Springfield Legislative Update
February 3, 2022
The General Assembly started 2022 in fits and starts due to the Omicron variant and this week's winter snowstorm.
But your ISMS legislative team has continued working hard on your behalf, always advocating for Illinois physicians. ISMS is voicing our opposition on several bills that would be harmful to patients!
- Naturopaths want to provide a full range of "medicine" to patients
Senate Bill 3025 and House Bill HB 4294 would allow naturopaths to provide a full range of naturopathic “medicine” to patients in Illinois, including caring for children; managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer; and providing specialty care, such as gynecological services. ISMS opposes these bills, which have been assigned to their chambers' respective License Committees.
- APRNs want to independently administer radiation using fluoroscopy
Senate Bill 3196 would allow APRNs to independently administer radiation using fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy is a technical procedure that should be performed by a physician or under the supervision of a physician. Radiation applications are sensitive and can have many ongoing effects that are assessed by physicians. ISMS remains opposed to this legislation and the bill is assigned to Senate Licensed Activities.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) want independent practice
Senate Bill 2566 would eliminate important patient safety requirements when certified registered nurse anesthetists provide care, including physician input, having an anesthesia plan agreement and physician availability to treat medical emergencies. Patient safety must be the primary driver behind any modification to our healthcare laws. ISMS opposes this legislation, which remains in the Senate Assignments Committee.
These burdensome mandates must be stopped!
- Human trafficking training mandate
Senate Bill 3824 creates the Health Care Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act and requires all Illinois healthcare professionals to undergo training in the recognition of human trafficking and protocols for reporting observed human trafficking to the appropriate authority as part of the CME. ISMS opposes this bill, which remains in the Senate Assignments Committee.
- Expansion of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) mandate involving pharmacists
Senate Bill 3920 would expand the PMP mandate by requiring pharmacists to list all prescriptions dispensed to a patient, and require that each corresponding diagnosis be noted on the prescription by the physician and uploaded by the pharmacist into the PMP. ISMS opposes this legislation, which remains in the Senate Assignments Committee.
ISMS will continue to provide you with the latest legislative news from Springfield. Stay tuned!
If you have questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.