(210 ILCS 49/1-101.3)

Sec. 1-101.3. Legislative findings. Illinois is committed to providing behavioral health services in the most community-integrated settings possible, based on the needs of consumers who qualify for State support. This goal is consistent with federal law and regulations and recent court decrees. A variety of services and settings are necessary to ensure that people with serious mental illness receive high quality care that is oriented toward their safety, rehabilitation, and recovery.

The State of Illinois has an inordinately high inpatient hospitalization rate for behavioral health services. This is not productive for those needing behavioral health services. It is also the least cost effective form of behavioral health delivery possible. The General Assembly finds that alternatives to inpatient hospitalization for behavioral health are necessary to both improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Residential settings are an important component of the system of behavioral health care that Illinois is developing. When residential treatment is necessary, these facilities must offer high quality rehabilitation and recovery care, help consumers achieve and maintain their highest level of independent functioning, and prepare them to live in permanent supportive housing and other community-integrated settings. Facilities licensed under this Act will be multi-faceted facilities that provide triage and crisis stabilization to inpatient hospitalization, provide stabilization for those in post crisis stabilization, and provide transitional living assistance to prepare those with serious mental illness to reintegrate successfully into community living settings. Those licensed under this Act will provide care under a coordinated care model and seek appropriate national accreditation and provide productive and measurable outcomes.

(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13.)