State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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90_HB0522ham001

                                           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1                     AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 522
 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill  522  by  replacing
 3    everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 4        "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the the
 5    Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License Act.
 6        Section  5.  Declaration  of  legislative  findings.  The
 7    General  Assembly  finds  that  home  medical  equipment  and
 8    services    providers  in  the  State  of Illinois affect the
 9    public health,  welfare, and safety, and therefore finds  the
10    regulation  and  control  of  those  providers  to  be in the
11    public interest. It is further declared that, as a matter  of
12    public  policy, home medical equipment and services providers
13    should merit the confidence of the public and, to  this  end,
14    that only qualified entities be permitted to hold  themselves
15    out  to  the  public  as  home medical equipment and services
16    providers. This Act shall  be  liberally  construed  to  best
17    carry out these findings.
18        Section 10. Definitions.  As used in this Act:
19             (1)  "Department"    means    the    Department   of
20        Professional  Regulation.
21             (2)  "Director" means the Director  of  Professional
                            -2-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1        Regulation.
 2             (3)  "Board"  means  the  Home Medical Equipment and
 3        Services Board.
 4             (4)  "Home medical equipment and services  provider"
 5        or  "provider" means a legal  entity, as defined by State
 6        law, engaged in the business of  providing  home  medical
 7        equipment  and  services,  whether directly  or through a
 8        contractual  arrangement,  to  an   unrelated   sick   or
 9        disabled individual where that individual resides.
10             (5)  "Home medical equipment and services" means the
11        delivery,   installation,  maintenance,  replacement,  or
12        instruction in the use of medical  equipment  used  by  a
13        sick or disabled individual to allow the individual to be
14        maintained in his or her residence.
15             (6)  "Home  medical equipment" means technologically
16        sophisticated  medical devices, apparatuses, machines, or
17        other  similar  articles  bearing  a  label  that  states
18        "Caution: federal law requires dispensing by  or  on  the
19        order  of  a physician.", which are usable in a home care
20        setting, including but not  limited to:
21                  (A)  oxygen and oxygen delivery systems;
22                  (B)  ventilators;
23                  (C)  respiratory  disease  management  devices,
24             excluding compressor driven nebulizers;
25                  (D)  wheelchair seating systems;
26                  (E)  apnea monitors;
27                  (F)  transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator
28             (TENS) units;
29                  (G)  low air-loss cutaneous pressure management
30             devices;
31                  (H)  sequential compression devices;
32                  (I)  neonatal home phototherapy devices;
33                  (J)  enteral feeding pumps; and
34                  (K)  other similar equipment as defined by  the
                            -3-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1             Board.
 2        "Home  medical equipment" also includes hospital beds and
 3    electronic   and   computer-driven   wheelchairs,   excluding
 4    scooters.
 5        Section 15.  Licensure requirement; exempt activities.
 6        (a)  No entity shall provide home medical  equipment  and
 7    services,  or  use  the  title  "home  medical  equipment and
 8    services provider" in connection with his or  her  profession
 9    or business, without a license issued by the Department under
10    this Act.
11        (b)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing
12    or  restricting the practices, services, or activities of the
13    following,  unless  those  practices, services, or activities
14    include providing home medical equipment and services through
15    a separate legal entity:
16             (1)  a person licensed or registered in  this  State
17        by any other law engaging in the profession or occupation
18        for which he or she is licensed or registered;
19             (2)  home  health agencies that do not have a Part B
20        Medicare supplier number or that do  not  engage  in  the
21        provision of home medical equipment and services;
22             (3)  hospitals,    excluding    hospital-owned   and
23        hospital-related providers  of home medical equipment and
24        services;
25             (4)  manufacturers  and  wholesale  distributors  of
26        home medical equipment who do  not  sell  directly  to  a
27        patient;
28             (5)  health    care   practitioners   who   lawfully
29        prescribe or order home medical equipment  and  services,
30        or  who  use home medical equipment and services to treat
31        their patients, including but not limited to  physicians,
32        nurses,   physical  therapists,  respiratory  therapists,
33        occupational  therapists,  speech-language  pathologists,
                            -4-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1        optometrists, chiropractors, and podiatrists;
 2             (6)  pharmacists,  pharmacies,  and  home   infusion
 3        pharmacies  that are not engaged in the sale or rental of
 4        home medical equipment and services;
 5             (7)  hospice programs that do not involve  the  sale
 6        or rental of home medical equipment and services;
 7             (8)  nursing homes;
 8             (9)  veterinarians;
 9             (10)  dentists; and
10             (11)  emergency medical service providers.
