Public Act 0244 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2688 Enrolled LRB104 07342 AAS 17382 b

Public Act 104-0244

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) the State is experiencing a maternal health crisis; and

(2) access to out-of-hospital services is critical to addressing the maternal health crisis.

Section 5. The Nurse Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 50-10 and 65-35 and by adding Sections 65-44 and 65-70 as follows:

(225 ILCS 65/50-10) (was 225 ILCS 65/5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 50-10. Definitions. Each of the following terms, when used in this Act, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Academic year" means the customary annual schedule of courses at a college, university, or approved school, customarily regarded as the school year as distinguished from the calendar year.

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Advanced practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means a person who has met the qualifications for a (i) certified nurse midwife (CNM); (ii) certified nurse practitioner (CNP); (iii) certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA); or (iv) clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and has been licensed by the Department. All advanced practice registered nurses licensed and practicing in the State of Illinois shall use the title APRN and may use specialty credentials CNM, CNP, CRNA, or CNS after their name. All advanced practice registered nurses may only practice in accordance with national certification and this Act.

"Advisory Board" means the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board.

"Approved program of professional nursing education" and "approved program of practical nursing education" are programs of professional or practical nursing, respectively, approved by the Department under the provisions of this Act.

"Board" means the Board of Nursing appointed by the Secretary.

"Center" means the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center.

"Collaboration" means a process involving 2 or more health care professionals working together, each contributing one's respective area of expertise to provide more comprehensive patient care.

"Competence" means an expected and measurable level of performance that integrates knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment based on established scientific knowledge and expectations for nursing practice.

"Comprehensive nursing assessment" means the gathering of information about the patient's physiological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual status on an ongoing basis by a registered professional nurse and is the first step in implementing and guiding the nursing plan of care.

"Consultation" means the process whereby an advanced practice registered nurse seeks the advice or opinion of another health care professional.

"Credentialed" means the process of assessing and validating the qualifications of a health care professional.

"Dentist" means a person licensed to practice dentistry under the Illinois Dental Practice Act.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Focused nursing assessment" means an appraisal of an individual's status and current situation, contributing to the comprehensive nursing assessment performed by the registered professional nurse or advanced practice registered nurse or the assessment by the physician assistant, physician, dentist, podiatric physician, or other licensed health care professional, as determined by the Department, supporting ongoing data collection, and deciding who needs to be informed of the information and when to inform.

"Full practice authority" means the authority of an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Illinois and certified as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse midwife to practice without a written collaborative agreement and:

(1) to be fully accountable to patients for the quality of advanced nursing care rendered;

(2) to be fully accountable for recognizing limits of knowledge and experience and for planning for the management of situations beyond the advanced practice registered nurse's expertise; the full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses includes accepting referrals from, consulting with, collaborating with, or referring to other health care professionals as warranted by the needs of the patient; and

(3) to possess the authority to prescribe medications, including Schedule II through V controlled substances, as provided in Section 65-43.

"Full practice authority-pending advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Illinois and certified as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse midwife who has provided a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training in the advanced practice registered nurse's area of certification and at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification and who has submitted an application to the Department to be granted full practice authority.

"Hospital affiliate" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or similar organization, other than a hospital, that is devoted primarily to the provision, management, or support of health care services and that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control of the hospital. For the purposes of this definition, "control" means having at least an equal or a majority ownership or membership interest. A hospital affiliate shall be 100% owned or controlled by any combination of hospitals, their parent corporations, or physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois. "Hospital affiliate" does not include a health maintenance organization regulated under the Health Maintenance Organization Act.

"Impaired nurse" means a nurse licensed under this Act who is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety because of a physical or mental disability as evidenced by a written determination or written consent based on clinical evidence, including loss of motor skills, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or a psychiatric disorder, of sufficient degree to diminish his or her ability to deliver competent patient care.

"License-pending advanced practice registered nurse" means a registered professional nurse who has completed all requirements for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse except the certification examination and has applied to take the next available certification exam and received a temporary permit from the Department.

"License-pending registered nurse" means a person who has passed the Department-approved registered nurse licensure exam and has applied for a license from the Department. A license-pending registered nurse shall use the title "RN lic pend" on all documentation related to nursing practice.

"Maternity care desert" means a county without any hospital, any birth center, or any licensed health care professional offering obstetric care.

"Nursing intervention" means any treatment based on clinical nursing judgment or knowledge that a nurse performs. An individual or entity shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions if the registered professional nurse determines it is inappropriate to do so. A nurse shall not be subject to disciplinary or any other adverse action for refusing to delegate a nursing intervention based on patient safety.

