210 ILCS 60/ - Hospice Program Licensing Act.

Copy with citation
Copy as parenthetical citation

(210 ILCS 60/1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6101) Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the Hospice Program Licensing Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(210 ILCS 60/2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6102) Sec. 2. Purpose. The intent of this Act is to ensure quality hospice care to consumers in the State of Illinois. This is to be accomplished through the development, establishment and enforcement of standards governing the care provided by hospice programs. (Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6103) Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Bereavement" means the period of time during which the hospice patient's family experiences and adjusts to the death of the hospice patient. (a-5) "Bereavement services" means counseling services provided to an individual's family after the individual's death.(a-10) "Attending physician" means a physician who:(1) is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy; and(2) is identified by an individual, at the time the

individual elects to receive hospice care, as having the most significant role in the determination and delivery of the individual's medical care.

(b) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health. (c) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. (d) "Hospice care" means a program of palliative care that provides for the physical, emotional, and spiritual care needs of a terminally ill patient and his or her family. The goal of such care is to achieve the highest quality of life as defined by the patient and his or her family through the relief of suffering and control of symptoms. (e) "Hospice care team" means an interdisciplinary group or groups composed of individuals who provide or supervise the care and services offered by the hospice. (f) "Hospice patient" means a terminally ill person receiving hospice services. (g) "Hospice patient's family" means a hospice patient's immediate family consisting of a spouse, sibling, child, parent and those individuals designated as such by the patient for the purposes of this Act. (g-1) "Hospice residence" means a separately licensed home, apartment building, or similar building providing living quarters: (1) that is owned or operated by a person licensed to

operate as a comprehensive hospice; and

(2) at which hospice services are provided to

facility residents.

A building that is licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act is not a hospice residence. (h) "Hospice services" means a range of professional and other supportive services provided to a hospice patient and his or her family. These services may include, but are not limited to, physician services, nursing services, medical social work services, spiritual counseling services, bereavement services, and volunteer services. (h-5) "Hospice program" means a licensed public agency or private organization, or a subdivision of either of those, that is primarily engaged in providing care to terminally ill individuals through a program of home care or inpatient care, or both home care and inpatient care, utilizing a medically directed interdisciplinary hospice care team of professionals or volunteers, or both professionals and volunteers. A hospice program may be licensed as a comprehensive hospice program or a volunteer hospice program. (h-10) "Comprehensive hospice" means a program that provides hospice services and meets the minimum standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418 but is not required to be Medicare-certified. (i) "Palliative care" means the management of pain and other distressing symptoms that incorporates medical, nursing, psychosocial, and spiritual care according to the needs, values, beliefs, and culture or cultures of the patient and his or her family. The evaluation and treatment is patient-centered, with a focus on the central role of the family unit in decision-making. (j) "Hospice service plan" means a plan detailing the specific hospice services offered by a comprehensive or volunteer hospice program, and the administrative and direct care personnel responsible for those services. The plan shall include but not be limited to: (1) Identification of the person or persons

administratively responsible for the program.

(2) The estimated average monthly patient census. (3) The proposed geographic area the hospice will

serve.

(4) A listing of those hospice services provided

directly by the hospice, and those hospice services provided indirectly through a contractual agreement.

(5) The name and qualifications of those persons or

entities under contract to provide indirect hospice services.

(6) The name and qualifications of those persons

providing direct hospice services, with the exception of volunteers.

(7) A description of how the hospice plans to utilize

volunteers in the provision of hospice services.

(8) A description of the program's record keeping

system.

(k) "Terminally ill" means a medical prognosis by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches that a patient has an anticipated life expectancy of one year or less. (l) "Volunteer" means a person who offers his or her services to a hospice without compensation. Reimbursement for a volunteer's expenses in providing hospice service shall not be considered compensation. (l-5) "Employee" means a paid or unpaid member of the staff of a hospice program, or, if the hospice program is a subdivision of an agency or organization, of the agency or organization, who is appropriately trained and assigned to the hospice program. "Employee" also means a volunteer whose duties are prescribed by the hospice program and whose performance of those duties is supervised by the hospice program.(l-10) "Representative" means an individual who has been authorized under State law to terminate an individual's medical care or to elect or revoke the election of hospice care on behalf of a terminally ill individual who is mentally or physically incapacitated. (m) "Volunteer hospice" means a program which provides hospice services to patients regardless of their ability to pay, with emphasis on the utilization of volunteers to provide services, under the administration of a not-for-profit agency. This definition does not prohibit the employment of staff. (Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)