11        Section 20. Powers and duties of the Department.
12        (a)  The  Department shall exercise the powers and duties
13    prescribed by the Civil Administrative Code of  Illinois  for
14    the administration of licensure Acts and shall exercise other
15    powers  and duties necessary for effectuating the purposes of
16    this Act.
17        (b)  The Department may adopt  rules  to  administer  and
18    enforce  this  Act,  including  but  not  limited to fees for
19    original licensure and renewal and restoration  of  licenses,
20    and  may  prescribe forms to be issued to implement this Act.
21    At a minimum, the  rules  adopted  by  the  Department  shall
22    include   standards   and  criteria  for  licensure  and  for
23    professional conduct and  discipline.  The  Department  shall
24    consult  with the Board in adopting rules. Notice of proposed
25    rulemaking  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  Board,  and  the
26    Department  shall  review  the  Board's  response   and   any
27    recommendations  made  in  the response. The Department shall
28    notify the  Board  in  writing  with  proper  explanation  of
29    deviations from the Board's recommendations and response.
30        (c)  The  Department  may at any time seek the advice and
31    expert knowledge of the Board on any matter relating  to  the
32    administration of this Act.
33        (d)  The Department shall issue a quarterly report to the
                            -5-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    Board  of  the  status  of  all  complaints  related  to  the
 2    profession and filed with the Department.
 3        Section  25.  Home  Medical Equipment and Services Board.
 4    The Director shall  appoint  a  Home  Medical  Equipment  and
 5    Services  Board,  in  consultation  with  a state association
 6    representing  the  home  medical   equipment   and   services
 7    industry,  to  serve in an advisory capacity to the Director.
 8    The Board shall consist of 7 members. Four members  shall  be
 9    home     medical     equipment    and    services    provider
10    representatives, 2 of whom represent businesses grossing less
11    than  $500,000 per year in  revenues,  2  of  whom  represent
12    businesses  grossing  $500,000  or more per year in revenues,
13    and at least one of  whom  shall  also  be  a  pharmacy-based
14    provider. The 3 remaining members shall include one home care
15    clinical  specialist,  one respiratory care practitioner, and
16    one consumer of home medical equipment and services.
17        Members  shall  serve  4  year  terms  and  until   their
18    successors  are  appointed  and qualified, except that of the
19    initial appointments, the consumer member shall be  appointed
20    to  serve for one year, 2 members shall be appointed to serve
21    for 2 years, 3 members shall be  appointed  to  serve  for  3
22    years,  and  one  member  who is a home medical equipment and
23    services provider representative shall be appointed to  serve
24    for  4    years, and until their successors are appointed and
25    qualified. No member shall be reappointed to the Board for  a
26    term  that  would  cause  continuous  service on the Board to
27    exceed 8 years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be  made
28    in   the  same  manner  as  original  appointments,  for  the
29    unexpired portion of the vacated term.
30        The  home  medical  equipment   and   services   provider
31    representatives appointed  to the Board shall have engaged in
32    the  provision  of  home  medical  equipment  and services or
33    related home care services for at  least  3  years  prior  to
                            -6-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    their  appointment,  shall  be currently engaged in providing
 2    home medical equipment and services in the State of Illinois,
 3    and must have no record of convictions related  to  fraud  or
 4    abuse under either State or federal law.
 5        The  membership  of  the  Board should reasonably reflect
 6    representation from the geographic areas in this State.
 7        The Board shall annually elect  one  of  its  members  as
 8    chairperson and vice chairperson.
 9        Members  of  the  Board  shall  receive as compensation a
10    reasonable sum as determined by the  Director  for  each  day
11    actually  engaged  in  the duties of the office, and shall be
12    reimbursed for authorized expenses incurred in performing the
13    duties of the office.
