HB0599 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 02469 DRJ 32470 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0599

Introduced 1/27/2005, by Rep. Chapin Rose

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code in relation to Medicaid. Requires the Department of Public Aid to reimburse advance practice nurses for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to Medicaid recipients. Requires the Department of Public Aid to develop a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telemedicine. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to health care.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-5.25 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new)

Sec. 5-5.25. Access to mental health services. The General Assembly finds that providing access to mental health services in a timely manner will improve the quality of life for persons suffering from mental illness and will contain health care costs by avoiding the need for more costly inpatient hospitalization. The Illinois Department shall reimburse advance practice nurses for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall develop a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telemedicine. The reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Illinois Department for other services provided by telemedicine.

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