Healthcare

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that, in relation to the prescriber and dispenser inquiry system, "one-to-one secure link" includes any communications exchange platform that aligns with widely adopted standards, including, but not limited to, the Prescription Monitoring Information Exchange standard, which facilitates the secure transfer of prescription monitoring program data across state lines.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund. Provides that the Fund is a special fund in the State Treasury that may be used to provide grants to certain eligible people, institutions, and organizations for the purpose of conducting pediatric cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Provides that the Fund shall consist of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and collected from any donations or other source for the benefit of the Fund. Provides limitations for the distribution of the Fund. Provides that the unspent portions of the Fund shall remain in the Fund and may not revert to any other fund of the State. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly concerning the administration of the Fund. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement a pediatric cancer grant program under the provision.

Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of authority by a physician. Provides that a physician assistant may practice without a written collaborative agreement. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 or equivalent continuing medical education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in the specific field in which the physician assistant intends to practice after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement to practice. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; physician assistant title; collaboration requirements; written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, and physician assistants in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers; inactive status; limitations; and grounds for disciplinary action. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to make corresponding changes.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that each prescriber or the prescriber's designee shall document an attempt to access patient information in the Prescription Monitoring Program to assess patient access to controlled substances when providing a (rather than an initial) prescription for Schedule II and IV controlled substances (rather than narcotics such as opioids), except for prescriptions for oncology treatment or palliative care, or a 7-day or less supply provided by a hospital emergency department when treating an acute, traumatic medical condition.

Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Provides, that to be eligible for assistance under the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must find that the applicant, among other requirements, at the time of application, is currently working as a behavioral health professional in a community mental health center. Provides that an applicant seeking a renewal award in a subsequent year must be employed by a community mental health center, behavioral health clinic, substance use treatment center, or State-operated psychiatric hospital in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in the State at the time of application and must provide evidence of continuous employment for the 12 months that precede the application for renewal. Defines "behavioral health professional". Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Criminal Justice Clients Article of the Substance Use Disorder Act. Changes references from "treatment" to "case management" and changes the name of the Article. Provides that nothing in provisions concerning case management shall preclude any individual with a substance use disorder who is charged with or convicted of a crime from receiving case management services with a designated program if such services are ordered by the court. Provides that the court, with the consent of the defendant and the State's Attorney, may, without entering a judgment, sentence the defendant to probation under a provision concerning case management as a condition of probation. Provides that the sentence to probation under the provisions shall not be considered a conviction under Illinois law unless and until judgment is entered upon violation of a term or condition of probation. Provides that, upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against the person. Provides that case management services by a designated program may be made a condition of pretrial release, and failure to comply with such services may be treated as a violation of a condition of pretrial release. Requires the designated program to make periodic progress reports regarding each such defendant to the appropriate pretrial services agency or Office of Statewide Pretrial Services and to report failures to comply with the requirements of the designated program. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no policy of accident and health insurance shall be issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2027 unless the policy provides coverage for annual lung cancer screenings for any beneficiary currently employed as an active firefighter or any person eligible for or currently receiving a retirement annuity, retirement pension, disability pension, or disability benefit pursuant to the Downstate Firefighter or Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the coverage to be provided without cost sharing. Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under the provisions of those Acts.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a grant to Treatment Alternatives for Stronger Communities (TASC) to support pursuit of certification as a Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center beginning with the TASC offices in Rockford and Peoria. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Defines "pathogens of epidemiological concern". Provides that each hospital shall develop and implement comprehensive interventions to prevent and control pathogens of epidemiological concern (instead of multidrug-resistant organisms) that take into consideration guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or recommendations from the Infectious Disease Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, or the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society for the management of multidrug-resistant organisms in health care settings. Within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires each hospital to adopt a policy for preventing and controlling the transmission of pathogens of epidemiological concern. Establishes reporting requirements for hospitals with patients carrying pathogens of epidemiological concern. Repeals the MRSA Screening and Reporting Act.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that "community health center" means a migrant health center, community health center, health care program for the homeless or for residents of public housing supported under the federal Public Health Service Act, or FQHC, including an FQHC Look-Alike, as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that operates at least one federally designated primary health care delivery site in Illinois. Provides that "physician" means a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine in all of its branches and does not include a chiropractic physician. In provisions concerning acts constituting the practice of dental hygiene, provides that a public health dental hygienist may not administer local anesthesia except as provided in the amendatory provisions. Provides that a dental hygienist practicing in a community health center may administer local anesthetics upon the successful completion of a training program approved by the Department and under the general supervision of a dentist as long as the community health center: (i) has adopted written policies and procedures establishing supervision by a dentist or physician at the time the local anesthetics are administered, and (ii) ensures that a dentist or physician is physically present in the clinic at the time the local anesthetics are administered.