HB5471 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 17762 SPS 67190 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5471

Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Certified Clinically Integrated Peer Support Specialist Act. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to create a registry of certified clinically integrated peer support specialist with the Department. Provides that the Department shall create and periodically update a list of clinically integrated peer support specialist certifications that will be recognized by the Department. Provides that the Department shall create a registry for individuals to be recognized as a clinically integrated peer support specialist. Provides that individuals may apply to be on the registry by offering evidence that they satisfy specified criteria. Provides that he Department of Healthcare and Family Services may use the standards outlined in the Act to support third-party reimbursement for services provided by clinically integrated peer support specialists.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Certified Clinically Integrated Peer Support Specialist Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Clinically integrated peer support specialist" means an individual who has received treatment for a diagnosed mental illness as defined in Section 1-129 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, is working as part of a clinical care team or otherwise coordinates with clinical service providers either in a community or health care setting, and maintains a peer support specialist certification approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under Section 10 of this Act. Nothing in this definition should be construed as limiting the definitions, role, or payment of other peer support specialists that practice outside of integrated clinical care.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Section 10. Recognized certifications. The Department shall create and periodically update a list of clinically integrated peer support specialist certifications that will be recognized by the Department. The Department shall recognize those certifications that require at least the following:

(1) 40 hours of training in providing direct peer support;

(2) 3,000 hours of supervised experience providing direct peer support;

(3) a letter of recommendation from a mental health professional and a letter of recommendation from a person who has supervised the individual; and

(4) passage of an examination that evaluates understanding and proficiency in the core competencies for peer workers in behavioral health services as set forth by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Section 15. Certification registry. The Department shall create a registry for individuals to be recognized as a clinically integrated peer support specialist. Individuals may apply to be on the registry by offering evidence that they meet the definition of a "clinically integrated peer support specialist" under Section 5 of this Act and hold a certification in good standing recognized by the Department under Section 10 of this Act. The Department may provide by rule a schedule of fees to be paid for registration by all applicants that is sufficient to cover the cost of evaluating the applicant's credentials and maintaining the registry.

Section 20. Authority to practice. For determinations related to legal authority to practice and associated reimbursements for clinically integrated peer support specialist services, the Department shall deem all individuals clinically integrated peer support specialists, regardless of the state in which they received their training and certification, that satisfy the following criteria:

(1) meet the definition of "clinically integrated peer support specialist" in Section 5 of this Act;

(2) holds a certification in good standing recognized by the Department under Section 10 of this Act; and

(3) are currently registered with the Department under Section 15 of this Act.

Section 25. Reimbursement. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services may, at its discretion, use the standards outlined in Section 10 of this Act to support third-party reimbursement for services provided by clinically integrated peer support specialists.

Section 30. Limitations. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing an individual with the lived experience of having a mental illness from offering formal or informal peer-to-peer support services to any other individual with a mental illness outside of a clinical care team or a health care setting. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting the reimbursement under the State medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code or other authorized use of State funds for peer support specialist services that do not meet the definition of "clinically integrated peer support specialist", do not hold a recognized certification in good standing from that entity under Section 10, or are not currently registered with the Department under Section 15.