103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3525

 

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

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/5-5.01c new
225 ILCS 65/Art. 80 rep.

    Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to administer and enforce a Certified Medication Aide Program and regulate certified medication aides. Provides that to be approved as a facility qualified to participate in the program, a facility must: (i) be certified and in good standing as a supportive living facility by the Department; (ii) certify that the employment of a certified medication aide will not replace or diminish the employment of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse at the facility; (iii) certify that a registered nurse will be on-duty and present in the facility to delegate and supervise the administration of medication by a certified medication aide at all times; (iv) certify that, with the exception of licensed health care professionals, only certified medication aides will be employed in the capacity of administering medication; and (v) provide information regarding patient safety, efficiency, and errors as determined by the Department. Requires the Department to submit a report on patient safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the General Assembly no later than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Contains provisions concerning the scope of practice of certified medication aides; penalties for persons who practice as a medication aide without being certified; applications for original certification; examinations of applicants; application requirements; expiration of certification; and Department rules. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Repeals provisions creating a Medication Aide Pilot Program. Effective immediately.


LRB103 37618 KTG 67744 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3525LRB103 37618 KTG 67744 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5adding Section 5-5.01c as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/5-5.01c new)
7    Sec. 5-5.01c. Certified Medication Aide.
8    (a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
9    "Direct-care assignment" means an assignment for staffing
10requirements for direct care staff as that term is defined
11under 77 Ill. Adm. Code 300.1230.
12    "Certified medication aide" means a person who has met the
13qualifications for certification under this Section and
14assists with medication administration while under the
15supervision of a registered professional nurse in a long-term
16care facility.
17    "Program" means the Certified Medication Aide Program.
18    "Qualified facility" means a supportive living facility
19licensed by the Department of Public Health including any
20facility certified to participate in the supportive living
21program under Section 5-5.01a.
22    "Department" means the Department of Healthcare and Family
23Services.

 

 

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1    (b) Medication Aide Program. The Department shall
2administer and enforce a Certified Medication Aide Program and
3regulate certified medication aides. To be approved as a
4facility qualified to participate in the program, a facility
5must satisfy all of the following requirements:
6        (1) Be certified and in good standing as a supportive
7    living facility by the Department.
8        (2) 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        (3) Certify that a registered nurse will be on-duty
13    and present in the facility to delegate and supervise the
14    administration of medication by a certified medication
15    aide at all times.
16        (4) 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.
20        (5) Provide information regarding patient safety,
21    efficiency, and errors as determined by the Department.
22    Failure to submit any required report may be grounds for
23    discipline or sanctions as prescribed by the Department.
24    The Department shall submit a report regarding patient
25safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the
26General Assembly no later than 2 years after the effective

 

 

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1date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
2    (c) Certification requirement; exempt activities. No
3person shall practice as a medication aide or hold himself or
4herself out as a certified medication aide in this State
5unless he or she is certified in accordance with this Section.
6    Nothing in this Article shall be construed as preventing
7or restricting the practice, services, or activities of:
8        (1) any person licensed in this State by any other law
9    from engaging in the profession or occupation for which he
10    or she is licensed;
11        (2) any person employed as a medication aide by the
12    government of the United States, if such person practices
13    as a medication aide solely under the direction or control
14    of the organization by which he or she is employed; or
15        (3) any person pursuing a course of study leading to a
16    certificate in medication aide at an accredited or
17    approved educational program if such activities and
18    services constitute a part of a supervised course of study
19    and if such person is designated by a title which clearly
20    indicates his or her status as a student or trainee.
21    Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the
22delegation of tasks or duties by a physician, dentist,
23advanced practice registered nurse, or podiatric physician as
24authorized by law.
25    (d) Scope of practice. A certified medication aide may
26only practice in a qualified facility. Certified medication

 

 

