Healthcare (Public Health)

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health is vested with the duty and responsibility for oversight and training connected with the use of the Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form at all hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other facilities and providers that use the Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall develop, in consultation with stakeholders determined by the Director of Public Health, training resources to support informed decisions and accurate completion of the Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish a simple, efficient, and effective process to ensure oversight of and accountability for training to support informed decisions and accurate completion of the Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form at all hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other facilities and providers that use the Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Provides that, in consultation with various organizations, the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules implementing these policies no later than 2 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, in connection with implementing these policies, may also consult with the Office of the Secretary of State with respect to the Advance Directive Registry established by the Secretary of State.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Deletes the definition of "public health setting". Provides that, after completion of a training program, a public health dental hygienist may provide services according to the terms of a supervision agreement (rather than may operate in a public health setting that meets the requirements in the Act) with a dentist who is working in or has contracted with a local or State government agency or institution or who is providing services as part of a certified school-based program or school-based oral health program. Provides that care provided by a public health dental hygienist under a supervision agreement may take place in any setting outside of a private dental office.

Provides legislative findings. Appropriates specified amounts to the Department of Public Health for grants, expenses, and administrative costs of programs relating to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus; the Getting to Zero-Illinois plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030; the prevention, screening, and treatment services to address sexually transmitted infection cases; and the PrEP4Illinois Program to provide client navigation for pre-exposure prophylaxis services and medication access. Contains other provisions. Effective July 1, 2025.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Public Health for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $292,182,000; Other State Funds $302,071,874; Federal Funds $1,120,531,838; Total $1,714,785,712.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health, recommended screening guidelines for tardive dyskinesia for providers serving patients prescribed antipsychotic medications under the medical assistance program in State-operated residential facilities and community-based settings. Provides that the recommended screening guidelines shall be based on current, nationally accepted, evidence-based recommendations for the assessment and treatment of tardive dyskinesia, and shall include structured assessment tools, which can be both quantitative and qualitative. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, to develop communication strategies and educational materials to be offered to health care providers regarding tardive dyskinesia, the recommended screening guidelines, and any subsequent revisions. Provides that in developing the information to be disseminated, the Departments of Healthcare and Family Services, Human Services, and Public Health shall consult with a statewide association representing physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches and a statewide association representing psychiatrists.

Creates the Access to Medically Necessary Vaccinations Act. Provides that any health care provider in this State must provide a vaccination to a patient if: the patient has requested the specific vaccination to be administered; the health care provider has determined that the vaccination is medically necessary; and the health care provider has a stock of one or more doses of the vaccination that have not been reserved for another patient. Prohibits a health care provider from preventing a medically necessary vaccination from being administered to a patient by keeping separate stocks of the vaccination for patients with private insurance and stocks of the vaccination for patients with Medicaid.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that for any license of a health care professional that expires during a public health emergency declared by the Governor, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall extend the expiration date of that license by 3 months. Provides that the fees for renewal of that license and the expiration date of the renewed license shall be the same fees and expiration date as though the license was renewed on the original expiration date. Defines "health care professional". Effective immediately.

Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. Tasks health care providers with reporting any incident of verbal aggression or physical assault of a health care worker employed by the health care provider in the health care provider's emergency department to the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to track the information reported to assess each health care provider's progress in systemically limiting the verbal aggression toward and physical assault of health care workers. Requires health care providers to post notice regarding verbal aggression and physical assault of health care workers in each emergency department of the health care provider. Effective immediately.

Declares April 10, 2025 as Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of Illinois to educate the public about the importance of vaccinations, initiate meaningful dialogue around vaccinations, and encourage the uptake of vaccines. Urges the Illinois Department of Health to continue to promote to healthcare providers and the people of this state that vaccinations are a highly effective and safe public health measure and increase public awareness about the importance of all Illinois residents receiving recommended immunizations, and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning vaccinations. Urges the Illinois Department of Health to continue to prioritize immunization initiatives, develop policies, and invest in immunization infrastructure to ensure broad and open access to immunizations to safeguard public health and protect the well-being of Illinois residents.