Mental Health Legislation after the 2018 Election in Illinois

Abstract

Background and Significance Mental health problems represent a significant and growing public health crisis in Illinois, with suicide being the 11th leading cause of death and 683,000 adults receiving mental health treatment each year. Following the 2018 election, the Illinois Democratic Party gained control of all three houses of government and the newly sworn-in Governor, JB Pritzker, expressed interest in following through on his campaign promises to address mental health in the state. HB2154 The Children and Youth Mental Health Crisis Act (HB2154), signed into law in August 2019, was the most significant mental health legislative effort of the 2018-2019 legislative session. The bill created an insurance mandate that will require private insurance plans purchased by individuals and corporations to cover integrated mental health services for children and adults under the age of 26. The bill also reinvents the states Individual Care Grant Program as the Family Support Program to better support families in paying for residential mental health treatment for those under the age of 26. Finally, the bill creates a process for redefining Medicaid billing rules to increase utilization of preventive mental health services.Implications of Legislation for Mental Health Screening and Treatment HB2154 grew from a collaborative effort between mental health care providers and legislators and garnered the broad support it will need for its implementation to be successful. Going forward, IL should take efforts to increase the number of mental health care providers and how many accept health insurance payments.

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