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1aides must be supervised by and receive delegation by a
2registered nurse that is on-duty and present in the facility
3at all times. Certified medication aides shall not have a
4direct-care assignment when scheduled to work as a certified
5medication aide, but may assist residents as needed. Certified
6medication aides shall not administer any medication until a
7physician has conducted an initial assessment of the resident.
8Certified medication aides shall not administer any Schedule
9II controlled substances as set forth in the Illinois
10Controlled Substances Act, and may not administer any
11subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous
12medication.
13    (e) Uncertified practice; violation; civil penalty. In
14addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who
15practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds
16oneself out to practice as a medication aide without being
17certified in accordance with this Section shall, in addition
18to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty to
19the Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each
20offense as determined by the Department. The Department has
21the authority and power to investigate any and all uncertified
22activity. The civil penalty shall be paid within 60 days after
23the date of the order imposing the civil penalty. The order
24shall constitute a judgment and may be filed and execution had
25thereon in the same manner as any judgment from any court of
26record.

 

 

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1    (f) Applications for original certification. Applications
2for original certification shall be made to the Department in
3writing on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be
4accompanied by the required fee, which shall not be
5returnable. The application shall require such information
6that, in the judgment of the Department, enables the
7Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for
8certification.
9    (g) Examinations. The Department shall authorize
10examinations of applicants for a certificate under this
11Section at the times and places as it may designate. The
12examination shall be of a character to give a fair test of the
13qualifications of the applicant to practice as a medication
14aide.
15    Applicants for examination as a medication aide shall be
16required to pay, either to the Department or the designated
17testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the
18examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the
19scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the
20applicant's application for examination has been received and
21acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing
22service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination
23fee.
24    If an applicant fails to pass an examination for
25certification in accordance with this Section within 3 years
26after filing his or her application, the application shall be

 

 

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1denied. The applicant may thereafter make a new application
2accompanied by the required fee; however, the applicant shall
3meet all requirements in effect at the time of subsequent
4application before obtaining certification. The Department may
5employ consultants for the purposes of preparing and
6conducting examinations.
7    (h) Application requirements. An applicant for
8certification by examination to practice as a certified
9medication aide must:
10        (1) submit a completed written application on forms
11    provided by the Department and fees as established by the
12    Department;
13        (2) be age 18 or older;
14        (3) have a high school diploma or a high school
15    equivalency certificate;
16        (4) demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write
17    the English language, as determined by rule;
18        (5) demonstrate competency in math, as determined by
19    rule;
20        (6) be currently certified in good standing as a
21    certified nursing assistant and provide proof of 2,000
22    hours of practice as a certified nursing assistant within
23    3 years before application for a certificate under this
24    Section;
25        (7) submit to the criminal history records check
26    required under Section 46 of the Health Care Worker

 

 

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1    Background Check Act;
2        (8) have not engaged in conduct or behavior determined
3    to be grounds for discipline under this Act;
4        (9) be currently certified to perform cardiopulmonary
5    resuscitation by the American Heart Association or
6    American Red Cross;
7        (10) have successfully completed a course of study
8    approved by the Department as defined by rule; to be
9    approved, the program must include a minimum of 60 hours
10    of classroom-based medication aide education, a minimum of
11    10 hours of simulation laboratory study, and a minimum of
12    30 hours of registered nurse-supervised clinical practicum
13    with progressive responsibility of patient medication
14    assistance;
15        (11) have successfully completed the Medication Aide
16    Certification Examination or other examination authorized
17    by the Department; and
18        (12) submit proof of employment by a qualifying
19    facility.
20    (i) Expiration of certification. The expiration date for
21each certification to practice as a certified medication aide
22shall be set by the rule. Enforcement and violations shall be
23subject to those within this Act.
24    (j) Title. No person shall use the title "certified
25medication aide" unless he or she holds a valid certificate
26issued by the Department in accordance with this Section.

 

 

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1    (k) Rules. The Department shall adopt rules to implement
2the provisions of this Section within 90 days after the
3effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
4Assembly.
 
5    (225 ILCS 65/Art. 80 rep.)
6    Section 10. The Nurse Practice Act is amended by repealing
7Article 80.
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.