Part 8 - Miscellaneous Provisions


      (210 ILCS 45/Art. III Pt. 8 heading)
PART 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑801) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑801)
    Sec. 3‑801. The Department shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purpose of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 81‑223.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑801.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑801.1)
    Sec. 3‑801.1. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act to the contrary, the agency designated by the Governor under Section 1 of "An Act in relation to the protection and advocacy of the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, and amending Acts therein named", enacted by the 84th General Assembly, shall have access to the records of a person with developmental disabilities who resides in a facility, subject to the limitations of this Act. The agency shall also have access for the purpose of inspection and copying, to the records of a person with developmental disabilities who resides in any such facility if (1) a complaint is received by such agency from or on behalf of the person with a developmental disability, and (2) such person does not have a guardian or the State or the designee of the State is the guardian of such person. The designated agency shall provide written notice to the person with developmental disabilities and the State guardian of the nature of the complaint based upon which the designated agency has gained access to the records. No record or the contents of any record shall be redisclosed by the designated agency unless the person with developmental disabilities and the State guardian are provided 7 days advance written notice, except in emergency situations, of the designated agency's intent to redisclose such record, during which time the person with developmental disabilities or the State guardian may seek to judicially enjoin the designated agency's redisclosure of such record on the grounds that such redisclosure is contrary to the interests of the person with developmental disabilities. If a person with developmental disabilities resides in such a facility and has a guardian other than the State or the designee of the State, the facility director shall disclose the guardian's name, address, and telephone number to the designated agency at the agency's request.
    Upon request, the designated agency shall be entitled to inspect and copy any records or other materials which may further the agency's investigation of problems affecting numbers of persons with developmental disabilities. When required by law any personally identifiable information of persons with a developmental disability shall be removed from the records. However, the designated agency may not inspect or copy any records or other materials when the removal of personally identifiable information imposes an unreasonable burden on the facility.
    For the purposes of this Section, "developmental disability" means a severe, chronic disability of a person which ‑
    (A) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
    (B) is manifested before the person attains age 22;
    (C) is likely to continue indefinitely;
    (D) results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity: (i) self‑care, (ii) receptive and expressive language, (iii) learning, (iv) mobility, (v) self‑direction, (vi) capacity for independent living, and (vii) economic self‑sufficiency; and
    (E) reflects the person's need for combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
(Source: P.A. 88‑380.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑802) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑802)
    Sec. 3‑802. The provisions of "The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act", approved September 22, 1975, as now or hereafter amended, are hereby expressly adopted and shall apply to all administrative rules and procedures of the Department under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 81‑223.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑803) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑803)
    Sec. 3‑803. Nothing in this Act or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall be construed as authorizing the medical supervision, regulation, or control of the remedial care or treatment of residents in any facility conducted for those who rely upon treatment by prayer or spiritual means in accordance with the creed or tenets of any well recognized church or religious denomination.
(Source: P.A. 86‑130.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑804) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑804)
    Sec. 3‑804. The Department shall report to the General Assembly by April 1 of each year upon the performance of its inspection, survey and evaluation duties under this Act, including the number and needs of the Department personnel engaged in such activities. The report shall also describe the Department's actions in enforcement of this Act, including the number and needs of personnel so engaged. The report shall also include the number of valid and invalid complaints filed with the Department within the last calendar year.
(Source: P.A. 84‑1322.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑805)(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4153‑805)
    Sec. 3‑805. (a) The Department shall conduct a pilot project to examine, study and contrast the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations ("Commission") accreditation review process with the current regulations and licensure surveys process conducted by the Department for long‑term care facilities. This pilot project will enable qualified facilities to apply for participation in the project, in which surveys completed by the Commission are accepted by the Department in lieu of inspections required by this Act, as provided in subsection (b) of this Section. It is intended that this pilot project shall commence on January 1, 1990, and shall conclude on December 31, 2000, with a final report to be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30, 2001.
