(a)For the purposes of this Section: "Health care professional" means a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a dentist licensed under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, an optometrist licensed under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, a physician assistant licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, and a nurse or advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act. The Department may expand this definition by rule. "Volunteer practice" means the practice of a licensed health care professional for the benefit of an individual or the public and without compensation for the health care services provided.
(b)A health care professional may submit an application to the Department to place the health care professional's licen
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(a) For the purposes of this Section: "Health care professional" means a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a dentist licensed under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, an optometrist licensed under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, a physician assistant licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, and a nurse or advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act. The Department may expand this definition by rule. "Volunteer practice" means the practice of a licensed health care professional for the benefit of an individual or the public and without compensation for the health care services provided. (b) A health care professional may submit an application to the Department to place the health care professional's license on volunteer status if the health care professional: (1) holds an active license that is not currently subject to discipline or under investigation by the Department; and (2) agrees to engage only in the volunteer practice of his or her health care profession in a free medical clinic, as defined in the Good Samaritan Act, or in a public health clinic, as defined in Section 6-101 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunities Act, and to not practice for compensation. (c) An application submitted under this Section shall not require payment of a fee. A license in volunteer status may be renewed in the same manner, at the same time, and with the same conditions as an active license, except that a renewal fee shall not be required. (d) A health care professional whose license is in volunteer status may request the Department to change the status to active as long as the request is made during the same renewal period in which the license was previously active or the health care professional renews the license in the same manner and at the same time with the same conditions as an active license. Practicing on a license in volunteer status that does not meet the requirements of subsection (b) constitutes the unlicensed practice of the health care professional's profession. (e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to waive or modify any statute, rule, or regulation concerning the licensure or practice of any health care profession. A health care professional whose license is in volunteer status shall be subject to all statutes, rules, and regulations governing his or her profession, except as provided in this Section. (f) The Department may adopt rules for the administration of this Section.