SB2446 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 17417 KTG 33800 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2446

Introduced 1/30/2018, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-5.25

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse psychiatrists and federally qualified health centers for mental health services provided by advanced practice registered nurses certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing to medical assistance recipients via telepsychiatry. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 changing Section 5-5.25 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.25)

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 and advanced practice registered nurses certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing, 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; however, the Department shall not require that a physician or other licensed health care professional be physically present in the same room as the patient for the entire time during which the patient is receiving telepsychiatry services; and (ii) a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

(Source: P.A. 100-385, eff. 1-1-18.)

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