    (b) (1) In lieu of conducting an inspection for license renewal under this Act, the Department may accept from a facility that is accredited by the Commission under the Commission's long‑term care standards the facility's most recent annual accreditation review by the Commission. In addition to such review, the facility shall submit any fee or other license renewal report or information required by law. The Department may accept such review for so long as the Commission maintains an annual inspection or review program. If the Commission does not conduct an on‑site annual inspection or review, the Department shall conduct an inspection as otherwise required by this Act. If the Department determines that an annual on‑site inspection or review conducted by the Commission does not meet minimum standards set by the Department, the Department shall not accept the Commission's accreditation review and shall conduct an inspection as otherwise required by this Act.
    The Department shall establish procedures applicable to the pilot project conducted pursuant to this Section. The procedures shall provide for a review of the Commission's survey findings that may be Type "A" or Type "B" violations under this Act requiring immediate correction, the taking of necessary and appropriate action to determine whether such violations exist, and steps to effect corrective action in cooperation with the Commission, or otherwise under this Act, as may be necessary. The Department shall also establish procedures to require the Commission to immediately report to the Department any survey finding that constitutes a condition or occurrence relating to the operation and maintenance of a facility which presents a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm to a resident will result therefrom, so as to enable the Department to take necessary and appropriate action under this Act.
    (2) This subsection (b) does not limit the Department in performing any inspections or other duties authorized by this Act, or under any contract relating to the medical assistance program administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or under Title XVIII or Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
    (3) No facility shall be required to obtain accreditation from the Commission.
    (c) Participation in the pilot project shall be limited to facilities selected at random by the Director, provided that:
        (1) facilities shall apply to the Director for
     selection to participate;
        (2) facilities which are currently accredited by the
     Commission may apply to participate;
        (3) any facility not accredited by the Commission at
     the time of application to participate in the pilot project shall apply for such accreditation;
        (4) the number of facilities so selected shall be no
     greater than 15% of the total number of long‑term care facilities licensed under this Act;
        (5) the number of facilities so selected shall be
     divided equally between facilities having fewer than 100 beds and facilities having 100 or more beds;
        (6) facilities so selected shall have been licensed
     for more than 2 years and shall not have been issued a conditional license within 2 years before applying for participation in the pilot project; and
        (7) no facilities so selected shall have been issued
     a notice of a Type "A" violation within one year before applying for participation in the pilot project.
    (d) Inspections and surveys conducted by the Commission under the pilot project for initial or continued accreditation shall not be announced in advance to the facility being inspected or surveyed, and shall provide for participation in the inspection or survey process by residents of the facility and the public.
    (e) With respect to any facility accredited by the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the Department copies of:
        (1) the accreditation award letter;
        (2) the accreditation report, including
     recommendations and comments by the Commission; and
        (3) any correspondence directly related to the
     accreditation.
    (f) No facility which is denied initial or continued accreditation by the Commission shall participate in the pilot project.
    (g) The Director shall meet at least once every 6 months with the director of the Commission's long‑term care facility accreditation program to review, coordinate and modify as necessary the services performed by the Commission under the pilot project. On or before June 30, 1993, the Director shall submit to the Governor and to the General Assembly a report evaluating the pilot project and making any recommendations deemed necessary.
    (h) This Section does not limit the Department in performing any inspections or other duties authorized by this Act, or under any contract relating to the medical assistance program administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or under Title XVIII or Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑807)
    Sec. 3‑807. Review of shelter care licensure standards. On or before March 1, 1994, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report concerning the necessity of revising the current statutory and regulatory standards of licensure under the category of shelter care. The Department shall conduct a review of those standards for that category, taking into consideration the Department on Aging's report on board and care homes prepared pursuant to Section 4.02a of the Illinois Act on the Aging. The Department's report shall include recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes necessary to address the regulation of facilities providing room, board, and personal care to older persons and disabled persons.
(Source: P.A. 88‑252.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑808)
    Sec. 3‑808. Protocol for sexual assault victims; nursing home. The Department shall develop a protocol for the care and treatment of residents who have been sexually assaulted in a long term care facility or elsewhere.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1372, eff. 7‑29‑10.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑808.5)
    Sec. 3‑808.5. Nursing home fraud, abuse, and neglect prevention and reporting.
