notice or bond, and may
 8    preliminarily and permanently enjoin the violation, and if it
 9    is established that the entity has violated or  is  violating
10    the  injunction,  the  court  may  punish  the  offender  for
11    contempt  of  court.  Proceedings under this Section shall be
12    in addition to, and not in lieu of, all  other  remedies  and
13    penalties provided by this Act.
14        (b)  If  an entity holds itself out as a provider of home
15    medical equipment and services without a license issued under
16    this Act, an interested party or any person injured  thereby,
17    in  addition  to  the  Director,  may  petition for relief as
18    provided in  subsection (a) of this Section.
19        (c) Whenever in the opinion of the Department  an  entity
20    violates  a provision of this Act, the Department may issue a
21    rule to show cause why an order to cease  and  desist  should
22    not  be  entered  against the entity.  The rule shall clearly
23    set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall
24    provide a period of 7 days from the date of the rule to  file
25    an  answer to the satisfaction of the Department.  Failure to
26    answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall  cause  an
27    order to cease and desist to be issued immediately.
28        Section 85. Unlicensed practice; civil penalty.
29        (a) An entity who practices, offers to practice, attempts
30    to  practice,  or  holds  itself  out  to  practice as a home
31    medical  equipment  and  services  provider   without   being
32    licensed  under  this  Act  shall,  in  addition to any other
33    penalty  provided  by  law,  pay  a  civil  penalty  to   the
HB0522 Enrolled             -13-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    Department in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each offense
 2    as  determined by the Department.  The civil penalty shall be
 3    assessed by  the  Department  after  a  hearing  is  held  in
 4    accordance   with  the  provisions  set  forth  in  this  Act
 5    regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of  a
 6    licensee.  The  civil  penalty  shall  be paid within 60 days
 7    after the effective date of  the  order  imposing  the  civil
 8    penalty.  The  order  shall  constitute a judgment and may be
 9    filed and executed in the same manner as  any  judgment  from
10    any court of record.
11        (b)  The   Department   may  investigate  any  unlicensed
12    activity.
13        Section 90.  Mandatory inspections.  The Department shall
14    inspect a licensee for compliance with  the  requirements  of
15    this  Act  within 3 years after the date of initial licensure
16    and at least  once  every  3  years  thereafter,  unless  the
17    licensee  can  demonstrate  proof of renewal of accreditation
18    with a recognized national accrediting body.  The  Department
19    shall  conduct  random inspections upon renewal of a license,
20    for cause  or  as  necessary  to  assure  the  integrity  and
21    effectiveness of the licensing process.  Upon failure to pass
22    inspection, a provider's license shall be suspended or denied
23    as  applicable,  pending  review by the Board. The Department
24    may authorize qualified individuals to conduct   inspections.
25    The  Department shall set by rule, and pay to an inspector, a
26    fee for each inspection. An entity  that  fails  to  pass  an
27    inspection  is  subject  to  penalties under Section 80. Upon
28    notice of failure to pass an  inspection,  a  provider  shall
29    have  30  days to appeal the inspection results. On appeal, a
30    provider shall have the right to an inspection review or to a
31    new inspection in accordance with procedures adopted  by  the
32    Department.  A  home  medical equipment and services provider
33    licensed within 2 years after the effective date of this  Act
HB0522 Enrolled             -14-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    is  exempt  from  the inspection requirements of this Section
 2    during that 2-year period.
 3        Section 95. Investigations; notice and hearing.
 4        (a)  The Department may investigate  the  actions  of  an
 5    applicant  or  of  an  entity  holding  or claiming to hold a
 6    license.
 7        (b)  The Department shall, before refusing  to  issue  or
 8    renew  a license or disciplining a licensee, at least 30 days
 9    prior to the date set for the hearing, notify in writing  the
10    applicant or licensee of the nature of the charges and that a
11    hearing  will be held on the date designated.  The Department
12    shall direct the applicant or  licensee  to  file  a  written
13    answer  to  the  Board  under  oath  within 20 days after the
14    service of the notice and inform the  applicant  or  licensee
15    that  failure  to file an answer will result in default being
16    taken against the applicant or licensee and that the  license
17    may  be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or
18    other disciplinary action may be  taken,  including  limiting
19    the scope, nature, or extent of business, as the Director may
20    deem  proper.   Written  notice  may  be  served  by personal
21    delivery or certified or registered mail to the respondent at
22    the  address  of  the  entity's  last  notification  to   the
23    Department.  If  the  entity  fails  to  file an answer after
24    receiving notice, the entity's license may, in the discretion
25    of the  Department,  be  suspended,  revoked,  or  placed  on
26    probationary  status,  or  the  Department  may take whatever
27    disciplinary action it deems proper, including  limiting  the
28    scope,  nature,  or  extent  of  the  entity's  business,  or
29    imposing  a  fine,  without  a  hearing,  if  the act or acts
30    charged constitute sufficient grounds for such  action  under
31    this  Act.  At  the  time  and place fixed in the notice, the
32    Board shall proceed to hear the charges, and the  parties  or
33    their  counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present
HB0522 Enrolled             -15-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    such statements, testimony, evidence, and argument as may  be
 2    pertinent to the charges or to  their defense.  The Board may
 3    continue a hearing from time to time.