(210 ILCS 60/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6104) Sec. 4. License. (a) No person shall establish, conduct or maintain a comprehensive or volunteer hospice program without first obtaining a license from the Department. A hospice residence may be operated only at the locations listed on the license. A comprehensive hospice program owning or operating a hospice residence is not subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act in owning or operating a hospice residence. (b) No public or private agency shall advertise or present itself to the public as a comprehensive or volunteer hospice program which provides hospice services without meeting the provisions of subsection (a). (c) The license shall be valid only in the possession of the hospice to which it was originally issued and shall not be transferred or assigned to any other person, agency, or corporation. (d) The license shall be renewed annually. (e) The license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place inside the hospice program office. (Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)

(210 ILCS 60/4.5) Sec. 4.5. Provisional license. Every licensed hospice program in operation on the effective date of this Act that does not meet all of the requirements for a comprehensive hospice program or a volunteer hospice program as set forth in this Act shall be deemed to hold a provisional license to continue that operation on and after that date. The provisional license shall remain in effect for one year after the effective date of this Act or until the Department issues a regular license under Section 4, whichever is earlier. The Department may coordinate the issuance of a regular hospice program license under Section 4 with the renewal date of the license that is in effect on the effective date of this Act. (Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6105) Sec. 5. Application for License. An application for license or renewal thereof to operate as a comprehensive or volunteer hospice program shall be made to the Department upon forms provided by it, and shall contain information reasonably required by the Department, taking into consideration the different categories of hospice programs. The application shall be accompanied by: (1) The hospice service plan; (2) A financial statement containing information

deemed appropriate by the Department for the category of the applicant; and

(3) A uniform license fee determined by the

Department based on the hospice program's category.

A licensed comprehensive hospice or volunteer hospice that is in operation on the effective date of this Act may be issued a comprehensive hospice program license under Section 4 if the hospice program meets the requirements for a comprehensive hospice program set forth in this Act. (Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6106) Sec. 6. Inspections. (a) Prior to the issuance of a license, or renewal thereof, the Department may inspect the hospice program for compliance with the standards established pursuant to this Act. (b) To the maximum extent possible, the Department shall coordinate inspections made under this Act with those made for the purpose of determining compliance with other licensing Acts. (Source: P.A. 87-860.)

(210 ILCS 60/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6107) Sec. 7. Issuance of License - Renewal. Upon receipt of a completed application for license or renewal the Department shall issue a license if: (1) The Department finds that the applicant is in

compliance with this Act and the minimum standards established pursuant to this Act;

(2) The applicant submits to the Department an

acceptable plan for the correction of deficiencies discovered by the Department during an inspection performed pursuant to Section 6 or through other information provided to the Department regarding possible deficiencies; and

(3) The affiliated agency has maintained compliance

with the standards established pursuant to its applicable licensing Act, if any.

The Department shall establish, by rule, the standards it uses to determine whether a plan for correcting deficiencies is acceptable. (Source: P.A. 87-860.)

