Public Act 095-0016
 
SB0006 Enrolled LRB095 08714 DRJ 28897 b

    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
    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 psychiatric mental health services.
The General Assembly finds that providing access to psychiatric
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 Department of Healthcare
and Family Services shall reimburse psychiatrists and
federally qualified health centers as defined in Section 1905
(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act for mental health
services provided by psychiatrists, as authorized by Illinois
law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. The Department, by rule,
shall establish (i) criteria for such services to be
reimbursed, including appropriate facilities and equipment to
be used at both sites and requirements for a physician or other
licensed health care professional to be present at the site
where the patient is located, and (ii) a method to reimburse
providers for mental health services provided by
telepsychiatry.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.