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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly recognizes that
3 access to behavioral health services is critical for
4 individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, A 2006 study conducted by the National Association
7 of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical
8 Directors Council revealed that individuals with behavioral
9 health issues die on average 25 years sooner than the general
10 population; and
 
11     WHEREAS, A report by the U.S. Department of Health and
12 Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
13 Administration revealed the lack of coordination of behavioral
14 health care with other health care provided in various
15 settings; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Community mental health centers are safety net
17 providers for individuals with behavioral, mental health, and
18 substance use disorders; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Community mental health centers do not currently
20 receive reimbursement that reflects the costs of providing
21 behavioral health services; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Unlike other state vendors, community mental
2 health centers serving a disproportionate number of Medicaid
3 funded individuals do not have the ability to cost shift
4 between public and private pay; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The United States Congress is likely to expand
6 Medicaid coverage in comprehensive health care reform
7 legislation, thus increasing the demand for behavioral health
8 services; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Federally qualified health centers receive
10 enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, such as through
11 federal grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Services
12 Act, for serving underserved populations; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Community mental health centers typically serve
14 large Medicaid or indigent populations, or both, but receive no
15 enhanced reimbursement; and
 
16     WHEREAS, A federal designation similar to federally
17 qualified health centers could provide community mental health
18 centers an opportunity to receive enhanced reimbursement for
19 behavioral, mental health, and substance use services, which
20 could reduce the amount of uncompensated care provided in these
21 settings and increase the capacity of community mental health

 

 

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1 centers to provide services and supports; and
 
2     WHEREAS, The creation of criteria for the certification of
3 federally qualified behavioral health centers is included in
4 the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which
5 passed the United States House of Representatives on November
6 7, 2009; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The creation of criteria for the certification of
8 federally qualified behavioral health centers is the first step
9 in strengthening the community mental health safety net by
10 providing accessible, affordable, and coordinated care to
11 individuals with behavioral health issues, as well as creating
12 a nationwide minimum reimbursement for community based
13 behavioral health services, established at the federal level,
14 that reflects the actual cost of providing those services;
15 therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
18 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to include
19 criteria for the certification of federally qualified
20 behavioral health centers in any comprehensive health care
21 reform legislation; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this joint resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to President Barack Obama, the Speaker of the United
2 States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the
3 United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of
4 the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United
5 States Senate, and each member of the Illinois Congressional
6 delegation.