SB0006 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 08714 DRJ 28897 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0006

Introduced 1/31/2007, by Sen. Emil Jones, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-5.25 new

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the Medicaid program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse psychiatrists for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. Requires the Department to adopt rules establishing a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry. Provides that the reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Department for other services provided by telemedicine. 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 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 for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. The Department, by rule, shall establish a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry. The reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Department for other services provided by telemedicine.

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