 4        Section 100. Stenographer; transcript.  The Department at
 5    its  expense,  shall  preserve a record of all proceedings at
 6    the formal hearing of any case involving the refusal to issue
 7    or renew a license or the  discipline  of  a  licensee.   The
 8    notice  of hearing, complaint, and all other documents in the
 9    nature  of  pleadings,   written   motions   filed   in   the
10    proceedings,  the  transcript of testimony, the report of the
11    Board, and the order of the Department shall be the record of
12    the proceeding.
13        Section 105. Compelling testimony.  A circuit court  may,
14    upon  application of the Department or its designee or of the
15    applicant or licensee against whom proceedings under  Section
16    95  are  pending,  enter an order requiring the attendance of
17    witnesses  and  their  testimony  and   the   production   of
18    documents,  papers,  files,  books, and records in connection
19    with any hearing  or  investigation.  The  court  may  compel
20    obedience to its order by proceedings for contempt.
21        Section   110.  Findings  and  recommendations.   At  the
22    conclusion of the hearing the  Board  shall  present  to  the
23    Director    a    written   report   of   its   findings   and
24    recommendations.  The  report  shall  contain  a  finding  of
25    whether or not the accused entity violated this Act or failed
26    to  comply  with  the  conditions  required in this Act.  The
27    Board shall specify the nature of the violation or failure to
28    comply, and shall make its recommendations to the Director.
29        The report of findings and recommendations of  the  Board
30    shall  be  the basis for the Department's order of refusal or
31    for the granting  of  licensure  unless  the  Director  shall
HB0522 Enrolled             -16-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    determine that the Board's report is contrary to the manifest
 2    weight  of the evidence, in which case the Director may issue
 3    an order in contravention of the Board's report.  The finding
 4    is not  admissible  in  evidence  against  the  entity  in  a
 5    criminal  prosecution  brought for the violation of this Act,
 6    but the hearing and finding are  not  a  bar  to  a  criminal
 7    prosecution brought for the violation of this Act.
 8        Section 115. Rehearing on motion. In a case involving the
 9    refusal  to  issue  or renew a license or the discipline of a
10    licensee, a copy of the Board's report shall be  served  upon
11    the  respondent  by  the  Department, either personally or as
12    provided in this  Act  for  the  service  of  the  notice  of
13    hearing.   Within  20 days after such service, the respondent
14    may present to the Department  a  motion  in  writing  for  a
15    rehearing, which shall specify the particular grounds for the
16    rehearing. If no motion for rehearing is filed, then upon the
17    expiration of the time specified for filing the motion, or if
18    a  motion  for rehearing is denied, then upon such denial the
19    Director   may   enter   an   order   in   accordance    with
20    recommendations  of  the  Board except as provided in Section
21    120 of this Act.  If the  respondent  shall  order  from  the
22    reporting service and pay for a transcript of the record with
23    the time for filing a motion for rehearing, the 20 day period
24    within  which  such a motion may be filed shall commence upon
25    the delivery of the transcript to the respondent.
26        Section 120. Rehearing on order of Director. Whenever the
27    Director is satisfied that substantial justice has  not  been
28    done  in the revocation or suspension of a license or refusal
29    to issue or  renew  a  license,  the  Director  may  order  a
30    rehearing by the same or another Board.
31        Section  125.  Hearing  officer.  The  Director  has  the
HB0522 Enrolled             -17-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    authority  to  appoint  an attorney duly licensed to practice
 2    law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing  officer
 3    in  an action for refusal to issue or renew a license, or for
 4    the discipline of a licensee. The Director shall  notify  the
 5    Board  of an appointment. The hearing officer shall have full
 6    authority to conduct the hearing.  The hearing officer  shall
 7    report  his or her  findings and recommendations to the Board
 8    and the Director. The  Board shall have 60 days from  receipt
 9    of the report to review the report of the hearing officer and
10    present   its  findings  of  fact,  conclusions  of  law  and
11    recommendation to  the  Director.   If  the  Board  fails  to
12    present  its  report  within  the 60 day period, the Director
13    shall issue an order based  on  the  report  of  the  hearing
14    officer.   If the Director determines that the Board's report
15    is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, he or she
16    may issue an order in contravention of the Board's report.
17        Section 130. Order or  certified  copy.  An  order  or  a
18    certified  copy  of an order, over the seal of the Department
19    and purporting to be signed by the Director, shall  be  prima
20    facie proof that:
21             (1)  the  signature  is the genuine signature of the
22        Director;
23             (2)  the Director is duly appointed  and  qualified;
24        and
25             (3)  the Board and its members are qualified to act.
