093_HB3586

 
                                     LRB093 09776 DRJ 10021 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to health care.

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

 4        Section  5.  The  Illinois  Public Aid Code is amended by
 5    adding Section 5-5.23 as follows:

 6        (305 ILCS 5/5-5.23 new)
 7        Sec.  5-5.23.  Access  to  mental  health  services.  The
 8    General Assembly finds that providing access to mental health
 9    services in a timely manner will improve the quality of  life
10    for  persons  suffering  from mental illness and will contain
11    health care costs  by  avoiding  the  need  for  more  costly
12    inpatient  hospitalization.  The  Illinois  Department  shall
13    reimburse  advance practice nurses for mental health services
14    they provide, as authorized by Illinois law,  to  recipients.
15    The  Illinois  Department, by rule, shall develop a method to
16    reimburse providers for mental health  services  provided  by
17    telemedicine. The reimbursement methodology for mental health
18    services  provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the
19    reimbursement methodology used by the Illinois Department for
20    other services provided by telemedicine.

21        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
22    becoming law.