(210 ILCS 60/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6108) Sec. 8. General Requirements for hospice programs. Every hospice program shall comply with the following requirements: (a) The hospice program's services shall include nursing services, medical social work services, bereavement services, and volunteer services. These services shall be coordinated with those of the hospice patient's attending physician and shall be substantially provided by hospice program employees. The hospice program must make nursing services, medical social work services, volunteer services, and bereavement services available on a 24-hour basis to the extent necessary to meet the needs of individuals for care that is reasonable and necessary for the palliation and management of terminal illness and related conditions. The hospice program must provide these services in a manner consistent with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. Hospice services, as defined in Section 3, may be furnished in a home or inpatient setting, with the intent of minimizing the length of inpatient care. The home care component shall be the primary form of care and shall be available on a part-time, intermittent, regularly-scheduled basis. (a-5) The hospice program must have a governing body that designates an individual responsible for the day-to-day management of the hospice service plan. The governing body must also ensure that all services are provided in accordance with accepted standards of practice and shall assume full legal responsibility for determining, implementing, and maintaining the hospice program's total operation.(a-10) The hospice program must fully disclose in writing to any hospice patient, or to any hospice patient's family or representative, prior to the patient's admission, the hospice services available from the hospice program and the hospice services for which the hospice patient may be eligible under the patient's third-party payer plan (that is, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, private insurance, or other plans).(b) The hospice program shall coordinate its services with professional and nonprofessional services already in the community. The program may contract out for elements of its services; however, direct patient contact and overall coordination of hospice services shall be maintained by the hospice care team. Any contract entered into between a hospice and a health care facility or service provider shall specify that the hospice retain the responsibility for planning and coordinating hospice services and care on behalf of a hospice patient and his family. All contracts shall be in compliance with this Act. No hospice which contracts for any hospice service shall charge fees for services provided directly by the hospice care team which duplicate contractual services provided to the individual patient or his family. (c) The hospice program must have functioning hospice care teams that develop the hospice patient plans of care in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (c-5) A hospice patient's plan of care must be established and maintained for each individual admitted to a hospice program, and the services provided to an individual must be in accordance with the individual's plan of care. The plans of care must be established and maintained in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (d) The hospice program shall have a medical director who shall be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy and licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. The medical director shall have overall responsibility for medical direction of the patient care component of the hospice program and shall consult and cooperate with the patient's attending physician. (e) The hospice program shall have a bereavement program which shall provide a continuum of supportive services for the family after the patient's death. The bereavement services must be provided in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (f) The hospice program shall foster independence of the patient and his family by providing training, encouragement and support so that the patient and family can care for themselves as much as possible. (g) The hospice program shall not impose the dictates of any value or belief system on its patients and their families. (h) The hospice program shall clearly define its admission criteria. Decisions on admissions shall be made by a hospice care team and shall be dependent upon the expressed request and informed consent of the patient or the patient's legal guardian. For purposes of this Act, "informed consent" means that a hospice program must demonstrate respect for an individual's rights by ensuring that an informed consent form that specifies the type of care and services that may be provided as hospice care during the course of the patient's illness has been obtained for every hospice patient, either from the patient or from the patient's representative. (i) The hospice program shall keep accurate, current, and confidential records on all hospice patients and their families in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418, except that standards or conditions in connection with Medicare or Medicaid election forms do not apply to patients receiving hospice care at no charge. (j) The hospice program shall utilize the services of trained volunteers in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (k) (Blank). (l) The hospice program must maintain professional management responsibility for hospice care and ensure that services are furnished in a safe and effective manner by persons meeting the qualifications as defined in this Act and in accordance with the patient's plan of care.(m) The hospice program must conduct a quality assurance program in accordance with the standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (n) Where applicable, every hospice program employee must be licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations.(o) The hospice program shall provide an ongoing program for the training and education of its employees appropriate to their responsibilities.(Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/8.5) Sec. 8.5. Additional requirements; comprehensive hospice program. In addition to complying with the standards prescribed by the Department under Section 9 and complying with all other applicable requirements under this Act, a comprehensive hospice program must meet the minimum standards for certification under the Medicare program set forth in the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 418. (Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/8.10) Sec. 8.10. Additional requirements; volunteer hospice program. In addition to complying with the standards prescribed by the Department under Section 9 and complying with all other applicable requirements under this Act, a volunteer hospice program must do the following:(1) Provide hospice care to patients regardless of

their ability to pay, with emphasis on the utilization of volunteers to provide services. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits a volunteer hospice program from employing paid staff, however.

(2) Provide services not required under subsection

(a) of Section 8 in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice and in accordance with applicable local, State, and federal laws.

(3) Include the word "Volunteer" in its corporate

name and in all verbal and written communications to patients, patients' families and representatives, and the community and public at large.

(4) Provide information regarding other hospice care

providers available in the hospice program's service area.

(Source: P.A. 94-570, eff. 8-12-05.)

(210 ILCS 60/9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6109) Sec. 9. Standards. The Department shall prescribe, by regulation, minimum standards for licensed hospice programs. (a) The standards for all hospice programs shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) (Blank). (2) The number and qualifications of persons

providing direct hospice services.

(3) The qualifications of those persons contracted

with to provide indirect hospice services.

