Public Act 0888 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3017 Enrolled LRB102 22168 CMG 31297 b

Public Act 102-0888

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 2310-220 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-220) (was 20 ILCS 2310/55.73)

Sec. 2310-220. Findings; rural obstetrical care. The General Assembly finds that substantial areas of rural Illinois lack adequate access to obstetrical care. The primary cause of this problem is the absence of qualified practitioners who are willing to offer obstetrical services. A significant barrier to recruiting and retaining those practitioners is the high cost of professional liability insurance for practitioners offering obstetrical care.

Therefore, the Department, from funds appropriated for that purpose, shall award grants to physicians practicing obstetrics in rural designated shortage areas, as defined in Section 3.04 of the Underserved Health Care Provider Physician Workforce Act, for the purpose of reimbursing those physicians for the costs of obtaining malpractice insurance relating to obstetrical services. The Department shall establish reasonable conditions, standards, and duties relating to the application for and receipt of the grants.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

Section 10. The Underserved Physician Workforce Act is amended by changing Sections 1, 3.04, and 3.09 as follows:

(110 ILCS 935/1) (from Ch. 144, par. 1451)

Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Underserved Health Care Provider Physician Workforce Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

(110 ILCS 935/3.04) (from Ch. 144, par. 1453.04)

Sec. 3.04. "Designated Shortage Area" means an area designated by the Director as a physician shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a critical health manpower shortage area as defined by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, or as further defined by the Department to enable it to effectively fulfill the purpose stated in Section 2 of this Act. Such areas may include the following:

(a) an urban or rural area which is a rational area for the delivery of health services;

(b) a population group; or

(c) a public or nonprofit private medical facility; or .

(d) a government-owned, privately owned, independent, or provider-based Rural Health Clinic or hospital that accepts Medicaid, Medicare, the State's Children's Health Insurance Program, private insurance, and self-pay.

(Source: P.A. 80-478.)

(110 ILCS 935/3.09)

Sec. 3.09. Eligible health care provider. "Eligible health care provider" means a primary care physician, general surgeon, emergency medicine physician, or obstetrician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant who accepts Medicaid, Medicare, the State's Children's Health Insurance Program, private insurance, and self-pay.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

Section 15. The Nurses in Advancement Law is amended by changing Section 1-20 as follows:

(110 ILCS 970/1-20) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-20)

Sec. 1-20. Scholarship requirements. It shall be lawful for any organization to condition any loan or grant upon the recipient's executing an agreement to commit not more than 5 years of his or her professional career to the goals specifically outlined within the agreement including a requirement that recipient practice nursing or medicine in specifically designated practice and geographic areas.

Any agreement executed by an organization and any recipient of loan or grant assistance shall contain a provision for liquidated damages to be paid for any breach of any provision of the agreement, or any commitment contained therein, together with attorney's fees and costs for the enforcement thereof. Any such covenant shall be valid and enforceable in the courts of this State as liquidated damages and shall not be considered a penalty, provided that the provision for liquidated damages does not exceed $2,500 for each year remaining for the performance of the agreement.

This Section shall not be construed as pertaining to or limiting any liquidated damages resulting from scholarships awarded under the Underserved Health Care Provider Physician Workforce Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

Section 20. The Private Medical Scholarship Agreement Act is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

(110 ILCS 980/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2703)

Sec. 3. Any such agreement executed by such an organization and any recipient of loan, grant assistance or recommendation may contain a provision for liquidated damages to be paid for any breach of any provision of the agreement, or any commitment contained therein, together with attorney's fees and costs for the enforcement thereof. Any such covenant shall be valid and enforceable in the courts of this State as liquidated damages and shall not be considered a penalty, provided that such provision for liquidated damages does not exceed $2,500 for each year remaining for the performance of such agreement.

This Section shall not be construed as pertaining to or limiting any liquidated damages resulting from scholarships awarded under the Underserved Health Care Provider Physician Workforce Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

Section 25. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 12-4.24a as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.24a) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.24a)

Sec. 12-4.24a. Report and recommendations concerning designated shortage area. The Illinois Department shall analyze payments made to providers of medical services under Article V of this Code to determine whether any special compensatory standard should be applied to payments to such providers in designated shortage areas as defined in Section 3.04 of the Underserved Health Care Provider Physician Workforce Act. The Illinois Department shall, not later than June 30, 1990, report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the results of its analysis, and may provide by rule for adjustments in its payment rates to medical service providers in such areas.

(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19.)

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