14        The Director may terminate the appointment of any  member
15    for  cause  which  in  the opinion of the Director reasonably
16    justifies the termination.
17        Through consultation with members of a state  association
18    for  the  home  medical  equipment and services industry, the
19    Board may recommend to the Department rules that specify  the
20    medical  equipment  to  be  included under this Act, that set
21    standards  for  the  licensure,  professional  conduct,   and
22    discipline   of  entities that provide home medical equipment
23    and services, and that govern the safety and quality of  home
24    medical  equipment  and services. The Director shall consider
25    the recommendations of the Board.
26        Members of the Board shall be  immune  from  suit  in  an
27    action  based  upon  any  disciplinary  proceedings  or other
28    activities performed in good faith as members of the Board.
29        A majority of Board  members  currently  appointed  shall
30    constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board
31    shall  not  impair  the  rights  of  a quorum to exercise the
32    rights and perform all of the duties of the Board.
33        Section   30.   Application   for   original   licensure.
                            -7-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    Applications  for original licensure shall  be  made  to  the
 2    Department  in  writing  and signed by the applicant on forms
 3    prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by    a
 4    nonrefundable   fee  set  by  rule  of  the  Department.  The
 5    Department may require from an applicant information that, in
 6    its judgment, will enable  the  Department  to  pass  on  the
 7    qualifications of the applicant for licensure.
 8        An  applicant has 3 years from the date of application to
 9    complete the application process.  If  the  process  has  not
10    been  completed  in 3 years, the application shall be denied,
11    the fee shall be forfeited, and the  applicant  must  reapply
12    and   meet   the  requirements  in  effect  at  the  time  of
13    reapplication.
14        Section 35. Qualifications for licensure.
15        (a)  An entity is qualified to  receive a  license  as  a
16    home  medical  equipment and services  provider if the entity
17    meets each of the following requirements:
18             (1)  complies with all applicable federal and  State
19        licensure and regulatory requirements;
20             (2)  maintains   a  physical  facility  and  medical
21        equipment  inventory.  There shall only  be  one  license
22        permitted at each  address;
23             (3)  establishes   proof   of   commercial   general
24        liability  insurance,    including  but  not  limited  to
25        coverage   for   products   liability   and  professional
26        liability;
27             (4)  establishes  and  provides  records  of  annual
28        continuing  education  for  personnel  engaged   in   the
29        delivery,   maintenance,   repair,   cleaning,  inventory
30        control,  and  financial  management  of   home   medical
31        equipment and services;
32             (5)  maintains  records  on  all patients to whom it
33        provides home medical equipment and services;
                            -8-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1             (6)  establishes equipment management and  personnel
 2        policies;
 3             (7)  makes  life  sustaining  home medical equipment
 4        and services available 24 hours per day and  7  days  per
 5        week;
 6             (8)  complies with any additional qualifications for
 7        licensure as determined by rule of the Department.
 8        (b)  Notwithstanding  the requirements of subsection (a),
 9    an  applicant  may  qualify  for  licensure   by   submitting
10    documents   evidencing  accreditation  through  a  recognized
11    national accrediting body based on home care standards.   The
12    Department  shall issue a license upon receipt of a copy of a
13    valid  accreditation  letter  from  a   recognized   national
14    accrediting body.
15        (c)  The  Department  may request a personal interview of
16    an applicant   before  the  Board  to  further  evaluate  the
17    entity's  qualifications for licensure.
18        Section  40.  Issuance  of  license. The Department shall
19    begin issuing licenses under this Act within  2  years  after
20    the  effective date of this Act. The Department shall issue a
21    license to an applicant  who  has  met  the  requirements  of
22    Section 35 and has paid the required application fee.
23        Section 45. Display of license; advertising; penalties.
24        (a)  An entity that advertises home medical equipment and
25    services shall, at its place of business, display the license
26    of the entity.
27        (b)  No  entity  that  provides  home  medical  equipment
28    services may advertise the equipment and services unless that
29    entity  includes in the advertisement the statement "Licensed
30    in the State of Illinois".