(4) The palliative and supportive care and

bereavement counseling provided to a hospice patient and his family.

(5) Hospice services provided on an inpatient basis. (6) Utilization review of patient care. (7) The quality of care provided to patients. (8) Procedures for the accurate and centralized

maintenance of records on hospice services provided to patients and their families.

(9) The use of volunteers in the hospice program, and

the training of those volunteers.

(10) The rights of the patient and the patient's

family.

(b) (Blank). (c) The standards for hospices owning or operating hospice residences shall address the following: (1) The safety, cleanliness, and general adequacy of

the premises, including provision for maintenance of fire and health standards that conform to State laws and municipal codes, to provide for the physical comfort, well-being, care, and protection of the residents.

(2) Provisions and criteria for admission, discharge,

and transfer of residents.

(3) Fee and other contractual agreements with

residents.

(4) Medical and supportive services for residents. (5) Maintenance of records and residents' right of

access of those records.

(6) Procedures for reporting abuse or neglect of

residents.

(7) The number of persons who may be served in a

residence, which shall not exceed 20 persons per location.

(8) The ownership, operation, and maintenance of

buildings containing a hospice residence.

(9) The number of licensed hospice residences shall

not exceed 6 before December 31, 1996 and shall not exceed 12 before December 31, 1997. The Department shall conduct a study of the benefits of hospice residences and make a recommendation to the General Assembly as to the need to limit the number of hospice residences after June 30, 1997.

On and after the effective date of this amendatory

Act of the 98th General Assembly, the number of licensed hospice residences shall not exceed the following:

(A) Five hospice residences located in counties

with a population of 700,000 or more.

(B) Five hospice residences located in counties

with a population of 200,000 or more but less than 700,000.

(C) Five hospice residences located in counties

with a population of less than 200,000.

(d) In developing the standards for hospices, the Department shall take into consideration the category of the hospice programs. (Source: P.A. 100-744, eff. 8-10-18.)

(210 ILCS 60/10) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6110) Sec. 10. Revocation or suspension. A license may be revoked or suspended for any of the following reasons: (a) A violation of any provision of this Act or of the minimum standards, rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (b) The loss of a license held by the affiliated agency under its applicable licensing Act. (Source: P.A. 83-457.)

(210 ILCS 60/11) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6111) Sec. 11. Investigations - Notice - Hearings - Proceedings. (a) The Department may, upon its own motion, and shall, upon the verified complaint in writing of any persons setting forth facts which if proven would constitute grounds for the denial of an application for a license or refusal to renew a license or revocation of a license, investigate the applicant or licensee. Before denying an application or refusing to renew a license or revoking a license, the Department shall notify the applicant or licensee. (b) Such notice shall be effected by registered mail or by personal service setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and fixing a date, not less than 15 days from the date of such mailing or service, at which time the applicant or licensee shall be given an opportunity for a hearing. Such hearing shall be conducted by the Director or by an employee of the Department designated by the Director as a hearing officer to conduct the hearing. On the basis of any such hearing, or upon default of the applicant or licensee, the Director shall make a determination specifying his findings and conclusions. (c) The procedure governing hearings authorized by this Section shall be in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act which is expressly adopted and incorporated herein as if all of the provisions of such Act were included in this Act, except that in case of conflict between the two Acts the provisions of this Act shall control. (d) The Director or hearing officer shall, upon his own motion, or on the written request of any party to the proceeding, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and the giving of testimony by witnesses, and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, papers, records or memoranda. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued under the terms of this Act may be served by any person of full age. The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as the fees of witnesses before the circuit court of this State, such fees to be paid when the witness is excused from further attendance. When the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of the Director, or hearing officer, such fees shall be paid in the same manner as other expenses of the Department, and when the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of any other party to any such proceeding the Department may require that the cost of service of the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum and the fee of the witness be borne by the party at whose instance the witness is summoned. In such case, the Department, in its discretion, may require a deposit to cover the cost of such service and witness fees. A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued as aforesaid shall be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued out of a court. (e) Any circuit court of this State upon the application of the Director, or upon the application of any other party to the proceeding, may, in its discretion, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, records or memoranda and the giving of testimony before the Director or hearing officer conducting an investigation or holding a hearing authorized by this Act, by attachment for contempt, or otherwise, in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the court. (f) The Director or hearing officer, or any party in any investigation or hearing before the Department, may cause the depositions of witnesses within the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in courts of this State, and to that end compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records or memoranda. (Source: P.A. 83-457.)

