(225 ILCS 135/20)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2025)
Sec. 20. Restrictions and limitations.
(a) Except as provided in Section 15, no person shall, without a valid license as a genetic counselor issued by the Department (i) in any manner hold himself or herself out to the public as a genetic counselor under this Act; (ii) use in connection with his or her name or place of business the title "genetic counselor", "licensed genetic counselor", "gene counselor", "genetic consultant", or "genetic associate" or any words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying a person has met the qualifications for or has the license issued under this Act; or (iii) offer to render or render to individuals, corporations, or the public genetic counseling services if the words "genetic counselor" or "licensed genetic counselor" are used to describe the person offering to render or rendering them, or "genetic counseling" is used to describe the services rendered or offered to be rendered.
(b) No licensed genetic counselor may provide genetic counseling to individuals, couples, groups, or families without a referral from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, an advanced practice nurse who has a collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician that authorizes referrals to a genetic counselor, or a physician assistant who has been delegated authority to make referrals to genetic counselors. The physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant shall maintain supervision of the patient and be provided timely written reports on the services, including genetic testing results, provided by the licensed genetic counselor. Genetic testing shall be ordered by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or a genetic counselor pursuant to a referral that gives the specific authority to order genetic tests. Genetic test results and reports shall be provided to the referring physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant. General seminars or talks to groups or organizations on genetic counseling that do not include individual, couple, or family specific counseling may be conducted without a referral. In clinical settings, genetic counselors who serve as a liaison between family members of a patient and a genetic research project, may, with the consent of the patient, provide information to family members for the purpose of gathering additional information, as it relates to the patient, without a referral. In non-clinical settings where no patient is being treated, genetic counselors who serve as a liaison between a genetic research project and participants in that genetic research project may provide information to the participants, without a referral.
(c) No association or partnership shall practice genetic counseling unless every member, partner, and employee of the association or partnership who practices genetic counseling or who renders genetic counseling services holds a valid license issued under this Act. No license shall be issued to a corporation, the stated purpose of which includes or which practices or which holds itself out as available to practice genetic counseling, unless it is organized under the Professional Service Corporation Act.
(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting persons licensed as genetic counselors to engage in any manner in the practice of medicine in all its branches as defined by law in this State.
(e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize a licensed genetic counselor to diagnose, test (unless authorized in a referral), or treat any genetic or other disease or condition.
(f) When, in the course of providing genetic counseling services to any person, a genetic counselor licensed under this Act finds any indication of a disease or condition that in his or her professional judgment requires professional service outside the scope of practice as defined in this Act, he or she shall refer that person to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.
(Source: P.A. 98-813, eff. 1-1-15.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015