SB3491 Summary

• Creates the Interventional Pain Procedures for Chronic Pain Act, restricting interventional pain procedures to physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois.

• Defines "interventional pain procedures" as diagnostic or therapeutic techniques requiring imaging guidance to treat chronic pain lasting more than 3 months, including epidural injections, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulator placement, and vertebroplasty.

• Physicians may be assisted in these procedures by other physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, registered nurses, surgical assistants, or surgical technicians, but interventional pain procedures cannot be delegated.

• Exempts non-interventional chronic pain therapy performed by advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, acupuncturists, podiatrists, physical therapists, and chiropractic physicians within their statutory scope of practice.

• Violation of the Act constitutes a Class A misdemeanor subject to injunction and enforcement provisions under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; effective July 1, 2014.