SB1692 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 08052 RPS 28197 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1692

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Patricia Van Pelt

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Authorizes the Department of Public Health to license freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers. Contains provisions concerning the requirements a facility must meet to be licensed as a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish provisional licensure and licensing procedures by emergency rule. Makes related changes in the Emergency Medical Treatment Act, the Health Care Worker Background Check Act, the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act, and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Prohibits a person from constructing, modifying, or establishing a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center without obtaining a certificate of need permit from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board. Requires the Health Facilities and Services Review Board to establish provisional permit application guidelines by emergency rule. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Contains provisions concerning reimbursements to freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Directs the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rates to be paid for services delivered by a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act is amended by changing Section 3 and by adding Section 5.1b as follows:

(20 ILCS 3960/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1153)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2019)

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Health care facilities" means and includes the following facilities, organizations, and related persons:

(1) An ambulatory surgical treatment center required to be licensed pursuant to the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act.

(2) An institution, place, building, or agency required to be licensed pursuant to the Hospital Licensing Act.

(3) Skilled and intermediate long term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act.

(A) If a demonstration project under the Nursing Home Care Act applies for a certificate of need to convert to a nursing facility, it shall meet the licensure and certificate of need requirements in effect as of the date of application.

(B) Except as provided in item (A) of this subsection, this Act does not apply to facilities granted waivers under Section 3-102.2 of the Nursing Home Care Act.

(3.5) Skilled and intermediate care facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act. (A) No permit or exemption is required for a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act prior to the reduction of the number of beds at a facility. If there is a total reduction of beds at a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act, this is a discontinuation or closure of the facility. If a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act reduces the number of beds or discontinues the facility, that facility must notify the Board as provided in Section 14.1 of this Act.

(3.7) Facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013.

(4) Hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, or kidney disease treatment centers maintained by the State or any department or agency thereof.

(5) Kidney disease treatment centers, including a free-standing hemodialysis unit required to be licensed under the End Stage Renal Disease Facility Act.

(A) This Act does not apply to a dialysis facility that provides only dialysis training, support, and related services to individuals with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis.

(B) This Act does not apply to a dialysis unit located in a licensed nursing home that offers or provides dialysis-related services to residents with end stage renal disease who have elected to receive home dialysis within the nursing home.

(C) The Board, however, may require dialysis facilities and licensed nursing homes under items (A) and (B) of this subsection to report statistical information on a quarterly basis to the Board to be used by the Board to conduct analyses on the need for proposed kidney disease treatment centers.

(6) An institution, place, building, or room used for the performance of outpatient surgical procedures that is leased, owned, or operated by or on behalf of an out-of-state facility.

(7) An institution, place, building, or room used for provision of a health care category of service, including, but not limited to, cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery.

(8) An institution, place, building, or room housing major medical equipment used in the direct clinical diagnosis or treatment of patients, and whose project cost is in excess of the capital expenditure minimum.

"Health care facilities" does not include the following entities or facility transactions:

(1) Federally-owned facilities.

(2) Facilities used solely for healing by prayer or spiritual means.

(3) An existing facility located on any campus facility as defined in Section 5-5.8b of the Illinois Public Aid Code, provided that the campus facility encompasses 30 or more contiguous acres and that the new or renovated facility is intended for use by a licensed residential facility.

(4) Facilities licensed under the Supportive Residences Licensing Act or the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act.

(5) Facilities designated as supportive living facilities that are in good standing with the program established under Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(6) Facilities established and operating under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act as a children's community-based health care center children's respite care center alternative health care model demonstration program or as an Alzheimer's Disease Management Center alternative health care model demonstration program.

(7) The closure of an entity or a portion of an entity licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or the ID/DD Community Care Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes, that elect to convert, in whole or in part, to an assisted living or shared housing establishment licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and with the exception of a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 in connection with a proposal to close a facility and re-establish the facility in another location.

(8) Any change of ownership of a health care healthcare facility that is licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or the ID/DD Community Care Act, with the exception of facilities operated by a county or Illinois Veterans Homes. Changes of ownership of facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act must meet the requirements set forth in Sections 3-101 through 3-119 of the Nursing Home Care Act. children's community-based health care center of 2013 and with the exception of a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 in connection with a proposal to close a facility and re-establish the facility in another location of 2013

With the exception of those health care facilities specifically included in this Section, nothing in this Act shall be intended to include facilities operated as a part of the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional group. Further, this Act shall not apply to physicians or other licensed health care professional's practices where such practices are carried out in a portion of a health care facility under contract with such health care facility by a physician or by other licensed health care professionals, whether practicing in his individual capacity or within the legal structure of any partnership, medical or professional corporation, or unincorporated medical or professional groups, unless the entity constructs, modifies, or establishes a health care facility as specifically defined in this Section. This Act shall apply to construction or modification and to establishment by such health care facility of such contracted portion which is subject to facility licensing requirements, irrespective of the party responsible for such action or attendant financial obligation.