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in all its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Podiatric physician" means a person licensed to practice podiatry under the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Practical nurse" or "licensed practical nurse" means a person who is licensed as a practical nurse under this Act and practices practical nursing as defined in this Act. Only a practical nurse licensed under this Act is entitled to use the title "licensed practical nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.".

"Practical nursing" means the performance of nursing interventions requiring the nursing knowledge, judgment, and skill acquired by means of completion of an approved practical nursing education program. Practical nursing includes assisting in the nursing process under the guidance of a registered professional nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse. The practical nurse may work under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist, podiatric physician, or other health care professional determined by the Department.

"Privileged" means the authorization granted by the governing body of a healthcare facility, agency, or organization to provide specific patient care services within well-defined limits, based on qualifications reviewed in the credentialing process.

"Registered Nurse" or "Registered Professional Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a professional nurse under this Act and practices nursing as defined in this Act. Only a registered nurse licensed under this Act is entitled to use the titles "registered nurse" and "registered professional nurse" and the abbreviation, "R.N.".

"Registered professional nursing practice" means a scientific process founded on a professional body of knowledge that includes, but is not limited to, the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, development and implementation of the nursing plan of care, facilitation of nursing interventions to alleviate suffering, care coordination, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations. "Registered professional nursing practice" does not include the act of medical diagnosis or prescription of medical therapeutic or corrective measures.

"Professional assistance program for nurses" means a professional assistance program that meets criteria established by the Board of Nursing and approved by the Secretary, which provides a non-disciplinary treatment approach for nurses licensed under this Act whose ability to practice is compromised by alcohol or chemical substance addiction.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Unencumbered license" means a license issued in good standing.

"Written collaborative agreement" means a written agreement between an advanced practice registered nurse and a collaborating physician, dentist, or podiatric physician pursuant to Section 65-35.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-686, eff. 1-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 65/65-35) (was 225 ILCS 65/15-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 65-35. Written collaborative agreements.

(a) A written collaborative agreement is required for all advanced practice registered nurses engaged in clinical practice prior to meeting the requirements of Section 65-43, except for advanced practice registered nurses who are privileged to practice in a hospital, hospital affiliate, or ambulatory surgical treatment center.

(a-5) If an advanced practice registered nurse engages in clinical practice outside of a hospital, hospital affiliate, or ambulatory surgical treatment center in which he or she is privileged to practice, the advanced practice registered nurse must have a written collaborative agreement, except as set forth in Section 65-43.

(b) A written collaborative agreement shall describe the relationship of the advanced practice registered nurse with the collaborating physician and shall describe the categories of care, treatment, or procedures to be provided by the advanced practice registered nurse. A collaborative agreement with a podiatric physician must be in accordance with subsection (c-5) or (c-15) of this Section. A collaborative agreement with a dentist must be in accordance with subsection (c-10) of this Section. A collaborative agreement with a podiatric physician must be in accordance with subsection (c-5) of this Section. Collaboration does not require an employment relationship between the collaborating physician and the advanced practice registered nurse.

The collaborative relationship under an agreement shall not be construed to require the personal presence of a collaborating physician at the place where services are rendered. Methods of communication shall be available for consultation with the collaborating physician in person or by telecommunications or electronic communications as set forth in the written agreement.

(b-5) Absent an employment relationship, a written collaborative agreement may not (1) restrict the categories of patients of an advanced practice registered nurse within the scope of the advanced practice registered nurses training and experience, (2) limit third party payors or government health programs, such as the medical assistance program or Medicare with which the advanced practice registered nurse contracts, or (3) limit the geographic area or practice location of the advanced practice registered nurse in this State.

(b-10) In the case of home birth services provided by a certified nurse midwife, a written collaborative agreement may permit a certified nurse midwife to provide home birth services within the scope of the certified nurse midwife's training and experience. A written collaborative agreement may not prohibit a certified nurse midwife from providing home birth services within the scope of the certified nurse midwife's training and experience. Where the collaborating physician does not provide home birth services, home birth services may be provided by a certified nurse midwife working under a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician when the services are provided in a federal primary care health professional shortage area with a Health Professional Shortage Area score greater than or equal to 12, as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or a maternity care desert.

(c) In the case of anesthesia services provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist, an anesthesiologist, a physician, a dentist, or a podiatric physician must participate through discussion of and agreement with the anesthesia plan and remain physically present and available on the premises during the delivery of anesthesia services for diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of emergency medical conditions.

