99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1498

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
745 ILCS 49/30

    Amends the Good Samaritan Act. To the definition of "free medical clinic", adds programs organized by a certified local health department utilizing members of the federal Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, at which the care provided does not include an overnight stay in a health-care facility.


LRB099 03545 HEP 29206 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1498LRB099 03545 HEP 29206 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Good Samaritan Act is amended by changing
5Section 30 as follows:
 
6    (745 ILCS 49/30)
7    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 94-677,
8which has been held unconstitutional)
9    Sec. 30. Free medical clinic; exemption from civil
10liability for services performed without compensation.
11    (a) A person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of
121987, a person licensed to practice the treatment of human
13ailments in any other state or territory of the United States,
14or a health care professional, including but not limited to an
15advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, nurse,
16pharmacist, physical therapist, podiatric physician, or social
17worker licensed in this State or any other state or territory
18of the United States, who, in good faith, provides medical
19treatment, diagnosis, or advice as a part of the services of an
20established free medical clinic providing care to medically
21indigent patients which is limited to care that does not
22require the services of a licensed hospital or ambulatory
23surgical treatment center and who receives no fee or

 

 

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1compensation from that source shall not be liable for civil
2damages as a result of his or her acts or omissions in
3providing that medical treatment, except for willful or wanton
4misconduct.
5    (b) For purposes of this Section, a "free medical clinic"
6is:
7        (1) an organized community based program providing
8    medical care without charge to individuals unable to pay
9    for it, at which the care provided does not include the use
10    of general anesthesia or require an overnight stay in a
11    health-care facility; or .
12        (2) a program organized by a certified local health
13    department pursuant to Part 600 of Title 77 of the Illinois
14    Administrative Code, utilizing health professional members
15    of the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (the federal
16    organization under 42 U.S.C. 300hh-15), at which the care
17    provided does not include an overnight stay in a
18    health-care facility.
19    (c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Section do not
20apply to a particular case unless the free medical clinic has
21posted in a conspicuous place on its premises an explanation of
22the exemption from civil liability provided herein.
23    (d) The immunity from civil damages provided under
24subsection (a) also applies to physicians, hospitals, and other
25health care providers that provide further medical treatment,
26diagnosis, or advice to a patient upon referral from an

 

 

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1established free medical clinic without fee or compensation.
2    (e) Nothing in this Section prohibits a free medical clinic
3from accepting voluntary contributions for medical services
4provided to a patient who has acknowledged his or her ability
5and willingness to pay a portion of the value of the medical
6services provided.
7    Any voluntary contribution collected for providing care at
8a free medical clinic shall be used only to pay overhead
9expenses of operating the clinic. No portion of any moneys
10collected shall be used to provide a fee or other compensation
11to any person licensed under Medical Practice Act of 1987.
12(Source: P.A. 98-214, eff. 8-9-13.)