"Person" means any one or more natural persons, legal entities, governmental bodies other than federal, or any combination thereof.

"Consumer" means any person other than a person (a) whose major occupation currently involves or whose official capacity within the last 12 months has involved the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, (b) who is engaged in health research or the teaching of health, (c) who has a material financial interest in any activity which involves the providing, administering or financing of any type of health care facility, or (d) who is or ever has been a member of the immediate family of the person defined by (a), (b), or (c).

"State Board" or "Board" means the Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

"Construction or modification" means the establishment, erection, building, alteration, reconstruction, modernization, improvement, extension, discontinuation, change of ownership, of or by a health care facility, or the purchase or acquisition by or through a health care facility of equipment or service for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or for facility administration or operation, or any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum; however, any capital expenditure made by or on behalf of a health care facility for (i) the construction or modification of a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act or (ii) a conversion project undertaken in accordance with Section 30 of the Older Adult Services Act shall be excluded from any obligations under this Act.

"Establish" means the construction of a health care facility or the replacement of an existing facility on another site or the initiation of a category of service.

"Major medical equipment" means medical equipment which is used for the provision of medical and other health services and which costs in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, except that such term does not include medical equipment acquired by or on behalf of a clinical laboratory to provide clinical laboratory services if the clinical laboratory is independent of a physician's office and a hospital and it has been determined under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to meet the requirements of paragraphs (10) and (11) of Section 1861(s) of such Act. In determining whether medical equipment has a value in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, the value of studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition of such equipment shall be included.

"Capital Expenditure" means an expenditure: (A) made by or on behalf of a health care facility (as such a facility is defined in this Act); and (B) which under generally accepted accounting principles is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance, or is made to obtain by lease or comparable arrangement any facility or part thereof or any equipment for a facility or part; and which exceeds the capital expenditure minimum.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the cost of any studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition, improvement, expansion, or replacement of any plant or equipment with respect to which an expenditure is made shall be included in determining if such expenditure exceeds the capital expenditures minimum. Unless otherwise interdependent, or submitted as one project by the applicant, components of construction or modification undertaken by means of a single construction contract or financed through the issuance of a single debt instrument shall not be grouped together as one project. Donations of equipment or facilities to a health care facility which if acquired directly by such facility would be subject to review under this Act shall be considered capital expenditures, and a transfer of equipment or facilities for less than fair market value shall be considered a capital expenditure for purposes of this Act if a transfer of the equipment or facilities at fair market value would be subject to review.

"Capital expenditure minimum" means $11,500,000 for projects by hospital applicants, $6,500,000 for applicants for projects related to skilled and intermediate care long-term care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, and $3,000,000 for projects by all other applicants, which shall be annually adjusted to reflect the increase in construction costs due to inflation, for major medical equipment and for all other capital expenditures.

"Non-clinical service area" means an area (i) for the benefit of the patients, visitors, staff, or employees of a health care facility and (ii) not directly related to the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of persons receiving services from the health care facility. "Non-clinical service areas" include, but are not limited to, chapels; gift shops; news stands; computer systems; tunnels, walkways, and elevators; telephone systems; projects to comply with life safety codes; educational facilities; student housing; patient, employee, staff, and visitor dining areas; administration and volunteer offices; modernization of structural components (such as roof replacement and masonry work); boiler repair or replacement; vehicle maintenance and storage facilities; parking facilities; mechanical systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; loading docks; and repair or replacement of carpeting, tile, wall coverings, window coverings or treatments, or furniture. Solely for the purpose of this definition, "non-clinical service area" does not include health and fitness centers.

"Areawide" means a major area of the State delineated on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis for health planning and for health service and having within it one or more local areas for health planning and health service. The term "region", as contrasted with the term "subregion", and the word "area" may be used synonymously with the term "areawide".

"Local" means a subarea of a delineated major area that on a geographic, demographic, and functional basis may be considered to be part of such major area. The term "subregion" may be used synonymously with the term "local".

