Healthcare

Appropriates $300,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants to the Les Turner ALS Foundation for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and for care of those persons affected by the disease. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. Removes a provision which provides that, in ambulatory surgical treatment centers, anesthesia service shall be under the direction of a physician who has had specialized preparation or experience in the area or who has completed a residency in anesthesiology. Specifies that with respect to anesthesia service in an ambulatory surgical treatment center, a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall seek consultation regarding development of an anesthesia plan and treatment of patients as is appropriate to the certified registered nurse anesthetist's level of expertise and scope of practice and as is warranted by the needs of the patient. Removes a requirement that an anesthesiologist participate through discussion of and agreement with the anesthesia plan and remain physically present and be available on the premises. Provides that a certified registered nurse anesthetist with clinical privileges may perform acts of advanced assessment and diagnosis and may provide such functions for which the certified registered nurse anesthetist is educationally and experientially prepared. Makes conforming changes to the Hospital Licensing Act. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a written collaborative agreement shall be adequate with respect to collaboration with certified registered nurse anesthetists if all of the following apply: (1) the agreement is written to promote exercise of professional judgment by the certified registered nurse anesthetist commensurate with his or her education and experience; (2) the certified registered nurse anesthetist provides service based on a written collaborative agreement with the collaborating physician; and (3) methods of communication are available with the collaborating physician in person or through telecommunications for consultation, collaboration, and referral as needed to address patient care needs. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that an Illinois-licensed advanced practice registered nurse certified as a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall be deemed by law to possess the ability to practice without a written collaborative agreement. Sets forth requirements of a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Effective immediately.

Reappropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science for costs associated with the Community Care Connection (CCC) Mobile Health Program. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2028 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that health care facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, as determined by the federal government, shall be exempt as provided but shall have a hiring preference for surgical technologists who graduated from nationally accredited surgical technology programs and are certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a person licensed in the State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed, including, but not limited to, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse performing surgery-related tasks within the scope of the nurse's license or registration; or a student or intern from performing surgical technology services under direct supervision, as defined in the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act.

Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to conduct a statewide one-year pilot program that studies the prevalence of cholestatic liver disorders associated with increased risk of end-stage liver disease among women ages 35 through 64 who are recipients of medical assistance. Requires the Department to collect the following information on study participants: (1) key demographics such as age, genetic predispositions, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle factors that elevate the risk of developing cholestatic liver disorders; (2) the number or percentage of study participants who, despite being identified as high-risk, do not follow through with referrals or treatment recommendations; (3) the number of study participants who avoid referral and follow-up care or engage in treatment avoidance; and (4) any other relevant information or issues identified by the Department. Requires the Department to compile a report on its findings at the end of the one-year study and include (i) recommendations on how to increase awareness of cholestatic liver disorders through screenings, genetic testing, and collaboration with patient advocacy groups to raise public awareness and (ii) an analysis of strategies and funding to increase screening and genetic testing for cholestatic liver disorders. Provides that the Department shall submit the report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that each consumer shall be offered at least 15 hours of treatment programming per week and encouraged to attend the treatment domains that meet the consumer's needs, as reflected in the consumer's treatment plans. Provides that each consumer's program engagement and attendance shall be documented in the consumer's clinical record, and each consumer shall be prompted to attend programming regularly as documented in the consumer's clinical record at least quarterly. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. In provisions concerning per diem reimbursement for a community-integrated living arrangement provider, provides that, if it is determined by third-party medical personnel that a resident that required a medical absence is unable to return to the community-integrated living arrangement, or if the resident dies during the medical absence, the provider shall receive 100% of the per diem reimbursement for up to 20 medical absence days. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Removes the requirement that an anesthesiologist must remain physically present during the delivery of anesthesia services. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In provisions concerning delegation of authority, removes the requirement that an anesthesiologist or physician must remain physically present during the delivery of anesthesia services by a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Removes the requirement that an anesthesiologist, physician, dentist, or podiatric physician must remain physically present during the delivery of anesthesia services by a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. In provisions concerning hospitals and their agents pursuing collection actions, provides that, for any legal action initiated against a patient for unpaid medical debt, a hospital may not file for or be granted a lien upon that patient's primary residence or on any other real property owned by the patient. Effective January 1, 2027.