§ 79 — Certified Medication Aide Program

(a) The Department shall administer and enforce a Certified Medication Aide Program and regulate certified medication aides. To be approved as an establishment qualified to participate in the program, an establishment must satisfy all of the following requirements: (1) Be licensed and in good standing as an assisted living or shared housing establishment by the Department. (2) Certify that the employment of a certified medication aide will not replace or diminish the employment of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses at the establishment. (3) Certify that a registered nurse will be on duty and present in the establishment to delegate and supervise the administration of medication by a certified medication aide at all times. (4) Certify that, with the exception of licensed health care professionals, only certified medication aides will be employed in the capacity of administering medication. (5) Provide information regarding patient safety, efficiency, and errors as determined by the Department. Failure to submit any required report may be grounds for discipline or sanctions as prescribed by the Department. The Department shall submit a report regarding patient safety, efficiency, and errors, as determined by rule, to the General Assembly no later than 2 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. (b) No person shall practice as a medication aide or hold himself or herself out as a certified medication aide in this State unless he or she is certified in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services, or activities of: (1) any person licensed in this State by any other law from engaging in the profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed; (2) any person employed as a medication aide by the government of the United States, if such person practices as a medication aide solely under the direction or control of the organization by which he or she is employed; or (3) any person pursuing a course of study leading to a certificate in medication aide at an accredited or approved educational program if such activities and services constitute a part of a supervised course of study and if such person is designated by a title which clearly indicates his or her status as a student or trainee. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the delegation of tasks or duties by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, or podiatric physician as authorized by law. (c) A certified medication aide may only practice in a qualified establishment. Certified medication aides must be supervised by and receive delegation by a registered nurse, as authorized by Section 50-75 of the Nurse Practice Act, that is on duty and present in the establishment at all times. Certified medication aides shall not have a direct-care assignment when scheduled to work as a certified medication aide, but may assist residents as needed. Certified medication aides shall not administer any medication until a physician has conducted an initial assessment of the resident. Certified medication aides shall not administer any Schedule II controlled substances as set forth in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and may not administer any subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous medication. (d) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds oneself out to practice as a medication aide without being certified in accordance with this Section shall pay a civil penalty to the Department as determined by the Department. The Department has the authority and power to investigate any and all uncertified activity. The civil penalty shall be paid within 60 days after the date of the order imposing the civil penalty. The order shall constitute a judgment and may be filed and execution had thereon in the same manner as any judgment from any court of record. (e) Applications for original certification shall be made to the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by the required fee, which shall not be refundable. The application shall require such information that, in the judgment of the Department, enables the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for certification. (f) The Department shall authorize examinations of applicants for a certificate under this Section at the times and places as it may designate. The examination shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice as a medication aide. Applicants for examination as a medication aide shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee. If an applicant fails to pass an examination for certification in accordance with this Section within 3 years after filing his or her application, then the application shall be denied. The applicant may thereafter make a new application accompanied by the required fee; however, the applicant shall meet all requirements in effect at the time of subsequent application before obtaining certification. The Department may employ consultants for the purposes of preparing and conducting examinations. (g) An applicant for certification by examination to practice as a certified medication aide must: (1) submit a completed written application on forms provided by the Department and fees as established by the Department; (2) be age 18 or older; (3) have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate; (4) demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write the English language, as determined by rule; (5) demonstrate competency in math, as determined by rule; (6) be currently certified in good standing as a certified nursing assistant and provide proof of 2,000 hours of practice as a certified nursing assistant within 3 years before application for a certificate under this Section; (7) submit to the criminal history records check required under Section 46 of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act; (8) be currently certified to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross; (9) have successfully completed a course of study approved by the Department as defined by rule; to be approved, the program must include a minimum of 60 hours of classroom-based medication aide education, a minimum of 10 hours of simulation laboratory study, and a minimum of 30 hours of registered nurse-supervised clinical practicum with progressive responsibility of patient medication assistance; (10) have successfully completed the Medication Aide Certification Examination or other examination authorized by the Department; and (11) submit proof of employment by a qualifying establishment. (h) The expiration date for each certification to practice as a certified medication aide shall be set by rule. (i) No person shall use the title "certified medication aide" unless he or she holds a valid certificate issued by the Department in accordance with this Section. (j) The Department shall propose rules to implement the provisions of this Section within 180 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-886, eff. 8-9-24.)