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice in accordance with the Medical Practice Act of 1987, as amended.

"Licensed health care professional" means a person licensed to practice a health profession under pertinent licensing statutes of the State of Illinois.

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Agency" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Alternative health care model" means a facility or program authorized under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act.

"Out-of-state facility" means a person that is both (i) licensed as a hospital or as an ambulatory surgery center under the laws of another state or that qualifies as a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center under regulations adopted pursuant to the Social Security Act and (ii) not licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, the Hospital Licensing Act, or the Nursing Home Care Act. Affiliates of out-of-state facilities shall be considered out-of-state facilities. Affiliates of Illinois licensed health care facilities 100% owned by an Illinois licensed health care facility, its parent, or Illinois physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches shall not be considered out-of-state facilities. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include an office or any part of an office of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois that is not required to be licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act.

"Change of ownership of a health care facility" means a change in the person who has ownership or control of a health care facility's physical plant and capital assets. A change in ownership is indicated by the following transactions: sale, transfer, acquisition, lease, change of sponsorship, or other means of transferring control.

"Related person" means any person that: (i) is at least 50% owned, directly or indirectly, by either the health care facility or a person owning, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility; or (ii) owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the health care facility.

"Charity care" means care provided by a health care facility for which the provider does not expect to receive payment from the patient or a third-party payer.

"Freestanding emergency center" means a facility subject to licensure under Section 32.5 of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

"Freestanding rapid treatment emergency center" means a facility subject to licensure under Section 32.6 of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

"Category of service" means a grouping by generic class of various types or levels of support functions, equipment, care, or treatment provided to patients or residents, including, but not limited to, classes such as medical-surgical, pediatrics, or cardiac catheterization. A category of service may include subcategories or levels of care that identify a particular degree or type of care within the category of service. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include the practice of a physician or other licensed health care professional while functioning in an office providing for the care, diagnosis, or treatment of patients. A category of service that is subject to the Board's jurisdiction must be designated in rules adopted by the Board.

"State Board Staff Report" means the document that sets forth the review and findings of the State Board staff, as prescribed by the State Board, regarding applications subject to Board jurisdiction.

(Source: P.A. 97-38, eff. 6-28-11; 97-277, eff. 1-1-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-980, eff. 8-17-12; 98-414, eff. 1-1-14; 98-629, eff. 1-1-15; 98-651, eff. 6-16-14; 98-1086, eff. 8-26-14; revised 10-22-14.)

(20 ILCS 3960/5.1b new)

Sec. 5.1b. Freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers. No person shall construct, modify, or establish a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center in Illinois, or acquire major medical equipment or make capital expenditures in relation to such a facility in excess of the capital expenditure minimum, as defined by this Act, without first obtaining a certificate of need permit from the State Board in accordance with criteria, standards, and procedures adopted by the State Board for freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers that ensure the availability of and community access to essential emergency medical services. The State Board is granted the authority under this Act to establish provisional certificate of need permit application guidelines by emergency rule and shall do so within 120 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.

Section 10. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act is amended by changing Section 3.20 and by adding Section 32.6 as follows:

(210 ILCS 50/3.20)

Sec. 3.20. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems.

(a) "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System" means an organization of hospitals, vehicle service providers and personnel approved by the Department in a specific geographic area, which coordinates and provides pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical transports at a BLS, ILS and/or ALS level pursuant to a System program plan submitted to and approved by the Department, and pursuant to the EMS Region Plan adopted for the EMS Region in which the System is located.

(b) One hospital in each System program plan must be designated as the Resource Hospital. All other hospitals which are located within the geographic boundaries of a System and which have standby, basic or comprehensive level emergency departments must function in that EMS System as either an Associate Hospital or Participating Hospital and follow all System policies specified in the System Program Plan, including but not limited to the replacement of drugs and equipment used by providers who have delivered patients to their emergency departments. All hospitals and vehicle service providers participating in an EMS System must specify their level of participation in the System Program Plan.

(c) The Department shall have the authority and responsibility to:

(1) Approve BLS, ILS and ALS level EMS Systems which meet minimum standards and criteria established in rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, including the submission of a Program Plan for Department approval. Beginning September 1, 1997, the Department shall approve the development of a new EMS System only when a local or regional need for establishing such System has been verified by the Department. This shall not be construed as a needs assessment for health planning or other purposes outside of this Act. Following Department approval, EMS Systems must be fully operational within one year from the date of approval.

