Bill
HB 3343
Authorizes acupuncturists to provide telemedicine consultations (no needle insertion) under a regulatory framework, expanding access while prohibiting remote needle procedures.
Status & Sponsors
- Bill number: HB 3343 (Introduced 2025)
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Theresa Mah; Co‑sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly; Chief Senate sponsor: Sen. Ram Villivalam
- Current status (selected): Passed House (3/25/2025, 112–0); Arrived in Senate 4/10/2025; Re‑referred to Assignments (Rule 3‑9(a)) 5/09/2025.
- Statutory changes: Amends Telehealth Act (225 ILCS 150/5) and adds Section 14 to the Acupuncture Practice Act (225 ILCS 2).
Purpose
- To authorize and regulate the provision of certain acupuncture-related services by telemedicine, clarify that acupuncturists are included among telehealth providers, and establish regulatory and enforcement procedures for telemedicine practice under the Acupuncture Practice Act.
Key Provisions
- Inclusion in Telehealth Act: Adds acupuncturists to the Telehealth Act’s definition of “health care professional,” making them explicitly recognized as eligible telehealth providers under that statute.
- Telemedicine defined for acupuncture: Under the Acupuncture Practice Act, “telemedicine” is limited to consultations that do NOT involve insertion of needles and are provided via telecommunications or other electronic technologies.
- Standard of care: Establishes that the standard of care for patients is the same whether seen in person, via telemedicine, or by other electronically‑enabled methods.
- Rulemaking: Directs the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to adopt rules, in consultation with the Illinois Board of Acupuncture, to determine which acupuncture services are appropriate to provide via telemedicine.
- Licensing and penalties: A person who practices telemedicine without a license under the Acupuncture Practice Act is subject to penalties in Section 105 of the Act.
- Enforcement process: If the Department believes a violation has occurred, it may issue a rule to show cause explaining grounds for a cease‑and‑desist; the subject has 7 days to file an answer satisfactory to the Department, or an immediate cease‑and‑desist order may be entered.
- Jurisdiction: An out‑of‑state person who provides telemedicine services to an Illinois resident submits to the jurisdiction of the Department and Illinois courts.
Who is affected
- Licensed acupuncturists and applicants for acupuncture licensure (expands allowable practice modalities).
- Patients — especially those in rural or access‑limited areas — who may receive remote acupuncture consultations (but not remote needle procedures).
- IDFPR and the Illinois Board of Acupuncture (rulemaking and enforcement responsibilities).
- Out‑of‑state practitioners who provide telemedicine services to Illinois residents (subject to Illinois law and enforcement).
Potential impact
- Increases access to acupuncture consultations and continuity of care via telemedicine while explicitly prohibiting remote needle insertion.
- Creates a regulatory framework (rulemaking and enforcement) to define permitted telemedicine acupuncture services and to address unlicensed practice.
- Does not specify payment/reimbursement rules or require payment parity; those issues remain subject to other law or regulation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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