Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is advocating for greater access to mental health care treatment. | Facebook
Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is advocating for greater access to mental health care treatment. | Facebook
Legislation intended to make it easier for Illinois families to get mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment passed the Senate April 30.
The measure requires insurance companies to provide timely, proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders and conditions.
Insurers would be required to allow out-of-network copay requirements if there are no in-network providers available nearby or timely enough.
"Individuals seeking mental health treatment deserve to be cared for just as quickly and close to home as those seeking any other type of medical care," Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) wrote in a May 2 Facebook post. "It needs to be as easy as possible to access reliable mental health and substance use disorder treatment."
Illinois residents looking for outpatient mental health treatment would not have to travel more than 30 minutes or 30 miles for care in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, under Fine’s plan.
In other Illinois counties, the limit increases to 60 minutes or 60 miles. The regulation also caps the wait time at no more than 10 business days between requesting an appointment and being seen by a provider.
“The fight to destigmatize mental illness includes ensuring access to quality, affordable mental health care,” Fine said. “I’m happy to see this legislation continue moving forward to help Illinois families.”
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