(2) Monitor EMS Systems, based on minimum standards for continuing operation as prescribed in rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, which shall include requirements for submitting Program Plan amendments to the Department for approval.

(3) Renew EMS System approvals every 4 years, after an inspection, based on compliance with the standards for continuing operation prescribed in rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act.

(4) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew approval of any EMS System, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, when findings show that it does not meet the minimum standards for continuing operation as prescribed by the Department, or is found to be in violation of its previously approved Program Plan.

(5) Require each EMS System to adopt written protocols for the bypassing of or diversion to any hospital, trauma center or regional trauma center, which provide that a person shall not be transported to a facility other than the nearest hospital, regional trauma center or trauma center unless the medical benefits to the patient reasonably expected from the provision of appropriate medical treatment at a more distant facility outweigh the increased risks to the patient from transport to the more distant facility, or the transport is in accordance with the System's protocols for patient choice or refusal.

(6) Require that the EMS Medical Director of an ILS or ALS level EMS System be a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches in Illinois, and certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine, and that the EMS Medical Director of a BLS level EMS System be a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches in Illinois, with regular and frequent involvement in pre-hospital emergency medical services. In addition, all EMS Medical Directors shall:

(A) Have experience on an EMS vehicle at the highest level available within the System, or make provision to gain such experience within 12 months prior to the date responsibility for the System is assumed or within 90 days after assuming the position;

(B) Be thoroughly knowledgeable of all skills included in the scope of practices of all levels of EMS personnel within the System;

(C) Have or make provision to gain experience instructing students at a level similar to that of the levels of EMS personnel within the System; and

(D) For ILS and ALS EMS Medical Directors, successfully complete a Department-approved EMS Medical Director's Course.

(7) Prescribe statewide EMS data elements to be collected and documented by providers in all EMS Systems for all emergency and non-emergency medical services, with a one-year phase-in for commencing collection of such data elements.

(8) Define, through rules adopted pursuant to this Act, the terms "Resource Hospital", "Associate Hospital", "Participating Hospital", "Basic Emergency Department", "Standby Emergency Department", "Comprehensive Emergency Department", "EMS Medical Director", "EMS Administrative Director", and "EMS System Coordinator".

(A) (Blank).

(B) (Blank).

(9) Investigate the circumstances that caused a hospital in an EMS system to go on bypass status to determine whether that hospital's decision to go on bypass status was reasonable. The Department may impose sanctions, as set forth in Section 3.140 of the Act, upon a Department determination that the hospital unreasonably went on bypass status in violation of the Act.

(10) Evaluate the capacity and performance of any freestanding emergency center established under Section 32.5 of this Act in meeting emergency medical service needs of the public, including compliance with applicable emergency medical standards and assurance of the availability of and immediate access to the highest quality of medical care possible.

(11) Permit limited EMS System participation by facilities operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Subject to patient preference, Illinois EMS providers may transport patients to Veterans Health Administration facilities that voluntarily participate in an EMS System. Any Veterans Health Administration facility seeking limited participation in an EMS System shall agree to comply with all Department administrative rules implementing this Section. The Department may promulgate rules, including, but not limited to, the types of Veterans Health Administration facilities that may participate in an EMS System and the limitations of participation.

(12) Evaluate the capacity and performance of any freestanding rapid treatment emergency center established under Section 32.6 of this Act in meeting emergency medical service needs of the public, including compliance with applicable emergency medical standards and assurance of the availability of and immediate access to the highest quality of medical care possible.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 98-973, eff. 8-15-14.)

(210 ILCS 50/32.6 new)

Sec. 32.6. Freestanding Rapid Treatment Emergency Center.

(a) The Department shall issue an annual Freestanding Rapid Treatment Emergency Center (FRTEC) license to a facility that has received a certificate of need permit from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board to establish a FRTEC and:

(1) is located: (A) in a municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000 inhabitants; (B) within or serving an area designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a medically underserved area or population; (C) within or serving an area designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area; and (D) within one mile of the location of a general acute care hospital that closed between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013;

(2) is affiliated with, by contractual or other means, one or more acute care hospitals located within 5 miles of the FRTEC, which shall serve as backup hospital providers for the FRTEC, and is not a part of any affiliate hospital's physical plant;

(3) meets the standards adopted by the Department by rule for licensed FRTECs, including, but not limited to: (A) facility design, specification, operation, and maintenance standards; (B) equipment standards; and (C) the number and qualifications of emergency medical personnel and other staff, which must include at least one board certified emergency physician present at the FRTEC 24 hours per day;

