(225 ILCS 110/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 7903)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 3. Definitions. The following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
(b) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Speech‑Language Pathology and Audiology established under Section 5 of this Act.
(d) "Speech‑Language Pathologist" means a person who has received a license pursuant to this Act and who engages in the practice of speech‑language pathology.
(e) "Audiologist" means a person who has received a license pursuant to this Act and who engages in the practice of audiology.
(f) "Public member" means a person who is not a health professional. For purposes of board membership, any person with a significant financial interest in a health service or profession is not a public member.
(g) "The practice of audiology" is the application of nonmedical methods and procedures for the identification, measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction, habilitation, rehabilitation, or instruction related to hearing and disorders of hearing. These procedures are for the purpose of counseling, consulting and rendering or offering to render services or for participating in the planning, directing or conducting of programs that are designed to modify communicative disorders involving speech, language or auditory function related to hearing loss. The practice of audiology may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) any task, procedure, act, or practice that is
| necessary for the evaluation of hearing or vestibular function; | |
(2) training in the use of amplification devices;
(3) the fitting, dispensing, or servicing of hearing |
| |
(4) performing basic speech and language screening |
| tests and procedures consistent with audiology training. | |
(h) "The practice of speech‑language pathology" is the application of nonmedical methods and procedures for the identification, measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction, habilitation, rehabilitation, and modification related to communication development, and disorders or disabilities of speech, language, voice, swallowing, and other speech, language and voice related disorders. These procedures are for the purpose of counseling, consulting and rendering or offering to render services, or for participating in the planning, directing or conducting of programs that are designed to modify communicative disorders and conditions in individuals or groups of individuals involving speech, language, voice and swallowing function.
"The practice of speech‑language pathology" shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) hearing screening tests and aural rehabilitation |
| procedures consistent with speech‑language pathology training; | |
(2) tasks, procedures, acts or practices that are |
| necessary for the evaluation of, and training in the use of, augmentative communication systems, communication variation, cognitive rehabilitation, non‑spoken language production and comprehension; and | |
(3) the use of rigid or flexible laryngoscopes for |
| the sole purpose of observing and obtaining images of the pharynx and larynx in accordance with Section 9.3 of this Act. | |
(i) "Speech‑language pathology assistant" means a person who has received a license pursuant to this Act to assist a speech‑language pathologist in the manner provided in this Act.
(j) "Physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.
(Source: P.A. 95‑465, eff. 8‑27‑07; 96‑719, eff. 8‑25‑09.) |
(225 ILCS 110/3.5)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 3.5. Exemptions. This Act does not prohibit:
(a) The practice of speech‑language pathology or
| audiology by students in their course of study in programs approved by the Department when acting under the direction and supervision of licensed speech‑language pathologists or audiologists. | |
(b) The performance of any speech‑language pathology |
| service by a speech‑language pathology assistant or a speech‑language pathology paraprofessional if such service is performed under the supervision and full responsibility of a licensed speech‑language pathologist. A speech language pathology assistant may perform only those duties authorized by Section 8.7 under the supervision of a speech‑language pathologist as provided in Section 8.8. | |
(b‑5) The performance of an audiology service by an |
| appropriately trained person if that service is performed under the supervision and full responsibility of a licensed audiologist. | |
(c) The performance of audiometric testing for the |
| purpose of industrial hearing conservation by an audiometric technician certified by the Council of Accreditation for Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). | |
(d) The performance of an audiometric screening by |
| an audiometric screenings technician certified by the Department of Public Health. | |
(e) The selling or practice of fitting, dispensing, |
| or servicing hearing instruments by a hearing instrument dispenser licensed under the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act. | |
(f) A person licensed in this State under any other |
| Act from engaging in the practice for which he or she is licensed. | |
(g) The performance of vestibular function testing |
| by an appropriately trained person under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. | |
(Source: P.A. 92‑510, eff. 6‑1‑02.) |
(225 ILCS 110/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 7905)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 5. Board of Speech‑Language Pathology and Audiology. There is created a Board of Speech‑Language Pathology and Audiology to be composed of persons designated from time to time by the Secretary, as follows:
(a) Five persons, 2 of whom have been licensed
| speech‑language pathologists for a period of 5 years or more, 2 of whom have been licensed audiologists for a period of 5 years or more, and one public member. The board shall annually elect a chairperson and a vice‑chairperson. | |
(b) Terms for all members shall be for 3 years. A |
| member shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Partial terms over 2 years in length shall be considered as full terms. A member may be reappointed for a successive term, but no member shall serve more than 2 full terms. | |
(c) The membership of the Board should reasonably |
| reflect representation from the various geographic areas of the State. | |
(d) In making appointments to the Board, the |
| Secretary shall give due consideration to recommendations by organizations of the speech‑language pathology and audiology professions in Illinois, including the Illinois Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association and the Illinois Academy of Audiology, and shall promptly give due notice to such organizations of any vacancy in the membership of the Board. The Secretary may terminate the appointment of any member for any cause, which in the opinion of the Secretary, reasonably justifies such termination. | |
