HR0220 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0220 LRB094 11640 DRJ 43525 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois provides mental health services to Medicaid recipients under rules established by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Aid; and

WHEREAS, Many Medicaid mental health recipients do not require treatment from a physician or the extensive services provided by a certified mental health clinic; and

WHEREAS, Persons who receive mental health services may be more productive citizens, able to contribute to the economy of the State; and

WHEREAS, Social workers provide the majority of mental health services in the country and the State; and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are approved providers under the Illinois Insurance Code; and

WHEREAS, Federal law allows, and many other states provide, reimbursement for social work services in all settings; this has been found to be cost efficient; and

WHEREAS, The rules established by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Aid restrict the providers and settings available to Medicaid recipients, preventing many LCSWs and agencies that employ them from being reimbursed for their services; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois rules have the effect of restricting the recipient's choice of provider, placing a hardship on agencies that provide services but are not Medicaid certified, and may increase the State's cost for treatment; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives has 3 times passed a bill directing that LCSWs be reimbursed for Medicaid treatment provided in all settings; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is hereby established a Social Worker Medicaid Reimbursement Task Force to study the benefits of including LCSWs in all settings as Medicaid mental health providers; the task force shall also develop a methodology for calculating the fiscal impact of this change in policy and a plan to implement these services on at least a pilot basis, starting with mental health services for Medicaid and KidCare eligible children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force shall consist of 18 members: (1) one member from each of the following State agencies: the Illinois Department of Public Aid or its successor agency, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid (or its successor agency) and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services or their designees shall co-chair the task force; (2) the remaining task force members shall come from the stakeholder and recipient communities: one Medicaid recipient, familiar with mental health treatment in Illinois; 2 members from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois Chapter; one member from an association representing LCSWs exclusively; one member from the Illinois Social Work Licensing and Disciplinary Board; one member from an association representing school social workers; one member from an association representing community based mental health agencies; one member from an association representing private child welfare agencies; 3 representatives from community based neighborhood or family service agencies or associations, not collecting Medicaid (one of these shall be from a community agency serving predominantly a Hispanic population, and one from a community agency serving primarily an African American population); 2 members from organizations that advocate for young children; and one member from the Children's Mental Health Partnership; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Social Worker Medicaid Reimbursement Task Force shall present a report of its findings to the General Assembly by March 1, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution shall be delivered to the Secretary of Human Services and the Director of the Department of Public Aid.