(4) limits its participation in the EMS System strictly to receiving patients within the capabilities of the FRTEC, which shall be determined according to protocols jointly developed between the FRTEC and the Resource Hospital in the relevant trauma region; these protocols must be approved by the FRTEC's Medical Director, the Resource Hospital, and the Department;

(5) provides comprehensive emergency treatment services, as defined in the rules adopted by the Department under the Hospital Licensing Act, 24 hours per day, on an outpatient basis;

(6) provides an ambulance and maintains on site ambulance services staffed with paramedics 24 hours per day;

(7) complies with all State and federal patient rights provisions, including, but not limited to, the Emergency Medical Treatment Act and the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act;

(8) maintains a referral network with one or more acute care backup provider hospitals located within 5 miles of the FRTEC, on a contractual basis; the contract with the referral hospital shall include, but not be limited to, a requirement to maintain a communication system with the referral hospital;

(9) reports to the Department any patient transfers from the FRTEC to any of its affiliated acute care hospitals within 48 hours of the transfer plus any other data determined to be relevant by the Department;

(10) submits to the Department, on a quarterly basis, the FRTEC's morbidity and mortality rates for patients treated at the FRTEC and other data determined to be relevant by the Department;

(11) does not describe itself or hold itself out to the general public as a full service hospital or a hospital's emergency department in its advertising or marketing activities;

(12) complies with any other rules adopted by the Department under this Act that relate to FRTECs;

(13) passes the Department's site inspection for compliance with the FRTEC requirements of this Act;

(14) submits a copy of the certificate of need permit issued by the Health Facilities and Services Review Board indicating that the facility has complied with the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act with respect to all health services to be provided at the FRTEC;

(15) submits an application for designation as a FRTEC in a manner and form prescribed by the Department by rule; and

(16) pays the annual license fee as determined by the Department by rule.

(b) The Department:

(1) shall annually inspect facilities of initial FRTEC applicants and licensed FRTECs, and issue annual licenses to or annually relicense FRTECs that satisfy the Department's licensure requirements as set forth in subsection (a);

(2) shall suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the license of any FRTEC, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, when the Department finds that the FRTEC has failed to comply with the standards and requirements of this Act or rules adopted by the Department under this Act;

(3) shall issue an emergency suspension order for any FRTEC when the Director or his or her designee has determined that the continued operation of the FRTEC poses an immediate and serious danger to the public health, safety, and welfare; an opportunity for a hearing shall be promptly initiated after an emergency suspension order has been issued; and

(4) is granted the authority under this Act to establish provisional licensure and licensing procedures under this Act by emergency rule and shall do so within 120 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.

Section 15. The Emergency Medical Treatment Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

(210 ILCS 70/2)

Sec. 2. Findings; prohibited terms.

(a) The Illinois General Assembly makes all of the following findings:

(1) Hospital emergency services are not always the most appropriate level of care for patients seeking unscheduled medical care or for patients who do not have a regular physician who can treat a significant or acute medical condition not considered critical, debilitating, or life-threatening.

(2) Hospital emergency rooms are over-utilized and too often over-burdened with many injuries or illnesses that could be managed in a less intensive clinical setting or physician's office.

(3) Over-utilization of hospital emergency departments contributes to excess medical and health insurance costs.

(4) The use of the term "emergi-" or a similar term in a facility's posted or advertised name may confuse the public and prospective patients regarding the type of services offered relative to those provided by a hospital emergency department. There is significant risk to the public health and safety if persons requiring treatment for a critical or life-threatening condition inappropriately use such facilities.

(5) Many times patients are not clearly aware of the policies and procedures of their insurer or health plan that must be followed in the use of emergency rooms versus non-emergent clinics and what rights they have under the law in regard to appropriately sought emergency care.

(6) There is a need to more effectively educate health care payers and consumers about the most appropriate use of the various available levels of medical care and particularly the use of hospital emergency rooms and walk-in medical clinics that do not require appointments.

(b) No person, facility, or entity shall hold itself out to the public as an "emergi-" or "emergent" care center or use any similar term, as defined by rule, that would give the impression that emergency medical treatment is provided by the person or entity or at the facility unless the facility is the emergency room of a facility licensed as a hospital under the Hospital Licensing Act or a facility licensed as a freestanding emergency center or a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. This Section does not prohibit a person, facility, or entity from holding itself out to the public as an "urgi-" or "urgent" care center.