31        Section 50. License expiration; renewal.  The  expiration
                            -9-            LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    date,  renewal  period,  renewal  fees,  and  procedures  for
 2    renewal  of  licenses  issued  under this Act shall be set by
 3    rule of the Department. An entity may renew  its  license  by
 4    paying   the   required   fee  and  by  meeting  the  renewal
 5    requirements adopted by the Department under this Section.
 6        Section  55.  Restoration  of  expired  license.  A  home
 7    medical equipment and services  provider  whose  license  has
 8    expired  may  have the license restored by making application
 9    to the Department, by paying the required fees, and by filing
10    proof acceptable to the Department of  fitness  to  have  the
11    license  restored as established by rule.
12        Section 65. Fees; returned checks. An entity who delivers
13    a  check  or other payment to the Department that is returned
14    to the Department unpaid by the  financial  institution  upon
15    which it is drawn shall pay to the Department, in addition to
16    the amount already owed to the Department, a fine of $50.  If
17    the  check or other payment was for a renewal or issuance fee
18    and that  entity  operates  without  paying  the  renewal  or
19    issuance  fee  and  the  fine due, an additional fine of $100
20    shall be imposed.  The fines imposed by this Section  are  in
21    addition  to any other discipline provided under this Act for
22    unlicensed practice or practice on a nonrenewed license.  The
23    Department shall notify the entity that fees and fines  shall
24    be  paid  to the Department by certified check or money order
25    within 30 calendar days of the notification.  If,  after  the
26    expiration  of 30 days from the date of the notification, the
27    entity has failed to submit  the  necessary  remittance,  the
28    Department  shall automatically terminate the license or deny
29    the application without a hearing.  If  the  entity  seeks  a
30    license  after  termination or denial, the entity shall apply
31    to the Department for restoration or issuance of the  license
32    and  pay  all  fees  and  fines  owed to the Department.  The
                            -10-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    Department may establish a  fee  for  the  processing  of  an
 2    application  for restoration of a license to pay all expenses
 3    of processing that application. The Director  may  waive  the
 4    fines  due  under  this Section in individual cases where the
 5    Director finds  that  the  fines  would  be  unreasonable  or
 6    unnecessarily burdensome.
 7        Section  70.  Roster  of licensees.  The Department shall
 8    maintain a roster of the names and addresses of all licensees
 9    and of all entities  whose  license  has  been  suspended  or
10    revoked  within  the  previous  year.   This  roster shall be
11    available upon written request and payment  of  the  required
12    fee.
13        Section  75.  Refused issuance, suspension, or revocation
14    of license. The Department may refuse  to  issue,  renew,  or
15    restore  a  license,  or  may  revoke,    suspend,  place  on
16    probation,  reprimand, impose a fine not to exceed $1,000 for
17    each violation, or take  other  disciplinary  action  as  the
18    Department  may deem proper with regard to a licensee for any
19    one or combination of the following reasons:
20             (1)  Making a material  misstatement  in  furnishing
21        information to the Department.
22             (2)  Negligent  or intentional disregard of this Act
23        or its rules.
24             (3)  Conviction of a crime under  the  laws  of  the
25        United States or any state or territory thereof that is a
26        felony or a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is
27        dishonesty,  or  conviction  of  a crime that is directly
28        related to the provision of home  medical  equipment  and
29        services.
30             (4)  Making  a misrepresentation to obtain licensure
31        or to violate a provision of this Act.
32             (5)  Gross negligence in practice under this Act.
                            -11-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1             (6)  Engaging in a  pattern  of  practice  or  other
 2        behavior  that demonstrates incapacity or incompetence to
 3        practice under this Act.
 4             (7)  Aiding,  assisting,  or  willingly   permitting
 5        another person in violating any provision  of this Act or
 6        its rules.
 7             (8)  Failing, within 60 days, to provide information
 8        in response to a written request made by the Department.
 9             (9)  Engaging   in   dishonorable,   unethical,   or
10        unprofessional  conduct of a character likely to deceive,
11        defraud, or harm the public.
12             (10)  Discipline  by  another  state,  District   of
13        Columbia,  territory,  or foreign nation, if at least one
14        of  the  grounds  for  the  discipline  is  the  same  or
15        substantially equivalent to one set forth in this Act.
