Illinois House helping health care shortage by easing volunteer requirements
A new bill would remove an unnecessary rule forcing health care volunteers to get additional licensing. House Bill 1270, sponsored by state Rep. William E. Hauter, R-Morton, and state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace, addresses medical worker shortages.
The Illinois Senate passed a bipartisan bill out of the Licensed Activities Committee that could help alleviate Illinois’ shortage of health care workers.
House Bill 1270, sponsored by state Rep. William E. Hauter, R-Morton and state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace, would eliminate the fee and simplify the licensing process for health care volunteers. This would make it easier for retired doctors and nurses to serve in charitable roles and boost the state’s medical workforce.
Under existing state law, retired Illinois doctors and nurses who want to volunteer must go through the full licensing process all over again – just to obtain a separate volunteer license. This extra layer of red tape overcomplicates things and prevents skilled health care providers from reaching the patients who need them most.
HB 1270, which passed the Illinois House unanimously, removes the need for a separate license and allows health care professionals to qualify for volunteer status. They must have active licenses that aren’t under discipline or investigation by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Illinois has been grappling with a nursing and doctor shortage, compounded by a lag in fresh talent and lingering strain from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Economic Policy Institute estimates Illinois lacks nearly 15,000 registered nurses. Approximately 55% of Illinois’ nursing workforce is 55 or older and 27% are contemplating retirement over the next five years.
The health care professional shortage in more than 87% of Illinois counties disproportionately impacts low-income and rural communities. In these communities, nursing shortfalls often lead to longer emergency room wait times and diminished quality of patient care.
The bill also eliminates the volunteer license fee, reducing financial barriers for professionals willing to offer their services free of charge. Additionally, it makes it easier for health care professionals to revert their licenses from volunteer status to return to paid work, streamlining the transition process.
By easing the process and removing financial barriers to work, HB 1270 could encourage more health care professionals to engage in volunteer work, leading to increased staffing in community health centers and expanding access to care for underserved populations.
The bill passed the Senate committee unanimously and will move to the Senate floor for final passage before heading to the Governor’s desk.
If enacted, HB 1270 would build a more robust volunteer health care workforce, benefiting communities across Illinois.