(c) Violation of this Section constitutes a business offense with a minimum fine of $5,000 plus $1,000 per day for a continuing violation, with a maximum of $25,000.

(d) The Director of Public Health in the name of the people of the State, through the Attorney General, may bring an action for an injunction or to restrain a violation of this Section or the rules adopted pursuant to this Section or to enjoin the future operation or maintenance of any facility in violation of this Section or the rules adopted pursuant to this Section.

(e) The Department of Public Health shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-977, eff. 1-1-15.)

Section 20. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by adding Section 370b.2 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/370b.2 new)

Sec. 370b.2. Reimbursement of freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers.

(a) An individual or group policy of accident and health insurance shall have copayments or coinsurance for emergency services provided at a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center at the same levels the plan provides for emergency services delivered in other health care facilities covered under the plan.

(b) Reimbursement to a freestanding rapid treatment emergency center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act that performs emergency services reimburseable under an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance shall be at a rate substantially similar to the rate paid to a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act with a hospital-based emergency department or at a freestanding emergency center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, which shall include, but not be limited to, facility fees and professional fees.

Section 25. The Health Care Worker Background Check Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(225 ILCS 46/15)

Sec. 15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Applicant" means an individual seeking employment with a health care employer who has received a bona fide conditional offer of employment.

"Conditional offer of employment" means a bona fide offer of employment by a health care employer to an applicant, which is contingent upon the receipt of a report from the Department of Public Health indicating that the applicant does not have a record of conviction of any of the criminal offenses enumerated in Section 25.

"Direct care" means the provision of nursing care or assistance with feeding, dressing, movement, bathing, toileting, or other personal needs, including home services as defined in the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. The entity responsible for inspecting and licensing, certifying, or registering the health care employer may, by administrative rule, prescribe guidelines for interpreting this definition with regard to the health care employers that it licenses.

"Disqualifying offenses" means those offenses set forth in Section 25 of this Act.

"Employee" means any individual hired, employed, or retained to which this Act applies.

"Fingerprint-based criminal history records check" means a livescan fingerprint-based criminal history records check submitted as a fee applicant inquiry in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police.

"Health care employer" means:

(1) the owner or licensee of any of the following:

(i) a community living facility, as defined in the Community Living Facilities Act;

(ii) a life care facility, as defined in the Life Care Facilities Act;

(iii) a long-term care facility;

(iv) a home health agency, home services agency, or home nursing agency as defined in the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act;

(v) a hospice care program or volunteer hospice program, as defined in the Hospice Program Licensing Act;

(vi) a hospital, as defined in the Hospital Licensing Act;

(vii) (blank);

(viii) a nurse agency, as defined in the Nurse Agency Licensing Act;

(ix) a respite care provider, as defined in the Respite Program Act;

(ix-a) an establishment licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(x) a supportive living program, as defined in the Illinois Public Aid Code;

(xi) early childhood intervention programs as described in 59 Ill. Adm. Code 121;

(xii) the University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago;

(xiii) programs funded by the Department on Aging through the Community Care Program;

(xiv) programs certified to participate in the Supportive Living Program authorized pursuant to Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code;

(xv) programs listed by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act as Freestanding Emergency Centers or Freestanding Rapid Treatment Emergency Centers;

(xvi) locations licensed under the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act;

(2) a day training program certified by the Department of Human Services;

(3) a community integrated living arrangement operated by a community mental health and developmental service agency, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensing and Certification Act; or

(4) the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, including any regional long term care ombudsman programs under Section 4.04 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, only for the purpose of securing background checks.

"Initiate" means obtaining from a student, applicant, or employee his or her social security number, demographics, a disclosure statement, and an authorization for the Department of Public Health or its designee to request a fingerprint-based criminal history records check; transmitting this information electronically to the Department of Public Health; conducting Internet searches on certain web sites, including without limitation the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, the Department of Corrections' Sex Offender Search Engine, the Department of Corrections' Inmate Search Engine, the Department of Corrections Wanted Fugitives Search Engine, the National Sex Offender Public Registry, and the website of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to determine if the applicant has been adjudicated a sex offender, has been a prison inmate, or has committed Medicare or Medicaid fraud, or conducting similar searches as defined by rule; and having the student, applicant, or employee's fingerprints collected and transmitted electronically to the Department of State Police.

