IL SB2958

Establishes a 3-year Licensed Medication Aide Pilot Program administered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to license and regulate medication aides in up to 10 skilled nursing facilities throughout Illinois.

Medication aides must be supervised by a registered nurse on-duty at all times and may only assist with medication administration under RN delegation; they cannot administer Schedule II controlled substances or injectable medications.

Applicants for medication aide licensure must be age 18+, hold a high school diploma or GED, have current CNA certification with 2,000 hours of practice in the past 3 years, complete approved training (60 hours classroom, 10 hours simulation, 30 hours clinical), and pass the Medication Aide Certification Examination.

Qualified facilities must be licensed skilled nursing homes with a 3, 4, or 5 star quality rating and must certify that medication aides will not replace nursing staff or diminish RN/LPN employment; facilities must report patient safety, efficiency, and error data to the Department.

Unlicensed practice as a medication aide is subject to civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense; licenses expire and cannot be renewed after the pilot program ends; nursing home administrators must report failure to submit required safety reports under the program.