(c-5) A certified registered nurse anesthetist, who provides anesthesia services outside of a hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center shall enter into a written collaborative agreement with an anesthesiologist or the physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or the podiatric physician performing the procedure. Outside of a hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center, the certified registered nurse anesthetist may provide only those services that the collaborating podiatric physician is authorized to provide pursuant to the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987 and rules adopted thereunder. A certified registered nurse anesthetist may select, order, and administer medication, including controlled substances, and apply appropriate medical devices for delivery of anesthesia services under the anesthesia plan agreed with by the anesthesiologist or the operating physician or operating podiatric physician.

(c-10) A certified registered nurse anesthetist who provides anesthesia services in a dental office shall enter into a written collaborative agreement with an anesthesiologist or the physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or the operating dentist performing the procedure. The agreement shall describe the working relationship of the certified registered nurse anesthetist and dentist and shall authorize the categories of care, treatment, or procedures to be performed by the certified registered nurse anesthetist. In a collaborating dentist's office, the certified registered nurse anesthetist may only provide those services that the operating dentist with the appropriate permit is authorized to provide pursuant to the Illinois Dental Practice Act and rules adopted thereunder. For anesthesia services, an anesthesiologist, physician, or operating dentist shall participate through discussion of and agreement with the anesthesia plan and shall remain physically present and be available on the premises during the delivery of anesthesia services for diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of emergency medical conditions. A certified registered nurse anesthetist may select, order, and administer medication, including controlled substances, and apply appropriate medical devices for delivery of anesthesia services under the anesthesia plan agreed with by the operating dentist.

(c-15) An advanced practice registered nurse who had a written collaborative agreement with a podiatric physician immediately before the effective date of Public Act 100-513 may continue in that collaborative relationship or enter into a new written collaborative relationship with a podiatric physician under the requirements of this Section and Section 65-40, as those Sections existed immediately before the amendment of those Sections by Public Act 100-513 with regard to a written collaborative agreement between an advanced practice registered nurse and a podiatric physician.

(d) A copy of the signed, written collaborative agreement must be available to the Department upon request from both the advanced practice registered nurse and the collaborating physician, dentist, or podiatric physician.

(e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the delegation of tasks or duties by a physician to a licensed practical nurse, a registered professional nurse, or other persons in accordance with Section 54.2 of the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the method of delegation that may be authorized by any means, including, but not limited to, oral, written, electronic, standing orders, protocols, guidelines, or verbal orders.

(e-5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize an advanced practice registered nurse to provide health care services required by law or rule to be performed by a physician. The scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse does not include operative surgery. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to preclude an advanced practice registered nurse from assisting in surgery.

(f) An advanced practice registered nurse shall inform each collaborating physician, dentist, or podiatric physician of all collaborative agreements he or she has signed and provide a copy of these to any collaborating physician, dentist, or podiatric physician upon request.

(g) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-577, eff. 1-26-18; 100-1096, eff. 8-26-18; 101-13, eff. 6-12-19.)

(225 ILCS 65/65-44 new)

Sec. 65-44. Certified nurse midwife out-of-hospital birth services.

(a) An advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife may provide out-of-hospital birth services in a licensed birth center without a written collaborative agreement if the advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife is granted clinical privileges for out-of-hospital birth services by the clinical director of the birth center.

(b) An advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife may provide out-of-hospital birth services in all practice settings consistent with national certification under a written collaborative agreement meeting the requirements of Section 65-30 of this Act with an advanced practice registered nurse with full practice authority if the services are provided in a federal primary care health professional shortage area with a Health Professional Shortage Area score greater than or equal to 12, as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or a maternity care desert.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to administer this Section, including, but not limited to, rules that require the completion of forms and the payment of fees.

(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize an advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife to provide health care services required by law or rule to be performed by a physician.

(225 ILCS 65/65-70 new)

Sec. 65-70. Collaborating physician liability.

(a) A physician shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of an advanced practice registered nurse solely on the basis of having signed a collaborative agreement, an order, a standing medical order, a standing delegation order, or another order or guideline authorizing the advanced practice registered nurse to perform certain acts, unless the physician has reason to believe that the advanced practice registered nurse lacked the competency to perform the act or acts or committed willful and wanton misconduct.

(b) No physician shall be liable for any act or omission resulting from the provision of home birth services by a certified nurse midwife solely on the basis that the physician has entered a written collaborative agreement with the certified nurse midwife. A physician providing care shall be responsible for his or her own acts and omissions.

Effective Date: 1/1/2026