16             (11)  Directly or indirectly giving to or  receiving
17        from  any  person,  firm,  corporation,  partnership,  or
18        association any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of
19        compensation  for any services not actually or personally
20        rendered.
21             (12)  A finding that the licensee, after having  its
22        license  placed  on probationary status, has violated the
23        terms of probation.
24             (13)  Willfully making or filing  false  records  or
25        reports in the course of providing home medical equipment
26        and  services, including but not limited to false records
27        or reports filed with  State agencies or departments.
28             (14)  Solicitation of business services, other  than
29        according to permitted advertising.
30             (15)  The  use of any words, abbreviations, figures,
31        or letters with the intention of indicating practice as a
32        home medical equipment and services  provider  without  a
33        license issued under this Act.
34             (16)  Failure  to  file a return, or to pay the tax,
                            -12-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1        penalty, or  interest shown in a filed return, or to  pay
 2        any  final  assessment   of tax, penalty, or interest, as
 3        required by any tax Act  administered by  the  Department
 4        of  Revenue,  until such  time as the requirements of any
 5        such tax Act are satisfied.
 6             (17)  Failure  to  comply  with  federal  laws   and
 7        regulations   concerning   home   medical  equipment  and
 8        services providers.
 9             (18)  Solicitation of  professional  services  using
10    false or misleading advertising.
11             (19)  Failure  to  display  a  license in accordance
12        with Section 45.
13        Section 80. Cease and desist order.
14        (a)  If any entity violates a provision of this Act,  the
15    Director  may,  in  the  name  of  the People of the State of
16    Illinois, through  the  Attorney  General  of  the  State  of
17    Illinois,  petition  for  an order enjoining the violation or
18    for an order enforcing compliance with this  Act.   Upon  the
19    filing of a verified petition in court, the court may issue a
20    temporary  restraining order, without notice or bond, and may
21    preliminarily and permanently enjoin the violation, and if it
22    is established that the entity has violated or  is  violating
23    the  injunction,  the  court  may  punish  the  offender  for
24    contempt  of  court.  Proceedings under this Section shall be
25    in addition to, and not in lieu of, all  other  remedies  and
26    penalties provided by this Act.
27        (b)  If  an entity holds itself out as a provider of home
28    medical equipment and services without a license issued under
29    this Act, an interested party or any person injured  thereby,
30    in  addition  to  the  Director,  may  petition for relief as
31    provided in  subsection (a) of this Section.
32        (c) Whenever in the opinion of the Department  an  entity
33    violates  a provision of this Act, the Department may issue a
                            -13-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    rule to show cause why an order to cease  and  desist  should
 2    not  be  entered  against the entity.  The rule shall clearly
 3    set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall
 4    provide a period of 7 days from the date of the rule to  file
 5    an  answer to the satisfaction of the Department.  Failure to
 6    answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall  cause  an
 7    order to cease and desist to be issued immediately.
 8        Section 85. Unlicensed practice; civil penalty.
 9        (a) An entity who practices, offers to practice, attempts
10    to  practice,  or  holds  itself  out  to  practice as a home
11    medical  equipment  and  services  provider   without   being
12    licensed  under  this  Act  shall,  in  addition to any other
13    penalty  provided  by  law,  pay  a  civil  penalty  to   the
14    Department in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each offense
15    as  determined by the Department.  The civil penalty shall be
16    assessed by  the  Department  after  a  hearing  is  held  in
17    accordance   with  the  provisions  set  forth  in  this  Act
18    regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of  a
19    licensee.  The  civil  penalty  shall  be paid within 60 days
20    after the effective date of  the  order  imposing  the  civil
21    penalty.  The  order  shall  constitute a judgment and may be
22    filed and executed in the same manner as  any  judgment  from
23    any court of record.
24        (b)  The   Department   may  investigate  any  unlicensed
25    activity.