26        This proof may be rebutted.
27        Section  135.  Restoration  of license. At any time after
28    the suspension or revocation of a license, the Department may
29    restore the license to the accused entity  upon  the  written
30    recommendation  of  the  Board unless, after an investigation
31    and a hearing, the Board determines that restoration  is  not
32    in the public interest.
HB0522 Enrolled             -18-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1        Section  140.  Surrender of license.  Upon the revocation
 2    or suspension of a license, the  licensee  shall  immediately
 3    surrender  the  license  to the Department, and if the entity
 4    fails to do so, the Department shall have the right to  seize
 5    the license.
 6        Section  145.  Temporary  suspension  of  a license.  The
 7    Director may  temporarily  suspend  the  license  of  a  home
 8    medical  equipment  and  services provider without a hearing,
 9    simultaneously with the  institution  of  proceedings  for  a
10    hearing  provided  for  in  Section  95  of  this Act, if the
11    Director  finds  that  evidence  in  his  or  her  possession
12    indicates  that  the  home  medical  equipment  and  services
13    provider's  continuation  in  business  would  constitute  an
14    imminent danger to the public. If  the  Director  temporarily
15    suspends the license of a home medical equipment and services
16    provider  without  a  hearing, a hearing by the Board must be
17    held within 30 days of the suspension.
18        Section  150.  Administrative  Review  Law.   All   final
19    administrative  decisions  of  the  Department are subject to
20    judicial  review  pursuant   to   the   provisions   of   the
21    Administrative  Review  Law, as now or hereafter amended, and
22    all  rules  adopted  pursuant   to   that   Law.   The   term
23    "administrative  decision"  is defined as in Section 3-101 of
24    the Code of Civil Procedure.
25        Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the
26    circuit court of the county in which the party  applying  for
27    relief  resides,  but  if the party is not a resident of this
28    State, the venue shall be in Sangamon County.
29        Section  155.  Certification  of  record;   costs.    The
30    Department  shall  not be required to certify any record to a
31    court or file any answer in court or otherwise  appear  in  a
HB0522 Enrolled             -19-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1    court  in a judicial review proceeding, unless there is filed
 2    in  the  court,  with  the  complaint,  a  receipt  from  the
 3    Department acknowledging payment of the costs  of  furnishing
 4    and  certifying  the  record.  Failure  on  the  part  of the
 5    plaintiff to file a receipt in court  shall  be  grounds  for
 6    dismissal of the action.
 7        Section  160.  Criminal penalties. An entity who is found
 8    to have violated a provision of this Act is guilty of a Class
 9    A misdemeanor.  On  conviction  of  a  second  or  subsequent
10    offense, the violator shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
11        Section  165.  Administrative Procedure Act. The Illinois
12    Administrative Procedure Act is hereby expressly adopted  and
13    incorporated  in this Act as if all of the provisions of that
14    Act were included in this Act, except that the  provision  of
15    subsection   (d)   of   Section   10-65   of   the   Illinois
16    Administrative Procedure Act, which provides that at hearings
17    the  license holder has the right to show compliance with all
18    lawful requirements for retention, continuation,  or  renewal
19    of  a license, is specifically excluded.  For the purposes of
20    this Act, the notice required  under  Section  10-25  of  the
21    Illinois  Administrative  Procedure  Act is deemed sufficient
22    when mailed to the last known address of a party.
23        Section 170. Exclusive State regulation. It  is  declared
24    to  be the public policy of this State, pursuant to paragraph
25    (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois  Constitution
26    of  1970, that any power or function set forth in this Act to
27    be exercised by the State is  an  exclusive  State  power  or
28    function.   Such  power  or  function  shall not be exercised
29    concurrently, whether directly or indirectly, by any unit  of
30    local  government,  including  home  rule  units,  except  as
31    otherwise provided in this Act.
HB0522 Enrolled             -20-              LRB9000457DPccA
 1        Section   175.  Entities  currently  operating.  Entities
 2    engaged in the business of providing home  medical  equipment
 3    and services at least 3 months prior to the effective date of
 4    this  Act  shall  be issued a license valid for 2 years, upon
 5    application and payment of  the  required  fee,  without  the
 6    necessity   for   a  determination  of  compliance  with  the
 7    requirements of subsection (a)  of  Section  40.  During  the
 8    first  year  of licensure, such providers shall be subject to
 9    random inspections for compliance with applicable  standards,
10    unless  such  providers  have  a  valid  accreditation from a
11    recognized national accrediting body.
12        Section 180. Deposit of fees and  fines;  appropriations.
13    All  of  the fees and fines collected under this Act shall be
14    deposited into the General Professions  Dedicated  Fund,  and
15    shall  be  used  by  the Department, as appropriated, for the
16    ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department.
17        Section 300. The Regulatory Agency Sunset Act is  amended
18    by adding Section 4.18 as follows:
19        (5 ILCS 80/4.18 new)
20        Sec.  4.18.  Act  repealed January 1, 2008. The following
21    Act is repealed January 1, 2008:
22        The Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider  License
23    Act.
24        Section 999.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
25    becoming law.

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