Illinois Statutes Chapter 225. Professions,Occupations and Business Operations § 51/25. Home Medical Equipment and Services Board

§ 25. Home Medical Equipment and Services Board. The Secretary shall appoint a Home Medical Equipment and Services Board, in consultation with a state association representing the home medical equipment and services industry, to serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary. The Board shall consist of 7 members. Four members shall be home medical equipment and services provider representatives, at least one of whom shall be a pharmacy-based provider. The 3 remaining members shall include one home care clinical specialist, one respiratory care practitioner, and one public member. The public member shall not be engaged in any way, directly or indirectly, as a provider of health care.

Members shall serve 4-year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified. No member shall be reappointed to the Board for a term that would cause continuous service on the Board to exceed 8 years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made in the same manner as original appointments, for the unexpired portion of the vacated term.

The home medical equipment and services provider representatives appointed to the Board shall have engaged in the provision of home medical equipment and services or related home care services for at least 3 years prior to their appointment, shall be currently engaged in providing home medical equipment and services in the State of Illinois, and must have no record of convictions related to fraud or abuse under either State or federal law.

The membership of the Board should reasonably reflect representation from the geographic areas in this State.

The Board shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson and vice chairperson.

Each Board member shall be paid his or her necessary expenses while engaged in the performance of his or her duties.

The Secretary may terminate the appointment of any member for cause which in the opinion of the Secretary reasonably justifies the termination. The Secretary shall be the sole arbiter of whether the cause reasonably justifies termination.

Members of the Board shall be immune from suit in an action based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other activities performed in good faith as members of the Board.

A majority of Board members currently appointed shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the rights of a quorum to exercise the rights and perform all of the duties of the Board.