26        Section 90. Mandatory inspections.  The Department  shall
27    inspect  licensees at least once every 3 years for compliance
28    with the requirements of this Act  unless  the  licensee  can
29    demonstrate   proof   of  renewal  of  accreditation  with  a
30    recognized national accrediting body.  The  Department  shall
31    conduct  random  inspections  upon  renewal of a license, for
32    cause  or  as  necessary  to   assure   the   integrity   and
                            -14-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    effectiveness of the licensing process.  Upon failure to pass
 2    inspection, a provider's license shall be suspended or denied
 3    as  applicable,  pending  review by the Board. The Department
 4    may authorize qualified individuals to conduct   inspections.
 5    The  Department shall set by rule, and pay to an inspector, a
 6    fee for each inspection. An entity  that  fails  to  pass  an
 7    inspection  is  subject  to  penalties under Section 80. Upon
 8    notice of failure to pass an  inspection,  a  provider  shall
 9    have  30  days to appeal the inspection results. On appeal, a
10    provider shall have the right to an inspection review or to a
11    new inspection in accordance with procedures adopted  by  the
12    Department.
13        Section 95. Investigations; notice and hearing.
14        (a)  The  Department  may  investigate  the actions of an
15    applicant or of an entity  holding  or  claiming  to  hold  a
16    license.
17        (b)  The  Department  shall,  before refusing to issue or
18    renew a license or disciplining a licensee, at least 30  days
19    prior  to the date set for the hearing, notify in writing the
20    applicant or licensee of the nature of the charges and that a
21    hearing will be held on the date designated.  The  Department
22    shall  direct  the  applicant  or  licensee to file a written
23    answer to the Board under  oath  within  20  days  after  the
24    service  of  the  notice and inform the applicant or licensee
25    that failure to file an answer will result in  default  being
26    taken  against the applicant or licensee and that the license
27    may be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status,  or
28    other  disciplinary  action  may be taken, including limiting
29    the scope, nature, or extent of business, as the Director may
30    deem proper.   Written  notice  may  be  served  by  personal
31    delivery or certified or registered mail to the respondent at
32    the   address  of  the  entity's  last  notification  to  the
33    Department. If the entity  fails  to  file  an  answer  after
                            -15-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    receiving notice, the entity's license may, in the discretion
 2    of  the  Department,  be  suspended,  revoked,  or  placed on
 3    probationary status, or  the  Department  may  take  whatever
 4    disciplinary  action  it deems proper, including limiting the
 5    scope,  nature,  or  extent  of  the  entity's  business,  or
 6    imposing a fine, without  a  hearing,  if  the  act  or  acts
 7    charged  constitute  sufficient grounds for such action under
 8    this Act. At the time and place  fixed  in  the  notice,  the
 9    Board  shall  proceed to hear the charges, and the parties or
10    their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to  present
11    such  statements, testimony, evidence, and argument as may be
12    pertinent to the charges or to  their defense.  The Board may
13    continue a hearing from time to time.
14        Section 100. Stenographer; transcript.  The Department at
15    its expense, shall preserve a record of  all  proceedings  at
16    the formal hearing of any case involving the refusal to issue
17    or  renew  a  license  or  the discipline of a licensee.  The
18    notice of hearing, complaint, and all other documents in  the
19    nature   of   pleadings,   written   motions   filed  in  the
20    proceedings, the transcript of testimony, the report  of  the
21    Board, and the order of the Department shall be the record of
22    the proceeding.
23        Section  105. Compelling testimony.  A circuit court may,
24    upon application of the Department or its designee or of  the
25    applicant  or licensee against whom proceedings under Section
26    95 are pending, enter an order requiring  the  attendance  of
27    witnesses   and   their   testimony  and  the  production  of
28    documents, papers, files, books, and  records  in  connection
29    with  any  hearing  or  investigation.  The  court may compel
30    obedience to its order by proceedings for contempt.
31        Section  110.  Findings  and  recommendations.   At   the
                            -16-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    conclusion  of  the  hearing  the  Board shall present to the
 2    Director   a   written   report   of   its    findings    and
 3    recommendations.   The  report  shall  contain  a  finding of
 4    whether or not the accused entity violated this Act or failed
 5    to comply with the conditions  required  in  this  Act.   The
 6    Board shall specify the nature of the violation or failure to
 7    comply, and shall make its recommendations to the Director.
