A health care professional may engage in the practice of telehealth services in Illinois to the extent of his or her scope of practice as established in his or her respective licensing Act consistent with the standards of care for in-person services. This Act shall not be construed to alter the scope of practice of any health care professional or authorize the delivery of health care services in a setting or in a manner not otherwise authorized by the laws of this State.
Telehealth services shall be consistent with all federal and State privacy, security, and confidentiality laws, rules, or regulations.
A health care professional with a temporary permit for full practice advanced practice registered nurse for health care, a temporary permit for advanced practice registered nurse for health care, or a temporary permit for health care may treat a patient located in this State through telehealth services in a manner consistent with the health care professional’s scope of practice and agreement with a sponsoring entity.
“Health care professional” includes, but is not limited to, physicians, physician assistants, optometrists, advanced practice registered nurses, clinical psychologists licensed in Illinois, prescribing psychologists licensed in Illinois, dentists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physical therapists, clinical social workers, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, hearing instrument dispensers, licensed certified substance use disorder treatment providers and clinicians, and mental health professionals and clinicians authorized by Illinois law to provide mental health services, and qualified providers listed under paragraph (8) of subsection (e) of Section 3 of the Early Intervention Services System Act, dietitian nutritionists licensed in Illinois, and health care professionals associated with a facility.
SOURCE: IL Compiled Statutes, Chapter 225, 150/5 & IL Compiled Statutes Chapter 225, 150/15. (Accessed Apr 2026).
An optometrist may practice optometry through telehealth and must be licensed in the state to treat a patient in the state.
An optometrist practicing optometry through telehealth is subject to the same standard of care and practice standards that are applicable to optometric services provided in a clinic or office setting.
An optometrist may not provide telehealth services unless the optometrist has established a provider-patient relationship with the patient.
An in-person consultation is not required for new conditions relating to a patient with whom the optometrist has a provider-patient relationship unless the optometrist deems an in-person consultation is necessary to provide appropriate care. An optometrist may treat a patient through telehealth in the absence of a provider-patient relationship when, in the professional judgment of the optometrist, emergency care is required.
To be repealed January 1, 2027.
Occupational therapy may be provided via technology or telecommunication methods, also known as telehealth, however the standard of care shall be the same whether a patient or recipient is seen in person, through telehealth, or other method of electronically enabled health care. Included in the definition of occupational therapy services are virtual interventions, including simulated, real-time, and near-time technologies, consisting of telehealth and mobile technology.
To be repealed January 1, 2029.
SOURCE: Illinois 225 ILCS 75/1. (Accessed Apr 2026).
Hospitals & Ambulatory Care Facilities
A Distant-site Telemedicine Entity – means an entity consisting of a group of licensed physicians that:
- Provides telemedicine services;
- Is not a Medicare-participating hospital; and
- Provides contracted services in a manner that enables a hospital using its services to meet all applicable Medicare conditions of participation, particularly those requirements related to the credentialing and privileging of practitioners providing telemedicine services to the patients of a hospital. A distant-site telemedicine entity would include a distant-site hospital that does not participate in the Medicare program that is providing telemedicine services to a Medicare-participating hospital.
The medical staff shall be organized in accordance with written bylaws, rules and regulations approved by the governing board. The bylaws, rules and regulations shall specifically provide, but are not limited to:
…
establishing a procedure for granting telemedicine privileges, based upon the privileging decisions of a distant-site hospital or telemedicine entity that has a written agreement that meets Medicare requirements;
General Acute or Critical Access Hospitals without a licensed pediatric unit or board certified or board eligible pediatrician in the hospital or on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that provide limited inpatient or observation services to pediatric patients (neonate (less than 28 days of age) to 14 years old):
- Shall have a written agreement with a children’s hospital or hospital with a licensed pediatric unit. The agreement shall include provider-to-patient and/or provider-to-provider consultations that meet the telemedicine requirements provided in subsections (a)(2) through (a)(8) remotely via electronic communications, whether synchronous or asynchronous, and specify other information including communication frequency, equipment, education, transfers, case reviews, and critical criteria for emergency transfers;
The medical staff bylaws for county hospitals as defined in Section 15-1(c) of the Illinois Public Aid Code shall include at least the following:
…
Written procedures that allow the medical staff to rely upon the credentialing and privileging decisions of a distant-site hospital or telemedicine entity as an option for recommending the privileging of telemedicine physicians.
The medical staff bylaws for all hospitals except county hospitals shall include at least the following provisions for granting, limiting, renewing, or denying medical staff membership and clinical staff privileges:
- Minimum procedures for pre-applicants or applicants for medical staff membership, including the following: …Written procedures that allow the medical staff to rely upon the credentialing and privileging decisions of a distant-site hospital or telemedicine entity as an option for recommending the privileging of telemedicine physicians.
