(20 ILCS 2205/2205-36)

Sec. 2205-36. Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council.

(a) There is created within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council. The Council shall advise the Department on the rules and clinical infrastructure necessary to support clinical access to and training for medication-assisted United States Food and Drug Administration breakthrough therapies for veteran suicide prevention. In advising the Department under this Section, the Council shall advise the Department on:

(1) the award of grants for breakthrough therapy treatment through the Veteran Suicide Prevention Program;

(2) the necessary education, training, licensing, and credentialing of providers;

(3) patient safety and harm reduction;

(4) costs, insurance reimbursement, and strategies to safely increase affordable access to care, including the use of group therapy;

(5) standards for treatment facilities;

(6) relevant federal regulations and guidelines that relevant State agencies may consider adopting;

(7) assisting with the development of public awareness and education campaigns related to veteran suicides;

(8) additional funding needed for subsidized patient access and provider and therapist training;

(9) overall Fund budget;

(10) periodic Fund evaluation;

(11) developing criteria and standards for the award of grants and fellowships;

(12) developing and providing oversight regarding mechanisms for the dissemination of treatment and training data; and

(13) developing provisions to ensure justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are considered in the administration of grants and recommendations made to the Department.

(b) The Council shall consist of 9 members:

(1) three members appointed by the Governor;

(2) two members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member appointed by The Minority Leader of the Senate; and

(5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House.

(c) The Council shall include at least 3 veterans. The Council shall also include members with expertise in breakthrough therapy research, clinical mental health treatment, public health, access to mental and behavioral healthcare in underserved communities, veteran mental and behavioral healthcare, and harm reduction. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide administrative support to the Council.

(d) The Council shall adopt internal organizational procedures as necessary for its efficient organization.

(e) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)