 8        The  report  of findings and recommendations of the Board
 9    shall be the basis for the Department's order of  refusal  or
10    for  the  granting  of  licensure  unless  the Director shall
11    determine that the Board's report is contrary to the manifest
12    weight of the evidence, in which case the Director may  issue
13    an order in contravention of the Board's report.  The finding
14    is  not  admissible  in  evidence  against  the  entity  in a
15    criminal prosecution brought for the violation of  this  Act,
16    but  the  hearing  and  finding  are  not a bar to a criminal
17    prosecution brought for the violation of this Act.
18        Section 115. Rehearing on motion. In a case involving the
19    refusal to issue or renew a license or the  discipline  of  a
20    licensee,  a  copy of the Board's report shall be served upon
21    the respondent by the Department,  either  personally  or  as
22    provided  in  this  Act  for  the  service  of  the notice of
23    hearing.  Within 20 days after such service,  the  respondent
24    may  present  to  the  Department  a  motion in writing for a
25    rehearing, which shall specify the particular grounds for the
26    rehearing. If no motion for rehearing is filed, then upon the
27    expiration of the time specified for filing the motion, or if
28    a motion for rehearing is denied, then upon such  denial  the
29    Director    may   enter   an   order   in   accordance   with
30    recommendations of the Board except as  provided  in  Section
31    120  of  this  Act.   If  the respondent shall order from the
32    reporting service and pay for a transcript of the record with
33    the time for filing a motion for rehearing, the 20 day period
                            -17-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    within which such a motion may be filed shall  commence  upon
 2    the delivery of the transcript to the respondent.
 3        Section 120. Rehearing on order of Director. Whenever the
 4    Director  is  satisfied that substantial justice has not been
 5    done in the revocation or suspension of a license or  refusal
 6    to  issue  or  renew  a  license,  the  Director  may order a
 7    rehearing by the same or another Board.
 8        Section  125.  Hearing  officer.  The  Director  has  the
 9    authority to appoint an attorney duly  licensed  to  practice
10    law  in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer
11    in an action for refusal to issue or renew a license, or  for
12    the  discipline  of a licensee. The Director shall notify the
13    Board of an appointment. The hearing officer shall have  full
14    authority  to conduct the hearing.  The hearing officer shall
15    report his or her  findings and recommendations to the  Board
16    and  the Director. The  Board shall have 60 days from receipt
17    of the report to review the report of the hearing officer and
18    present  its  findings  of  fact,  conclusions  of  law   and
19    recommendation  to  the  Director.   If  the  Board  fails to
20    present its report within the 60  day  period,  the  Director
21    shall  issue  an  order  based  on  the report of the hearing
22    officer.  If the Director determines that the Board's  report
23    is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, he or she
24    may issue an order in contravention of the Board's report.
25        Section  130.  Order  or  certified  copy.  An order or a
26    certified copy of an order, over the seal of  the  Department
27    and  purporting  to be signed by the Director, shall be prima
28    facie proof that:
29             (1)  the signature is the genuine signature  of  the
30        Director;
31             (2)  the  Director  is duly appointed and qualified;
                            -18-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1        and
 2             (3)  the Board and its members are qualified to act.
 3        This proof may be rebutted.
 4        Section 135. Restoration of license. At  any  time  after
 5    the suspension or revocation of a license, the Department may
 6    restore  the  license  to the accused entity upon the written
 7    recommendation of the Board unless,  after  an  investigation
 8    and  a  hearing, the Board determines that restoration is not
 9    in the public interest.
10        Section 140. Surrender of license.  Upon  the  revocation
11    or  suspension  of  a license, the licensee shall immediately
12    surrender the license to the Department, and  if  the  entity
13    fails  to do so, the Department shall have the right to seize
14    the license.