(e) A majority of the Board members currently |
| appointed shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Board. | |
(f) The members of the Board may each receive as |
| compensation a reasonable sum as determined by the Secretary for each day actually engaged in the duties of the office, and all legitimate and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the Board. | |
(g) Members of the Board shall be immune from suit |
| in any action based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other activities performed in good faith as members of the Board. | |
(h) The Secretary may consider the recommendations |
| of the Board in establishing guidelines for professional conduct, the conduct of formal disciplinary proceedings brought under this Act, and qualifications of applicants. Notice of proposed rulemaking shall be transmitted to the Board and the Department shall review the response of the Board and any recommendations made in the response. The Department, at any time, may seek the expert advice and knowledge of the Board on any matter relating to the administration or enforcement of this Act. | |
(i) Whenever the Secretary is satisfied that |
| substantial justice has not been done either in an examination or in the revocation, suspension, or refusal of a license, or other disciplinary action relating to a license, the Secretary may order a reexamination or rehearing. | |
(Source: P.A. 94‑528, eff. 8‑10‑05; 95‑465, eff. 8‑27‑07.) |
(225 ILCS 110/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 7908)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 8. Qualifications for licenses to practice speech‑language pathology or audiology. The Department shall require that each applicant for a license to practice speech‑language pathology or audiology shall:
(a) (Blank);
(b) be at least 21 years of age;
(c) not have violated any provisions of Section 16
| |
(d) for a license as a speech‑language pathologist, |
| present satisfactory evidence of receiving a master's or doctoral degree in speech‑language pathology from a program approved by the Department. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent any program from establishing higher standards than specified in this Act; | |
(d‑5) for a license as an audiologist, present |
| satisfactory evidence of having received a master's or doctoral degree in audiology from a program approved by the Department; however, an applicant for licensure as an audiologist whose degree was conferred on or after January 1, 2008, must present satisfactory evidence of having received a doctoral degree in audiology from a program approved by the Department; | |
(e) pass a national examination recognized by the |
| Department in the theory and practice of the profession; | |
(f) for a license as a speech‑language pathologist, |
| have completed the equivalent of 9 months of supervised experience; and | |
(g) for a license as an audiologist, have completed a |
| minimum of 1,500 clock hours of supervised experience or present evidence of a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree. | |
Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.
(Source: P.A. 94‑528, eff. 8‑10‑05; 95‑465, eff. 8‑27‑07.) |
(225 ILCS 110/8.7)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 8.7. Duties of speech‑language pathology assistants.
(a) The scope of responsibility of speech‑language pathology assistants shall be limited to supplementing the role of a speech‑language pathologist in implementing the treatment program established by the speech‑language pathologist. The functions and duties of a speech‑language pathology assistant shall be:
(1) conducting speech‑language screening, without
| interpretation, and using screening protocols developed by the supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(2) providing direct treatment assistance to |
| patients or clients, if authorized by and under the supervision of a speech‑language pathologist; | |
(3) following and implementing documented treatment |
| plans or protocols developed by a supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(4) documenting patient or client progress toward |
| meeting established objectives and reporting the information to a supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(5) assisting a speech‑language pathologist during |
| assessments, including, but not limited to, assisting with formal documentation, preparing materials, and performing clerical duties for a supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(6) acting as an interpreter for non‑English |
| speaking patients or clients and their family members when competent to do so; | |
(7) scheduling activities and preparing charts, |
| records, graphs, and data; | |
(8) performing checks and maintenance of equipment, |
| including, but not limited to, augmentative communication devices; and | |
(9) assisting with speech‑language pathology |
| research projects, in‑service training, and family or community education; | |
(b) A speech‑language pathology assistant may not:
(1) perform standardized or nonstandardized |
| diagnostic tests or formal or informal evaluations or interpret test results; | |
(2) screen or diagnose patients or clients for |
| feeding or swallowing disorders; | |
(3) participate in parent conferences, case |
| conferences, or any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(4) provide patient or client or family counseling;
(5) write, develop, or modify a patient's or |
| client's individualized treatment plan; | |
(6) assist with patients or clients without |
| following the individualized treatment plan prepared by the supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(7) sign any formal documents such as treatment |
| plans, reimbursement forms, or reports; | |
(8) select patients or clients for services;
(9) discharge a patient or client from services;
(10) disclose clinical or confidential information, |
| either orally or in writing, to anyone other than the supervising speech‑language pathologist; | |
(11) make referrals for additional services;
(12) counsel or consult with the patient or client, |
| family, or others regarding the patient's or client's status or service; | |
(13) represent himself or herself to be a |
| speech‑language pathologist; | |
(14) use a checklist or tabulate results of feeding |
| or swallowing evaluations; or | |
(15) demonstrate swallowing strategies or |
| precautions to patients, family, or staff. | |
(Source: P.A. 92‑510, eff. 6‑1‑02.) |
(225 ILCS 110/9.3)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 9.3. Requirements for the use of laryngoscopes.
(a) A speech‑language pathologist may perform an
| endoscopic procedure using a rigid laryngoscope for the sole purpose of observing and obtaining images of the pharynx and larynx if all of the following requirements have been met: | |
(1) The speech‑language pathologist has observed 5 |
| procedures performed by either (i) a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures or (ii) a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of items (1), (2), and (5) of this subsection (a) in a licensed health care facility or a clinic affiliated with a hospital, university, college, or ASHA‑approved continuing education course that has emergency medical backup and a physician available or in the office of a physician who is available or in the office of a speech‑language pathologist provided that he or she maintains cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. | |
(2) The speech‑language pathologist has successfully |
| performed 10 procedures under the direct supervision of a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures; provided, however, that the physician may delegate the supervision of the procedures to a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of this subsection (a) or subsection (c) of this Section. The supervising physician shall provide written verification that the speech‑language pathologist in training has successfully completed the requirements of this item (2) demonstrating the ability to perform these procedures. The speech‑language pathologist shall have this written verification on file and readily available for inspection upon request by the Board. | |
(3) If the patient has a voice disorder or vocal |
| cord dysfunction, he or she must be examined by a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures and the speech‑language pathologist must have received from that physician a written referral and direct authorization to perform the procedure. | |
(4) If the patient has a swallowing disorder or a |
| velopharyngeal disorder, he or she must be examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches and the speech‑language pathologist must have received from that physician a written referral and direct authorization to perform the procedure. | |
(5) The speech‑language pathologist has completed a |
| hands‑on university or college course, or a hands‑on seminar or workshop in endoscopy as a technique for investigating speech and swallowing, which qualifies for continuing education credit with the American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (ASHA). | |
(6) The speech‑language pathologist must send a |
| written report or recorded copy of the observations recorded during an evaluation to the referring physician, and if the speech‑language pathologist performs any procedure and observes an abnormality or the possibility of a condition that requires medical attention, the speech‑language pathologist shall immediately refer the patient to the referring physician for examination. | |
(7) In no instance may the speech‑language |
| pathologist use a laryngoscope to perform any procedure that disrupts living tissue. | |
(8) The speech‑language pathologist is using the |
| rigid laryngoscope in (i) a licensed healthcare facility or clinic affiliated with a hospital, university, college, or ASHA‑approved continuing education course that has emergency medical back‑up and a physician available, (ii) an office of a physician who is available, or (iii) in the speech language pathologist's office provided that he or she maintains cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. | |
(b) A speech‑language pathologist may use a flexible laryngoscope for the sole purpose of observing and obtaining images of the pharynx and larynx if all of the following requirements have been met:
(1) The speech‑language pathologist has observed 10 |
| procedures performed by either (i) a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures or (ii) a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of items (1), (2), and (6) of this subsection (b) in a licensed health care facility or a clinic affiliated with a hospital, university, college, or ASHA‑approved continuing education course that has emergency medical back‑up and a physician available or in the office of a physician who is available. | |
(2) The speech‑language pathologist has successfully |
| performed 25 procedures under the direct supervision of a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures; provided, however, that the physician may delegate the supervision of the procedures to a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of this subsection (b) or subsection (c) of this Section. The supervising physician shall provide written verification that the speech‑language pathologist in training has successfully completed the requirements of this item (2) demonstrating the ability to perform these procedures. The speech‑language pathologist shall have this written verification on file and readily available for inspection upon request by the Board. | |
(3) The observation of the patient's function must |
| take place (i) under the supervision of a physician and (ii) in a licensed health care facility or a clinic affiliated with a hospital, university, or college that has emergency medical backup and a physician available or in the office of a physician who is available. | |
(4) If the patient has a voice disorder or vocal |