"Livescan vendor" means an entity whose equipment has been certified by the Department of State Police to collect an individual's demographics and inkless fingerprints and, in a manner prescribed by the Department of State Police and the Department of Public Health, electronically transmit the fingerprints and required data to the Department of State Police and a daily file of required data to the Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health shall negotiate a contract with one or more vendors that effectively demonstrate that the vendor has 2 or more years of experience transmitting fingerprints electronically to the Department of State Police and that the vendor can successfully transmit the required data in a manner prescribed by the Department of Public Health. Vendor authorization may be further defined by administrative rule.

"Long-term care facility" means a facility licensed by the State or certified under federal law as a long-term care facility, including without limitation facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or the ID/DD Community Care Act, a supportive living facility, an assisted living establishment, or a shared housing establishment or registered as a board and care home.

(Source: P.A. 97-38, eff. 6-28-11; 97-227, eff. 1-1-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 98-104, eff. 7-22-13.)

Section 30. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-35 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-35 new)

Sec. 5-35. Freestanding rapid treatment emergency center reimbursement. The Illinois Department shall adopt rates to be paid for services delivered by freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act to qualified individuals. The rates established by the Illinois Department shall be substantially similar to the rates paid for services delivered to qualified individuals in an emergency room of a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or a freestanding emergency center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Rates shall be established no later than 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.

Section 35. The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(325 ILCS 2/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Abandon" has the same meaning as in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

"Abused child" has the same meaning as in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

"Child-placing agency" means a licensed public or private agency that receives a child for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement of the child in a foster family home or other facility for child care, apart from the custody of the child's parents.

"Department" or "DCFS" means the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

"Emergency medical facility" means a freestanding emergency center, freestanding rapid treatment emergency center, or trauma center, as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

"Emergency medical professional" includes licensed physicians, and any emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, trauma nurse specialist, and pre-hospital registered nurse, as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

"Fire station" means a fire station within the State with at least one staff person.

"Hospital" has the same meaning as in the Hospital Licensing Act.

"Legal custody" means the relationship created by a court order in the best interest of a newborn infant that imposes on the infant's custodian the responsibility of physical possession of the infant, the duty to protect, train, and discipline the infant, and the duty to provide the infant with food, shelter, education, and medical care, except as these are limited by parental rights and responsibilities.

"Neglected child" has the same meaning as in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

"Newborn infant" means a child who a licensed physician reasonably believes is 30 days old or less at the time the child is initially relinquished to a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility, and who is not an abused or a neglected child.

"Police station" means a municipal police station, a county sheriff's office, a campus police department located on any college or university owned or controlled by the State or any private college or private university that is not owned or controlled by the State when employees of the campus police department are present, or any of the district headquarters of the Illinois State Police.

"Relinquish" means to bring a newborn infant, who a licensed physician reasonably believes is 30 days old or less, to a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility and to leave the infant with personnel of the facility, if the person leaving the infant does not express an intent to return for the infant or states that he or she will not return for the infant. In the case of a mother who gives birth to an infant in a hospital, the mother's act of leaving that newborn infant at the hospital (i) without expressing an intent to return for the infant or (ii) stating that she will not return for the infant is not a "relinquishment" under this Act.

"Temporary protective custody" means the temporary placement of a newborn infant within a hospital or other medical facility out of the custody of the infant's parent.

(Source: P.A. 97-293, eff. 8-11-11; 98-973, eff. 8-15-14.)

Section 40. The Illinois Controlled Substances Act is amended by changing Section 318 as follows:

(720 ILCS 570/318)

Sec. 318. Confidentiality of information.

(a) Information received by the central repository under Section 316 and former Section 321 is confidential.

(b) The Department must carry out a program to protect the confidentiality of the information described in subsection (a). The Department may disclose the information to another person only under subsection (c), (d), or (f) and may charge a fee not to exceed the actual cost of furnishing the information.

(c) The Department may disclose confidential information described in subsection (a) to any person who is engaged in receiving, processing, or storing the information.

(d) The Department may release confidential information described in subsection (a) to the following persons:

(1) A governing body that licenses practitioners and is engaged in an investigation, an adjudication, or a prosecution of a violation under any State or federal law that involves a controlled substance.

(2) An investigator for the Consumer Protection Division of the office of the Attorney General, a prosecuting attorney, the Attorney General, a deputy Attorney General, or an investigator from the office of the Attorney General, who is engaged in any of the following activities involving controlled substances:

(A) an investigation;

(B) an adjudication; or

(C) a prosecution of a violation under any State or federal law that involves a controlled substance.

