CULT & LING COMPETNCY PHYS ACT

Creates the Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act. Creates the Cultural and Linguistic Physician Competency Program to be operated by local medical societies of the Illinois State Medical Society and monitored by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the program is voluntary and shall consist of educational classes designed to teach physicians (1) a foreign language at the level of proficiency that initially improves their ability to communicate with non-English speaking patients, (2) understanding and application of the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care, and (3) awareness of how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of health care providers and patients influence and impact professional and patient relations. Effective immediately.