| cord dysfunction, he or she must be examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures and the speech‑language pathologist must have received from that physician a written referral and direct authorization to perform the procedure. | |
(5) If the patient has a swallowing disorder or a |
| velopharyngeal disorder, he or she must be examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches and the speech‑language pathologist must have received from that physician a written referral and direct authorization to perform the procedure. | |
(6) The speech‑language pathologist has completed a |
| hands‑on university or college course, or a hands‑on seminar or workshop in endoscopy as a technique for investigating speech and swallowing, which qualifies for continuing education credit with the American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (ASHA). | |
(7) The speech‑language pathologist must send a |
| written report or recorded copy of the observations recorded during an evaluation to the referring physician, and if the speech‑language pathologist performs any procedure and observes an abnormality or the possibility of a condition that requires medical attention, the speech‑language pathologist shall immediately refer the patient to the referring physician for examination. | |
(8) In no instance may the speech‑language |
| pathologist use a laryngoscope to perform any procedure that disrupts living tissue. | |
(c) A speech‑language pathologist seeking to use both a rigid laryngoscope and a flexible laryngoscope for the sole purpose of observing and obtaining images of the pharynx and larynx shall be exempt from meeting the separate requirements of items (1) and (2) of subsection (a) and items (1) and (2) of subsection (b), if he or she meets the requirements of items (3) through (8) of subsection (a), items (3) through (8) of subsection (b), and the following:
(1) The speech‑language pathologist has observed 15 |
| procedures performed by either (i) a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures or (ii) a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of items (1), (2), and (6) of subsection (b) in a licensed health care facility or a clinic affiliated with a hospital, university, college, or ASHA‑approved continuing education course that has emergency medical back‑up and a physician available or in the office of a physician who is available. | |
(2) The speech‑language pathologist has successfully |
| performed 30 procedures, at least 20 of which must be with a flexible laryngoscope and at least 5 of which must be with a rigid laryngoscope, under the direct supervision of a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures; provided, however, that the physician may delegate the supervision of the procedures to a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of subsection (a) or (c) of this Section in the case of a rigid laryngoscope or subsection (b) or (c) of this Section in the case of a flexible laryngoscope. The supervising physician shall provide written verification that the speech‑language pathologist in training has successfully completed the requirements of this item (2) demonstrating the ability to perform these procedures. The speech‑language pathologist shall have this written verification on file and readily available for inspection upon request by the Board. | |
(d) The requirements of this Section 9.3 shall not apply to the practice of speech‑language pathologists in a hospital or hospital affiliate. In order to practice in a hospital or hospital affiliate, a speech‑language pathologist must possess clinical privileges for flexible or rigid laryngoscope procedures recommended by the hospital or hospital affiliate medical staff and approved by the hospital or hospital affiliate governing body.
(e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to |
| authorize a medical diagnosis. | |
(f) Nothing in this Section shall preclude the use of a |
| rigid or flexible laryngoscope for the purpose of training or research done in conjunction with a speech‑language pathology program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation, provided that (i) emergency medical backup is available when flexible laryngoscopy is performed and (ii) such training or research is performed with the participation of either a physician who has been granted hospital privileges to perform these procedures or a speech‑language pathologist who has met the requirements of items (1), (2), and (5) of subsection (a) of this Section, items (1), (2), and (6) of subsection (b) of this Section, or subsection (c) of this Section, whichever is applicable. | |
(g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow a speech‑language pathologist to use an anesthetic without specific physician authorization included in the patient referral.
(Source: P.A. 96‑719, eff. 8‑25‑09.) |
(225 ILCS 110/16) (from Ch. 111, par. 7916)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)
Sec. 16. Refusal, revocation or suspension of licenses.
(1) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, censure, reprimand or take other disciplinary or non‑disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper, including fines not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, with regard to any license for any one or combination of the following causes:
(a) Fraud in procuring the license.
(b) (Blank).