If a hospital enters into agreement for telemedicine services with a distant-site hospital or distant-site entity, the governing body of the hospital whose patients are receiving the telemedicine services may choose, in lieu of the hospital performing the credentialing and privileging requirements, to rely upon the credentialing and privileging decisions made by the distant-site hospital when making recommendations on privileges for the individual distant-site physicians and practitioners providing the services. The hospital’s governing body ensures, through its written agreement with the distant-site hospital, that the distant-site hospital meets the Conditions of Participation for Hospitals for credentialing and privileging of physicians and practitioners. (see Admin Code for specifics)
SOURCE: IL Admin Code, Title 77, Chapter 1, Subch b, Part 250, Sec. 250.310. (Accessed Apr. 2026).
Veterinarian Medicine
Telemedicine occurs when either the animal who is receiving the care is located in the State when receiving telemedicine treatment or the veterinarian providing the care to the animal is located in the State when providing telemedicine treatment, pursuant to the provisions of Section 5. Telemedicine may only be used when a veterinarian has an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
A veterinarian shall not substitute telehealth, teleadvice, telemedicine or teletriage when a physical examination is warranted or necessary for an accurate diagnosis of any medical condition or creation of an approprariate treatment plan.
To be repealed January 1, 2029.
SOURCE: IL 225 ILCS 115/4.5. (Accessed Apr 2026).
Birthing Centers
Childbirth education can be provided at any location in the community or through telehealth. The location should meet the needs of the participant by encouraging and supporting attendance.
SOURCE: IL Admin Code Title 77, Section 264.1800(c). (Accessed Apr 2026).
The birth center shall develop and implement written policies to provide follow-up postnatal and postpartum care to the infant and the postpartum person, either directly or by referral. Follow-up care may be provided in the birth center, at the postpartum person’s preferred location, by telehealth, or by a combination of these methods.
SOURCE: IL Admin Code Title 77, Section 264.1950(g). (Accessed Apr 2026).
The Department of Public health, subject to appropriation, shall develop, publish, and disseminate a brochure to educate the general public on the use and availaibility in Illinois of telemedicine and the advantages of telemedicine in providing access to medical care in rural areas and in medically underserved areas.
SOURCE: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-306. (Accessed Apr 2026).
Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center of Illinois
The Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center of Illinois shall perform the following duties:
- Focus on the training of behavioral health professionals in telehealth techniques, including taking advantage of a telehealth network that exists, and other innovative means of care delivery in order to increase access to behavioral health services for all persons within this State.
SOURCE: 110 ILCS 185/65-20. (Accessed Apr 2026).
Higher Education – Medication Contraception Available on Campus
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each public institution of higher education with student health services shall provide enrolled students with access to one or more health care professionals whose scopes of practice collectively include prescribing and dispensing contraception to patients in this State. These health care professionals shall be available to discuss contraception options, prescribe contraception as needed, including both medication and procedural-based forms of contraception, and dispense contraception. This service shall be provided through student health services, telehealth services, or other external licensed providers.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each public institution of higher education with student health services shall provide enrolled students with access to one or more health care professionals whose scopes of practice include prescribing medication abortion to patients in this State. These health care professionals shall be available to discuss abortion options and prescribe medication abortion as needed. This service shall be provided through student health services, telehealth services, or other external licensed providers.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists may use telehealth to perform an initial physical therapy evaluation if one of the folloiwng criteria is met:
(i) The patient has a referral or diagnosis from a health care professional;
(ii) The patient has an established relationship with the physical therapist; or
(iii) The physical therapist has the capacity to perform or facilitate a referral for an in-person, hands-on examination or re-examination by a physical therapist at any time throughout the course of the patient’s care, as needed.
A patient receiving physical therapy via telehealth must be able to request and receive in-person care at any point during their treatment.
A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant may require the patient to undergo an in-person visit visit instead of providing telehealth services.
A physical therapist providing telehealth must have the capactiy to provide or e able to facilitate a referral to in-person care within the State of Illinois.
A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant may engage in the practice of telehealth services in this state to the extent of the physical thraepist’s or the physical therapist assistant’s scope of practice as established in this Act and consistent with the standards of care for in-person services.
A physical therapist or aphyscial therapist assistant working under the general supervision of a physical therapist treating a patient located in this state through telehealth services msut be licensed or authorized to practice physical therapy in this State.
SOURCE: SB 2153 (2025), 225 ILCS 90/1.3. (Accessed Apr. 2026).
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