Healthcare (Medical Licensing)

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Human Services shall not approve any initial or renewal application for the licensure of a facility where substance use treatment or intervention services will be provided within 1,000 feet of: (i) any building or buildings or real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, community college, college, or university, including any adjacent school yard, school playing field, or school playground; (ii) a public playground; or (iii) any public park building or real property comprising any public park. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to invalidate any initial or renewal application for licensure approved prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the personal needs allowance for a qualifying medical assistance recipient who is a resident in a facility licensed under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act shall equal $100. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the personal needs allowance shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.

Condemns the practice of conversion therapy on any population as unethical and fraudulent. Asserts that no licensed professional operating in the State of Illinois should engage in this practice, whether with minors or adults, as it violates the ethical standards of professional behavioral healthcare. Condemns conversion therapy as described herein, regardless of the target population or how the service is marketed or titled. Acknowledges that conversion therapy is not a legitimate form of therapy but is a dangerous and discredited practice that has no place in a professional setting, and that any professional engaging in such practices is in violation of the ethical guidelines governing their licensure. Encourages the Illinois Department of Public Health to launch a statewide public awareness campaign to educate communities about the harms of conversion therapy and its fraudulent nature, to collaborate with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to investigate and hold accountable practitioners offering conversion therapy under false pretenses, to develop guidelines for healthcare professionals to recognize, report, and prevent practices associated with conversion therapy, and to support outreach initiatives to connect survivors of conversion therapy with affirming mental health resources.

Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that "acupuncture" also includes ordering laboratory tests in accordance with State law to check, track, evaluate, and monitor the status and effectiveness of pain management, herbal medicinal plans, dietary and exercise plans, and orders as may be provided to the patient from a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act. Removes the provision that states that an acupuncturist licensed under the Act who is not also licensed as a physical therapist under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act shall not hold himself or herself out as being qualified to provide physical therapy or physiotherapy services.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall review an applicant's application for a license to practice medicine under the Act concurrently with the applicant's application for a controlled substances registration. Requires the Department to issue an applicant's license and controlled substances registration concurrently. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning personal needs allowances for residents in supportive living facilities and facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act, the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the MC/DD Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act, provides that subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, an eligible resident's personal needs allowance shall increase by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the consumer price index-u during the preceding 12-month calendar year.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Defines terms. Provides that a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information shall ensure that the communications meet certain criteria. Provides that a communication that is generated by generative artificial intelligence and read and reviewed by a human licensed or certified health care provider is not subject to the amendatory provisions. Provides that a violation of the amendatory provisions by a licensed health facility or a licensed clinic is subject to penalties as implemented by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation by rule. Provides that a violation of the amendatory provisions by a physician is subject to penalties as determined by the Illinois State Medical Board.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. Makes conforming changes.

Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in the Act. Provides that the maximum patient assignments may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules governing the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides requirements for the Act's implementation. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides rights and protections for nurses. Contains a severability provision and other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Makes changes concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Requires the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice to be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient.