(a) The Illinois Department may establish and implement a demonstration program of preventive physical examinations over a 3-year period commencing on January 1, 1994, for persons receiving assistance under Article IV of this Code and persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are otherwise eligible for assistance under Article IV but who fail to qualify for cash assistance under Article IV on the basis of need. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, however, persons who are pregnant or who are less than 21 years of age shall not be eligible to participate in the demonstration program. The demonstration program may be implemented for recipients in at least 2 counties, one with a population of not more than 650,000 as determined by the 1990 federal census, and one with a population of not more than 100,000 as determined by the 1990 federal census. The Illinois Department may establish by rule the nature and scope of the preventive physical examinations required under this Section, except that the services may include, as appropriate, blood pressure reading, complete blood test appropriate to the population and risk factors, family planning, nutrition counselling, smoking evaluation, temperature, urinalysis, chest x-ray, tuberculosis screening, and appropriate referrals.
     (b) Participation in the demonstration program shall be voluntary, and eligible recipients shall not be subject to sanctions for refusing or failing to submit to a preventive physical examination or any portion of such an examination. The Illinois Department may by rule limit each eligible recipient to one examination during the demonstration period.
     (c) For the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities under this Section, the Illinois Department is authorized to enter into cooperative arrangements with for-profit and non-profit medical clinics and hospitals, local health departments, and other providers of medical services. The Illinois Department of Public Health shall cooperate in the development and establishment of this demonstration program. During the period of the demonstration program, the Illinois Department of Public Aid shall study the cost benefit of providing preventive physical examinations to the targeted group of recipients of public aid.
     (d) Implementation of the demonstration program shall be contingent on the receipt of all necessary federal waivers.