    (a) Every licensed long term care facility that receives Medicaid funding shall prominently display in its lobby, in its dining areas, and on each floor of the facility information approved by the Illinois Medicaid Fraud Control Unit on how to report fraud, abuse, and neglect. In addition, information regarding the reporting of fraud, abuse, and neglect shall be provided to each resident at the time of admission and to the resident's family members or emergency contacts, or to both the resident's family members and his or her emergency contacts.
    (b) Any owner or licensee of a long term care facility licensed under this Act shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of any and all records required to be maintained under this Section and any other applicable provisions of this Act, and as a provider under the Illinois Public Aid Code, and shall be responsible for compliance with all of the disclosure requirements under this Section. All books and records and other papers and documents that are required to be kept, and all records showing compliance with all of the disclosure requirements to be made pursuant to this Section, shall be kept at the facility and shall, at all times during business hours, be subject to inspection by any law enforcement or health oversight agency or its duly authorized agents or employees.
    (c) Any report of abuse and neglect of residents made by any individual in whatever manner, including, but not limited to, reports made under Sections 2‑107 and 3‑610 of this Act, or as provided under the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act, that is made to an administrator, a director of nursing, or any other person with management responsibility at a long term care facility must be disclosed to the owners and licensee of the facility within 24 hours of the report. The owners and licensee of a long term care facility shall maintain all records necessary to show compliance with this disclosure requirement.
    (d) Any person with an ownership interest in a long term care facility licensed by the Department must, within 30 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, disclose the existence of any ownership interest in any vendor who does business with the facility. The disclosures required by this subsection shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the Department. Licensed long term care facilities who receive Medicaid funding shall submit a copy of the disclosures required by this subsection to the Illinois Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The owners and licensee of a long term care facility shall maintain all records necessary to show compliance with this disclosure requirement.
    (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3‑318 of this Act, and in addition thereto, any person, owner, or licensee who willfully fails to keep and maintain, or willfully fails to produce for inspection, books and records, or willfully fails to make the disclosures required by this Section, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section shall be punishable as a Class 4 felony.
    (f) Any owner or licensee who willfully files or willfully causes to be filed a document with false information with the Department, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or the Illinois Medicaid Fraud Control Unit or any other law enforcement agency, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1373, eff. 7‑29‑10.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑809)
    Sec. 3‑809. Rules to implement changes. In developing rules and regulations to implement changes made by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Department shall seek the input of advocates for long term care facility residents, representatives of associations representing long term care facilities, and representatives of associations representing employees of long term care facilities.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1372, eff. 7‑29‑10.)

    (210 ILCS 45/3‑810)
    Sec. 3‑810. Whistleblower protection.
    (a) In this Section, "retaliatory action" means the reprimand, discharge, suspension, demotion, denial of promotion or transfer, or change in the terms and conditions of employment of any employee of a facility that is taken in retaliation for the employee's involvement in a protected activity as set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b).
    (b) A facility shall not take any retaliatory action against an employee of the facility, including a nursing home administrator, because the employee does any of the following:
        (1) Discloses or threatens to disclose to a
    supervisor or to a public body an activity, inaction, policy, or practice implemented by a facility that the employee reasonably believes is in violation of a law, rule, or regulation.
        (2) Provides information to or testifies before any
    public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry into any violation of a law, rule, or regulation by a nursing home administrator.
        (3) Assists or participates in a proceeding to
    enforce the provisions of this Act.
    (c) A violation of this Section may be established only upon a finding that (i) the employee of the facility engaged in conduct described in subsection (b) of this Section and (ii) this conduct was a contributing factor in the retaliatory action alleged by the employee. There is no violation of this Section, however, if the facility demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that it would have taken the same unfavorable personnel action in the absence of that conduct.
    (d) The employee of the facility may be awarded all remedies necessary to make the employee whole and to prevent future violations of this Section. Remedies imposed by the court may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
        (1) Reinstatement of the employee to either the same
    position held before the retaliatory action or to an equivalent position.
        (2) Two times the amount of back pay.
        (3) Interest on the back pay.
        (4) Reinstatement of full fringe benefits and
    seniority rights.
        (5) Payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees.
    (e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of an employee of a facility under any other federal or State law, rule, or regulation or under any employment contract.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1372, eff. 7‑29‑10.)