103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3524

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Doris Turner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
210 ILCS 45/3-220 new

    Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Creates the Certified Medication Aide Program within the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall implement and enforce a Certified Medication Aide Program. Sets forth requirements for a facility to be designated as a qualified facility within the Program. Describes exempt activities. Sets forth the scope of practice for a certified medication aide. Provides for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000, to be paid within 60 days after the effective date of the order imposing the civil penalty, for uncertified practice as a certified medication aide. Provides that the Department shall authorize examinations of applicants for certification at the times and places it may designate. Provides for examination fees to be paid by applicants for certification. Sets forth requirements for an applicant to be certified under the Program. Provides that a person certified under the Program shall use the words "certified medication aide" in connection with the person's name to denote the person's certification under the Program. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to administer, implement, and enforce the Program.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3524LRB103 37608 CES 67734 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Nursing Home Care Act is amended by adding
5Section 3-220 as follows:
 
6    (210 ILCS 45/3-220 new)
7    Sec. 3-220. Certified Medication Aide Program.
8    (a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
9    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
10    "Medication aide" means a person who has met the
11qualifications for certification under this Section who
12assists with medication administration while under the
13supervision of a registered professional nurse in a skilled
14nursing facility.
15    "Qualified employer" means a skilled nursing facility
16licensed by the Department of Public Health that meets the
17qualifications set forth in Section 80-10 of the Nurse
18Practice Act.
19    (b) The Department shall administer and enforce a
20Certified Medication Aide Program, ensuring the regulation and
21certification of medication aides. In order for a facility to
22use certified medication aides, it must have the approval of
23the Department.

 

 

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1    (c) To be approved as a qualified facility, a facility
2must:
3        (1) be licensed and in compliance when applying as a
4    skilled nursing facility by the Department of Public
5    Health;
6        (2) not appear on the Centers for Medicare and
7    Medicaid Services Special Focus Facility List;
8        (3) certify that the employment of a certified
9    medication aide will not replace or diminish the
10    employment of a registered nurse or licensed practical
11    nurse at the facility;
12        (4) certify that a registered nurse will be on duty
13    and present in the facility to delegate and supervise the
14    medication administration by a certified medication aide
15    during the delegation times;
16        (5) certify that, with the exception of licensed
17    health care professionals, only certified medication aides
18    will be employed in the capacity of administering
19    medication; and
20        (6) provide information regarding patient safety,
21    efficiency, and errors as determined by the Department.
22        Failure to submit any required report shall be grounds
23    for discipline or sanctions under this Act, the Nurse
24    Practice Act, or the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing
25    and Disciplinary Act.
26    (d) The Department shall submit a report regarding patient

 

 

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1safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the
2General Assembly no later than 1 year after the full
3implementation of the program.
4    (e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
5preventing or restricting the practice, services, or
6activities of:
7        (1) any person licensed in this State by any other law
8    from engaging in the profession or occupation for which
9    the person is licensed;
10        (2) any person employed as a medication aide by the
11    government of the United States, if such person practices
12    as a medication aide solely under the direction or control
13    of the organization by which the person is employed; or
14        (3) any person pursuing a course of study leading to a
15    certificate in medication aide at an accredited or
16    approved educational program if such activities and
17    services constitute a part of a supervised course of study
18    and if such person is designated by a title which clearly
19    indicates the person's status as a student or trainee.
20    (f) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit
21the delegation of tasks or duties by a physician, dentist,
22advanced practice registered nurse, or podiatric physician as
23authorized by law.
24    (g) A certified medication aide may only practice in a
25qualified facility.
26    (h) Certified medication aides must be supervised by and

 

 

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1receive delegation from a registered nurse that is on duty and
2present in the facility at all times when certified medication
3aides are administering medication.
4    (i) Certified medication aides shall not perform other
5duties during the duration of the medication distribution.
6    (j) Certified medication aides shall not administer any
7medication until a physician has conducted an initial
8assessment of the resident.
9    (k) Certified medication aides shall not administer any
10Schedule II controlled substances as set forth in the Illinois
11Controlled Substances Act, and may not administer any
12subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous
13medication.
14    (l) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any
15person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to
16practice, or holds oneself out to practice as a medication
17aide without being certified under this Section shall, in
18addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil
19penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000
20for each offense as determined by the Department.
21    (m) The Department has the authority and power to
22investigate any and all uncertified activity.
23    (n) The civil penalty shall be paid within 60 days after
24the effective date of the order imposing the civil penalty.
25The order shall constitute a judgment and may be filed and
26execution had thereon in the same manner as any judgment from

 

 

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1any court of record.
2    (o) The Department shall authorize examinations of
3applicants for certification under this Section at the times
4and places it designates. The examination shall be of a
5character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the
6applicant to practice as a medication aide.
7    (p) Applicants for examination as a medication aide shall
8be required to pay, either to the Department or the designated
9testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the
10examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the
11scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the
12applicant's application for examination has been received and
13acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing
14service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination
15fee.
16    (q) An applicant for certification by examination to
17practice as a certified medication aide must:
18        (1) submit a completed written application on forms
19    provided by the Department and pay any fees as established
20    by the Department;
21        (2) be age 18 or older;
22        (3) have a high school diploma or a General Education
23    Diploma;
24        (4) demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write
25    the English language or language of the facility, as
26    determined by rule;

 

 

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1        (5) demonstrate competency in math, as determined by
2    rule;
3        (6) be currently certified in good standing as a
4    certified nursing assistant and provide proof of 2,000
5    hours of practice as a certified nursing assistant within
6    3 years before application for certification;
7        (7) submit to the criminal history records check
8    required under the Health Care Worker Background Check
9    Act;
10        (8) have not engaged in conduct or behavior determined
11    to be grounds for discipline under this Act;
12        (9) be currently certified to perform cardiopulmonary
13    resuscitation by the American Heart Association or
14    American Red Cross;
15        (10) have successfully completed a course of study
16    approved by the Department as defined by rule; to be
17    approved, the program must include:
18            (A) a minimum of 60 hours of classroom-based
19        medication aide education;
20            (B) a minimum of 10 hours of simulation laboratory
21        study; and
22            (C) a minimum of 30 hours of registered
23        nurse-supervised clinical practicum with progressive
24        responsibility of patient medication assistance;
25        (11) have successfully completed the Medication Aide
26    Certification Examination or other examination authorized

 

 

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1    by the Department; and
2        (12) submit proof of employment by a qualifying
3    facility.
4    (r) The expiration date for each certification to practice
5as a certified medication aide shall be set by the rule.
6    (s) Violations and enforcement shall be as otherwise
7provided in this Act.
8    (t) Any person who is issued a certification as a
9medication aide under the terms of this Section shall use the
10words "certified medication aide" in connection with the
11person's name to denote the person's certification under this
12Section.
13    (u) The Department shall adopt rules to implement,
14administer, and enforce this Section within 90 days after the
15effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
16Assembly.