SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to increase access to behavioral healthcare and substance use treatment by improving insurance adequacy.
The mental health parity law calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to utilize a new formula to calculate minimum reimbursement rates for providers and publish them in a bulletin for insurance companies.
Sponsors and advocates believe proper compensation will encourage more behavioral healthcare specialists to join insurance networks.
"There's a cost to doing nothing," said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). "Our constituents and, in fact, many representatives and senators in this chamber, and reporters I've talked to about this bill, are bearing the cost now by paying out-of-pocket $300 or $200 for their therapy sessions on top of their monthly premiums."
Many hope people with state-regulated health plans will no longer be forced to choose between paying high out-of-pocket costs or foregoing care.
The insurance industry is opposed to this change, but lobbyists told lawmakers they agree with 90% of the plan. Senate President Don Harmon said he was glad sponsors were able to gain strong bipartisan support to get the plan across the finish line.
"When I first came to the Senate, we were still debating whether mental health should be viewed on parity with physical health," Harmon said. "While I'm glad we have won that battle rhetorically, we still have a long way to go to put our money where our mouths are."Â
House Bill 1085 passed out of the Senate on a 48-10 vote and received an 86-19 vote in the House.Â
Requirements outlined in the law will apply to insurance plans starting Jan. 1, 2027.
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