ISMS Blocked Many Inappropriate Scope-of-Practice Expansions During Spring Legislative Session
June 3, 2025
Your legislative team pushed back on many burdensome and unsafe legislative proposals that would have negatively impacted patient care.
ISMS vehemently opposed these bills, which did not advance in the General Assembly:
Acupuncturists
House Bill 3344 and Senate Bill 2452 would have redefined the practice of acupuncture to also include ordering laboratory tests to check, track, evaluate and monitor the status and effectiveness of pain management, herbal medicinal plans, dietary and exercise plans. ISMS opposed these bills, which did not advance.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) Independent Practice
House Bill 3728 and Senate Bill 239 would have granted Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) independent practice in ambulatory surgical treatment centers. The bill would have also allowed CRNAs with clinical privileges to perform acts of advanced assessment and diagnosis and practice without a collaborative agreement pursuant to certain criteria. In the hospital setting, this legislation would have removed the written anesthesia plan and would have created a pathway for full practice authority for CRNAs. ISMS joined the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists in their opposition to the bill, which remained in the Senate Committee on Assignments.
Chiropractors/School Exams
House Bill 3033 would have allowed chiropractors to provide health exams to student athletes. ISMS opposed this bill, which did not advance.
Licensure of Naturopaths
House Bill 3450 would have licensed naturopaths in Illinois and allow them to provide a full range of naturopathic “medicine” to patients, including providing pediatric care; treating and managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer; and providing specialty care, such as gynecological services. ISMS opposed the bill, which was held in committee.
Licensing Restrictions for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities
House Bill 2652 would have prohibited the Department of Human Services (DHS) from approving any initial or renewal application for the licensure of a facility where substance use disorder treatment or intervention services are provided if that facility is within 1,000 feet of: (i) any building or buildings or real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, community college, college, or university, including any adjacent school yard, school playing field or school playground; (ii) a public playground; or (iii) any public park building or property comprising any public park. ISMS opposed this legislation, which was held in committee.
Physician Assistant Independent Practice
House Bill 2468 and Senate Bill 271 would have granted physician assistants independent practice with full prescriptive authority. ISMS opposed these bills, which were held in committee.
Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
Senate Bill 209 would have entered Illinois into the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact Act. The Compact seeks to allow participating states to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing authority of state licensing boards to license and discipline physician assistants and to seeks to enhance the portability of a license to practice as a physician assistant. ISMS expressed concerns with the Compact because it was unclear if the Compact licensure rules would supersede Illinois’ licensure requirements. Senate Bill 209 was held in committee.
Psychologist Prescriptive Authority
Senate Bill 1743 would have removed a provision prohibiting a prescribing psychologist from prescribing medications to patients who are less than 17 years of age or over 65 years of age. Additionally, this legislation would have allowed clinical psychologists to prescribe nonopioid Schedule II through V controlled substances (rather than any nonnarcotic Schedule III through V controlled substances). ISMS opposed this bill, which did not advance.
If you have any questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.
Your legislative team pushed back on many burdensome and unsafe legislative proposals that would have negatively impacted patient care.
ISMS vehemently opposed these bills, which did not advance in the General Assembly:
Acupuncturists
House Bill 3344 and Senate Bill 2452 would have redefined the practice of acupuncture to also include ordering laboratory tests to check, track, evaluate and monitor the status and effectiveness of pain management, herbal medicinal plans, dietary and exercise plans. ISMS opposed these bills, which did not advance.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) Independent Practice
House Bill 3728 and Senate Bill 239 would have granted Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) independent practice in ambulatory surgical treatment centers. The bill would have also allowed CRNAs with clinical privileges to perform acts of advanced assessment and diagnosis and practice without a collaborative agreement pursuant to certain criteria. In the hospital setting, this legislation would have removed the written anesthesia plan and would have created a pathway for full practice authority for CRNAs. ISMS joined the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists in their opposition to the bill, which remained in the Senate Committee on Assignments.
Chiropractors/School Exams
House Bill 3033 would have allowed chiropractors to provide health exams to student athletes. ISMS opposed this bill, which did not advance.
Licensure of Naturopaths
House Bill 3450 would have licensed naturopaths in Illinois and allow them to provide a full range of naturopathic “medicine” to patients, including providing pediatric care; treating and managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer; and providing specialty care, such as gynecological services. ISMS opposed the bill, which was held in committee.
Licensing Restrictions for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities
House Bill 2652 would have prohibited the Department of Human Services (DHS) from approving any initial or renewal application for the licensure of a facility where substance use disorder treatment or intervention services are provided if that facility is within 1,000 feet of: (i) any building or buildings or real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, community college, college, or university, including any adjacent school yard, school playing field or school playground; (ii) a public playground; or (iii) any public park building or property comprising any public park. ISMS opposed this legislation, which was held in committee.
Physician Assistant Independent Practice
House Bill 2468 and Senate Bill 271 would have granted physician assistants independent practice with full prescriptive authority. ISMS opposed these bills, which were held in committee.
Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
Senate Bill 209 would have entered Illinois into the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact Act. The Compact seeks to allow participating states to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing authority of state licensing boards to license and discipline physician assistants and to seeks to enhance the portability of a license to practice as a physician assistant. ISMS expressed concerns with the Compact because it was unclear if the Compact licensure rules would supersede Illinois’ licensure requirements. Senate Bill 209 was held in committee.
Psychologist Prescriptive Authority
Senate Bill 1743 would have removed a provision prohibiting a prescribing psychologist from prescribing medications to patients who are less than 17 years of age or over 65 years of age. Additionally, this legislation would have allowed clinical psychologists to prescribe nonopioid Schedule II through V controlled substances (rather than any nonnarcotic Schedule III through V controlled substances). ISMS opposed this bill, which did not advance.
If you have any questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.