(210 ILCS 60/12) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6112) Sec. 12. Review under Administrative Review Law. Whenever the Department refuses to grant or revokes or suspends a license to open, conduct, operate or maintain a hospice program, the applicant or licensee may have such decision judicially reviewed. The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the Department hereunder. The term "administrative decisions" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (Source: P.A. 83-457.)

(210 ILCS 60/13) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6113) Sec. 13. Provisional License. All hospice programs in operation on the effective date of this Act shall be considered as holding a provisional license. The provisional license established by this Section shall remain in effect for one year after the effective date of this Act or until the issuance of a regular license whichever is earlier. The issuance of the regular hospice license may be coordinated with the license renewal issued to the administrative authority under its applicable licensing Act. (Source: P.A. 83-457.)

(210 ILCS 60/14) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 6114) Sec. 14. Violations - Injunctions - Penalties. (a) The operation or maintenance of a hospice program in violation of this Act, or of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department, is declared a public nuisance inimical to the public welfare. The Director, in the name of the people of the State, through the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurs, may in addition to other remedies herein provided bring action for an injunction to restrain such violation or to enjoin the future operation or maintenance of any such hospice program. (b) Any person opening, conducting or maintaining a hospice program without a license issued pursuant to this Act shall be guilty of a business offense punishable by a fine of $10,000, and each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense. (Source: P.A. 83-457.)

(210 ILCS 60/15) Sec. 15. Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Board.(a) The Director shall appoint a Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Board ("the Board") to consult with the Department as provided in this Section. The membership of the Board shall be as follows:(1) The Director, ex officio, who shall be a

nonvoting member and shall serve as chairman of the Board.

(2) One representative of each of the following State

agencies, each of whom shall be a nonvoting member: the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, and the Department on Aging.

(3) One member who is a physician licensed to

practice medicine in all its branches, selected from the recommendations of a statewide professional society representing physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in all specialties.

(4) One member who is a registered nurse,

selected from the recommendations of professional nursing associations.

(5) Four members selected from the

recommendations of organizations whose primary membership consists of hospice programs.

(6) Two members who represent the general public

and who have no responsibility for management or formation of policy of a hospice program and no financial interest in a hospice program.

(7) One member selected from the recommendations

of consumer organizations that engage in advocacy or legal representation on behalf of hospice patients and their immediate families.

(b) Of the initial appointees, 4 shall serve for terms of 2 years, 4 shall serve for terms of 3 years, and 5 shall serve for terms of 4 years, as determined by lot at the first meeting of the Board. Each successor member shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. A member appointed to fill a vacancy before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall be appointed to serve for the remainder of that term.(c) The Board shall meet as frequently as the chairman deems necessary, but not less than 4 times each year. Upon the request of 4 or more Board members, the chairman shall call a meeting of the Board. A Board member may designate a replacement to serve at a Board meeting in place of the member by submitting a letter stating that designation to the chairman before or at the Board meeting. The replacement member must represent the same general interests as the member being replaced, as described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (a).(d) Board members are entitled to reimbursement for their actual expenses incurred in performing their duties.(e) The Board shall advise the Department on all aspects of the Department's responsibilities under this Act, including the format and content of any rules adopted by the Department on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. Any such rule or amendment to a rule proposed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, except an emergency rule adopted pursuant to Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, that is adopted without obtaining the advice of the Board is null and void. If the Department fails to follow the advice of the Board with respect to a proposed rule or amendment to a rule, the Department shall, before adopting the rule or amendment to a rule, transmit a written explanation of the reason for its action to the Board. During its review of rules, the Board shall analyze the economic and regulatory impact of those rules. If the Board, having been asked for its advice with respect to a proposed rule or amendment to a rule, fails to advise the Department within 90 days, the proposed rule or amendment shall be considered to have been acted upon by the Board. (f) The Board shall also review pediatric palliative care issues as provided in the Pediatric Palliative Care Act. (Source: P.A. 95-133, eff. 1-1-08; 96-1078, eff. 7-16-10.)