July / August / September • Issue 3 • 2018
Maureen Mulhall, ILOTA Lobbyist
HB 1853 (Rep. Sheri
Jesiel/Sen. Don Harmon)
creates the Psychology
Interjurisdictional
Compact
Act.
This
legislation is designed
to
increase
public
access to psychological
services by allowing for
telepsyschological services
across state lines and
temporary
in-person
services in which the psychologist is not licensed in
Illinois. This is the first licensing compact legislation
to pass the General Assembly and may serve as a model
for other professions. The Governor signed HB 1853
and it is effective January 1, 2020.
HB 4100 (Rep. Stephanie Kifowit) creates the
Health Care Violence Prevention Act. This bill is
designed to reduce the incidence of workplace violence
in health care that is either perpetrated by co-workers,
patients or visitors. This bill provides that
There are seldom any sure bets when it comes
to politics, but the one sure bet in Illinois is that
the 101st General Assembly will look substantially
different than the 100th General Assembly. Of the
177 legislators that began the 100th GA in January
2017, twenty four percent will not be returning to
their seats in January 2019. Twelve Senate members
and 30 House members (so far) will not return to their
positions. Three House members (Reps Fine, Sims
and Stewart) will be sworn in as Senators in 2019.
In addition to legislators who have chosen to retire or
lost their primary election, there are several races that
are very contested. While the Democrats are expected
to continue to control both the House and Senate,
the margins are expected to somewhat change.
A turnover of this magnitude poses a real challenge
for ILOTA and its members. Legislators come from
a variety of backgrounds, but very few, if any, have
a background in health care. Many legislators have
family members who work in health care (especially
nursing) but it is rare to find a health care expert in the
General Assembly. When the 101st General Assembly
convenes in January, it will be incumbent on the
ILOTA, and you as its members, to reach out to the
new legislators to educate them on this profession. I
applaud the ILOTA member who shared the story
that she was at her son’s hockey game and realized one
of the other hockey parents had just been elected to
the General Assembly. This OT introduced herself to
the hockey mom/state representative and offered to
be a resource to the new legislator. That is a great way
to start a relationship with someone who will take
votes on your Licensure Act. Unfortunately, too many
decision makers are not familiar with occupational
therapy and the wide spectrum in which you work.
Take the time to get to know your own legislator so
they get to know occupational therapy.
You may ask yourself, “When is election day?”
Many people would respond, “Tuesday, November
6.” Voting actually begins on September 27 with
the opening of the early voting period. “But I’m not
registered to vote!” Not a problem. While “regular”
voter registration closes on October 9, “grace period”
registration begins on October 10 and runs through
election day. There is really no excuse to vote in
Illinois.
The General Assembly sent 614 bills to the
Governor for his action. The Governor completed his
work by the end of August. Bills of interest to ILOTA
include the following.
• a health care worker to contact management
within 3 days of contacting law enforcement
or filing a report against a patient or individual
because of workplace violence.
• management cannot discourage a health care
worker from contacting law enforcement or
filing a report to law enforcement because of
workplace violence.
• the health care provider must provide post-
incident services for the health care worker
involved in a workplace violence incident caused
by patients or their visitors.
• the health care provider must create a workplace
violence prevention program.
The Governor signed HB 41 and it is effective
January 1, 2019.
HB 4643 (Rep. Daniel Burke) amends the Physical
Therapy Act to allow direct access to physical therapy
services providing the Physical Therapist notifies the
patient’s treating health care professional within 5
business days of the first visit for physical therapy.
The Physical Therapist must refer the patient to the
treating health care professional if the patient doesn’t
demonstrate measurable or functional improvement
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