(c) Willful or repeated violations of the rules of
| the Department of Public Health. | |
(d) Division of fees or agreeing to split or divide |
| the fees received for speech‑language pathology or audiology services with any person for referring an individual, or assisting in the care or treatment of an individual, without the knowledge of the individual or his or her legal representative. | |
(e) Employing, procuring, inducing, aiding or |
| abetting a person not licensed as a speech‑language pathologist or audiologist to engage in the unauthorized practice of speech‑language pathology or audiology. | |
(e‑5) Employing, procuring, inducing, aiding, or |
| abetting a person not licensed as a speech‑language pathology assistant to perform the functions and duties of a speech‑language pathology assistant. | |
(f) Making any misrepresentations or false promises, |
| directly or indirectly, to influence, persuade or induce patronage. | |
(g) Professional connection or association with, or |
| lending his or her name to another for the illegal practice of speech‑language pathology or audiology by another, or professional connection or association with any person, firm or corporation holding itself out in any manner contrary to this Act. | |
(h) Obtaining or seeking to obtain checks, money, or |
| any other things of value by false or fraudulent representations, including but not limited to, engaging in such fraudulent practice to defraud the medical assistance program of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid). | |
(i) Practicing under a name other than his or her |
| |
(j) Improper, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct |
| of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public. | |
(k) Conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or |
| nolo contendere to any crime that is a felony under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof, or that is a misdemeanor of which an essential element is dishonesty, or that is directly related to the practice of the profession. | |
(1) Permitting a person under his or her supervision |
| to perform any function not authorized by this Act. | |
(m) A violation of any provision of this Act or |
| rules promulgated thereunder. | |
(n) Discipline by another state, the District of |
| Columbia, territory, or foreign nation of a license to practice speech‑language pathology or audiology or a license to practice as a speech‑language pathology assistant in its jurisdiction if at least one of the grounds for that discipline is the same as or the equivalent of one of the grounds for discipline set forth herein. | |
(o) Willfully failing to report an instance of |
| suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. | |
(p) Gross or repeated malpractice.
(q) Willfully making or filing false records or |
| reports in his or her practice as a speech‑language pathologist, speech‑language pathology assistant, or audiologist, including, but not limited to, false records to support claims against the public assistance program of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid). | |
(r) Professional incompetence as manifested by poor |
| standards of care or mental incompetence as declared by a court of competent jurisdiction. | |
(s) Repeated irregularities in billing a third party |
| for services rendered to an individual. For purposes of this Section, "irregularities in billing" shall include: | |
(i) reporting excessive charges for the purpose |
| of obtaining a total payment in excess of that usually received by the speech‑language pathologist, speech‑language pathology assistant, or audiologist for the services rendered; | |
(ii) reporting charges for services not |
| |
(iii) incorrectly reporting services rendered |
| for the purpose of obtaining payment not earned. | |
(t) (Blank).
(u) Violation of the Health Care Worker |
| |
(v) Inability to practice with reasonable judgment, |
| skill, or safety as a result of habitual or excessive use of or addiction to alcohol, narcotics, or stimulants or any other chemical agent or drug or as a result of physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skill, mental illness, or disability. | |
(w) Violation of the Hearing Instrument Consumer |
| |
(x) Failure by a speech‑language pathology assistant |
| and supervising speech‑language pathologist to comply with the supervision requirements set forth in Section 8.8. | |
(y) Wilfully exceeding the scope of duties |
| customarily undertaken by speech‑language pathology assistants set forth in Section 8.7 that results in, or may result in, harm to the public. | |
(2) The Department shall deny a license or renewal authorized by this Act to any person who has defaulted on an educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois State Scholarship Commission; however, the Department may issue a license or renewal if the aforementioned persons have established a satisfactory repayment record as determined by the Illinois State Scholarship Commission.
(3) The entry of an order by a circuit court establishing that any person holding a license under this Act is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided for in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, operates as an automatic suspension of that license. That person may have his or her license restored only upon the determination by a circuit court that the patient is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission and the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient, and upon the Board's recommendation to the Department that the license be restored. Where the circumstances so indicate, the Board may recommend to the Department that it require an examination prior to restoring any license automatically suspended under this subsection.
(4) The Department may refuse to issue or may suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of the tax penalty or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.
(5) In enforcing this Section, the Board upon a showing of a possible violation may compel an individual licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for licensure pursuant to this Act, to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The examining physicians or clinical psychologists shall be those specifically designated by the Board. The individual to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician or clinical psychologist of his or her choice present during all aspects of this examination. Failure of any individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license until the individual submits to the examination if the Board finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.
If the Board finds an individual unable to practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the Board may require that individual to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians or clinical psychologists approved or designated by the Board, as a condition, term, or restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice; or, in lieu of care, counseling, or treatment, the Board may recommend to the Department to file a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. Any individual whose license was granted, continued, reinstated, renewed, disciplined or supervised subject to such terms, conditions, or restrictions, and who fails to comply with such terms, conditions, or restrictions, shall be referred to the Secretary for a determination as to whether the individual shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Board.
In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Board within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Board shall have the authority to review the subject individual's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.
An individual licensed under this Act and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Board that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07; 95‑465, eff. 8‑27‑07.) |