15        Section 145. Temporary  suspension  of  a  license.   The
16    Director  may  temporarily  suspend  the  license  of  a home
17    medical equipment and services provider  without  a  hearing,
18    simultaneously  with  the  institution  of  proceedings for a
19    hearing provided for in  Section  95  of  this  Act,  if  the
20    Director  finds  that  evidence  in  his  or  her  possession
21    indicates  that  the  home  medical  equipment  and  services
22    provider's  continuation  in  business  would  constitute  an
23    imminent  danger  to  the public. If the Director temporarily
24    suspends the license of a home medical equipment and services
25    provider without a hearing, a hearing by the  Board  must  be
26    held within 30 days of the suspension.
27        Section   150.   Administrative  Review  Law.  All  final
28    administrative decisions of the  Department  are  subject  to
29    judicial   review   pursuant   to   the   provisions  of  the
30    Administrative Review Law, as now or hereafter  amended,  and
                            -19-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    all   rules   adopted   pursuant   to   that  Law.  The  term
 2    "administrative decision" is defined as in Section  3-101  of
 3    the Code of Civil Procedure.
 4        Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the
 5    circuit  court  of the county in which the party applying for
 6    relief resides, but if the party is not a  resident  of  this
 7    State, the venue shall be in Sangamon County.
 8        Section   155.   Certification  of  record;  costs.   The
 9    Department shall not be required to certify any record  to  a
10    court  or  file  any answer in court or otherwise appear in a
11    court in a judicial review proceeding, unless there is  filed
12    in  the  court,  with  the  complaint,  a  receipt  from  the
13    Department  acknowledging  payment of the costs of furnishing
14    and certifying  the  record.  Failure  on  the  part  of  the
15    plaintiff  to  file  a  receipt in court shall be grounds for
16    dismissal of the action.
17        Section 160. Criminal penalties. An entity who  is  found
18    to have violated a provision of this Act is guilty of a Class
19    A  misdemeanor.   On  conviction  of  a  second or subsequent
20    offense, the violator shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
21        Section 165. Administrative Procedure Act.  The  Illinois
22    Administrative  Procedure Act is hereby expressly adopted and
23    incorporated in this Act as if all of the provisions of  that
24    Act  were  included in this Act, except that the provision of
25    subsection   (d)   of   Section   10-65   of   the   Illinois
26    Administrative Procedure Act, which provides that at hearings
27    the license holder has the right to show compliance with  all
28    lawful  requirements  for retention, continuation, or renewal
29    of a license, is specifically excluded.  For the purposes  of
30    this  Act,  the  notice  required  under Section 10-25 of the
31    Illinois Administrative Procedure Act  is  deemed  sufficient
                            -20-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1    when mailed to the last known address of a party.
 2        Section  170.  Exclusive State regulation. It is declared
 3    to be the public policy of this State, pursuant to  paragraph
 4    (h)  of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution
 5    of 1970, that any power or function set forth in this Act  to
 6    be  exercised  by  the  State  is an exclusive State power or
 7    function.  Such power or  function  shall  not  be  exercised
 8    concurrently,  whether directly or indirectly, by any unit of
 9    local  government,  including  home  rule  units,  except  as
10    otherwise provided in this Act.
11        Section  175.  Entities  currently  operating.   Entities
12    engaged  in  the business of providing home medical equipment
13    and services at least 3 months prior to the effective date of
14    this Act shall be issued a license valid for  2  years,  upon
15    application  and  payment  of  the  required fee, without the
16    necessity  for  a  determination  of  compliance   with   the
17    requirements  of  subsection  (a)  of  Section 40. During the
18    first year of licensure, such providers shall be  subject  to
19    random  inspections for compliance with applicable standards,
20    unless such providers  have  a  valid  accreditation  from  a
21    recognized national accrediting body.
22        Section  180.  Deposit of fees and fines; appropriations.
23    All of the fees and fines collected under this Act  shall  be
24    deposited  into  the  General Professions Dedicated Fund, and
25    shall be used by the Department,  as  appropriated,  for  the
26    ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department.
27        Section  300. The Regulatory Agency Sunset Act is amended
28    by adding Section 4.18 as follows:
29        (5 ILCS 80/4.18 new)
                            -21-           LRB9000457DPccam02
 1        Sec. 4.18. Act repealed January 1,  2008.  The  following
 2    Act is repealed January 1, 2008:
 3        The  Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License
 4    Act.
 5        Section 999.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 6    becoming law.".

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