(225 ILCS 60/54.5)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-228)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 54.5.

Physician delegation of authority to physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses without full practice authority, and prescribing psychologists.

(a) Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its
branches may delegate care and treatment responsibilities to a
physician assistant under guidelines in accordance with the
requirements of  the Physician Assistant Practice Act of
1987.  A physician licensed to practice medicine in all its
branches may enter into collaborative agreements with
no more than 7 full-time equivalent physician assistants, except in a hospital, hospital affiliate, or ambulatory surgical treatment center as set forth by Section 7.7 of the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 and as provided in subsection (a-5).

(a-5) A physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches may collaborate with more than 7 physician assistants when the services are provided in a federal primary care health professional shortage area with a Health Professional Shortage Area score greater than or equal to 12, as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The collaborating physician must keep appropriate documentation of meeting this exemption and make it available to the Department upon request.

(b) A physician licensed to practice medicine in all its
branches in active clinical practice may collaborate with an advanced practice
registered nurse in accordance with the requirements of the Nurse Practice Act.  Collaboration
is for the purpose of providing medical consultation,
and no employment relationship is required.  A
written collaborative agreement shall
conform to the requirements of Section 65-35 of the Nurse Practice Act.  The written collaborative agreement shall
be for
services in the same area of practice or specialty as the collaborating physician in
his or her clinical medical practice.
 A written collaborative agreement shall be adequate with respect to collaboration
with advanced practice registered nurses if all of the following apply:

(1) The agreement is written to promote the exercise of professional judgment by the

advanced practice registered nurse commensurate with his or her education and experience.

(2) The advanced practice registered nurse provides services based upon a written

collaborative agreement with the collaborating physician, except as set forth in subsection (b-5) of this Section. With respect to labor and delivery, the collaborating physician must provide delivery services in order to participate with a certified nurse midwife.

(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.

(b-5) An anesthesiologist or physician licensed to practice medicine in
all its branches may collaborate with a certified registered nurse anesthetist
in accordance with Section 65-35 of the Nurse Practice Act for the provision of anesthesia services.  With respect to the provision of anesthesia services, the collaborating anesthesiologist or physician shall have training and experience in the delivery of anesthesia services consistent with Department rules.  Collaboration shall be
adequate if:

(1) an anesthesiologist or a physician participates in the joint formulation and joint

approval of orders or guidelines and periodically reviews such orders and the services provided patients under such orders; and

(2) for anesthesia services, the anesthesiologist or physician participates through

discussion of and agreement with the anesthesia plan and is physically present and available on the premises during the delivery of anesthesia services for diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of emergency medical conditions. Anesthesia services in a hospital shall be conducted in accordance with Section 10.7 of the Hospital Licensing Act and in an ambulatory surgical treatment center in accordance with Section 6.5 of the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act.

(b-10) The anesthesiologist or operating physician must agree with the
anesthesia plan prior to the delivery of services.

(c) The collaborating physician shall have access to the
medical records of all patients attended by a physician
assistant.  The collaborating physician shall have access to
the medical records of all patients attended to by an
advanced practice registered nurse.

(d) (Blank).

(e) A physician shall not be liable for the acts or
omissions of a prescribing psychologist, physician assistant, or advanced practice
registered nurse solely on the basis of having signed a
supervision agreement or guidelines or a collaborative
agreement, an order, a standing medical order, a
standing delegation order, or other order or guideline
authorizing a prescribing psychologist, physician assistant, or advanced practice
registered nurse to perform acts, unless the physician has
reason to believe the prescribing psychologist, physician assistant, or advanced
practice registered nurse lacked the competency to perform
the act or acts or commits willful and wanton misconduct.

(f) A collaborating physician may, but is not required to, delegate prescriptive authority to an advanced practice registered nurse as part of a written collaborative agreement, and the delegation of prescriptive authority shall conform to the requirements of Section 65-40 of the Nurse Practice Act.

(g) A collaborating physician may, but is not required to, delegate prescriptive authority to a physician assistant as part of a written collaborative agreement, and the delegation of prescriptive authority shall conform to the requirements of Section 7.5 of the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987.

(h) (Blank).

(i) A collaborating physician shall delegate prescriptive authority to a prescribing psychologist as part of a written collaborative agreement, and the delegation of prescriptive authority shall conform to the requirements of Section 4.3 of the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act.

(j) As set forth in Section 22.2 of this Act, a licensee under this Act may not directly or indirectly divide, share, or split any professional fee or other form of compensation for professional services with anyone in exchange for a referral or otherwise, other than as provided in Section 22.2.

(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 100-453, eff. 8-25-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-605, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-228)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)