(3) A law enforcement officer who is:

(A) authorized by the Illinois State Police or the office of a county sheriff or State's Attorney or municipal police department of Illinois to receive information of the type requested for the purpose of investigations involving controlled substances; or

(B) approved by the Department to receive information of the type requested for the purpose of investigations involving controlled substances; and

(C) engaged in the investigation or prosecution of a violation under any State or federal law that involves a controlled substance.

(e) Before the Department releases confidential information under subsection (d), the applicant must demonstrate in writing to the Department that:

(1) the applicant has reason to believe that a violation under any State or federal law that involves a controlled substance has occurred; and

(2) the requested information is reasonably related to the investigation, adjudication, or prosecution of the violation described in subdivision (1).

(f) The Department may receive and release prescription record information under Section 316 and former Section 321 to:

(1) a governing body that licenses practitioners;

(2) an investigator for the Consumer Protection Division of the office of the Attorney General, a prosecuting attorney, the Attorney General, a deputy Attorney General, or an investigator from the office of the Attorney General;

(3) any Illinois law enforcement officer who is:

(A) authorized to receive the type of information released; and

(B) approved by the Department to receive the type of information released; or

(4) prescription monitoring entities in other states per the provisions outlined in subsection (g) and (h) below; confidential prescription record information collected under Sections 316 and 321 (now repealed) that identifies vendors or practitioners, or both, who are prescribing or dispensing large quantities of Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances outside the scope of their practice, pharmacy, or business, as determined by the Advisory Committee created by Section 320.

(g) The information described in subsection (f) may not be released until it has been reviewed by an employee of the Department who is licensed as a prescriber or a dispenser and until that employee has certified that further investigation is warranted. However, failure to comply with this subsection (g) does not invalidate the use of any evidence that is otherwise admissible in a proceeding described in subsection (h).

(h) An investigator or a law enforcement officer receiving confidential information under subsection (c), (d), or (f) may disclose the information to a law enforcement officer or an attorney for the office of the Attorney General for use as evidence in the following:

(1) A proceeding under any State or federal law that involves a controlled substance.

(2) A criminal proceeding or a proceeding in juvenile court that involves a controlled substance.

(i) The Department may compile statistical reports from the information described in subsection (a). The reports must not include information that identifies, by name, license or address, any practitioner, dispenser, ultimate user, or other person administering a controlled substance.

(j) Based upon federal, initial and maintenance funding, a prescriber and dispenser inquiry system shall be developed to assist the health care community in its goal of effective clinical practice and to prevent patients from diverting or abusing medications.

(1) An inquirer shall have read-only access to a stand-alone database which shall contain records for the previous 12 months.

(2) Dispensers may, upon positive and secure identification, make an inquiry on a patient or customer solely for a medical purpose as delineated within the federal HIPAA law.

(3) The Department shall provide a one-to-one secure link and encrypted software necessary to establish the link between an inquirer and the Department. Technical assistance shall also be provided.

(4) Written inquiries are acceptable but must include the fee and the requestor's Drug Enforcement Administration license number and submitted upon the requestor's business stationery.

(5) As directed by the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Committee and the Clinical Director for the Prescription Monitoring Program, aggregate data that does not indicate any prescriber, practitioner, dispenser, or patient may be used for clinical studies.

(6) Tracking analysis shall be established and used per administrative rule.

(7) Nothing in this Act or Illinois law shall be construed to require a prescriber or dispenser to make use of this inquiry system.

(8) If there is an adverse outcome because of a prescriber or dispenser making an inquiry, which is initiated in good faith, the prescriber or dispenser shall be held harmless from any civil liability.

(k) The Department shall establish, by rule, the process by which to evaluate possible erroneous association of prescriptions to any licensed prescriber or end user of the Illinois Prescription Information Library (PIL).

(l) The Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Committee is authorized to evaluate the need for and method of establishing a patient specific identifier.

(m) Patients who identify prescriptions attributed to them that were not obtained by them shall be given access to their personal prescription history pursuant to the validation process as set forth by administrative rule.

(n) The Prescription Monitoring Program is authorized to develop operational push reports to entities with compatible electronic medical records. The process shall be covered within administrative rule established by the Department.

(o) Hospital emergency departments and freestanding healthcare facilities, including, but not limited to, freestanding emergency centers and freestanding rapid treatment emergency centers, providing healthcare to walk-in patients may obtain, for the purpose of improving patient care, a unique identifier for each shift to utilize the PIL system.

(Source: P.A. 97-334, eff. 1-1-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.