HB5696eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5696 Engrossed LRB096 19369 KTG 34760 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section 18.6 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1705/18.6 new)

Sec. 18.6. Community hospital inpatient psychiatric services program restoration.

(a) Findings. The General Assembly finds as follows:

(1) In 2002, the State of Illinois closed the Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria and significantly reduced the capacities of the Elgin Mental Health Center and the Alton Mental Health Center, severely reducing the State's ability to provide inpatient psychiatric services at State-operated facilities.

(2) In order to meet the State's obligation to individuals who previously would have been treated in these State-operated facilities, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health (DMH) established in 2002 a program known as the Community Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Services ("CHIPS") Program (DMH; Cost Center 550), under which DMH contracted with and reimbursed private community hospitals to provide acute inpatient psychiatric services to individuals suffering from mental illness.

(3) In 2009, in response to the State's budget crisis, DMH eliminated all funding for the CHIPS program and terminated all contracts with private community hospitals for these services. The elimination of this vital program threatens the health, safety, and welfare of Illinois residents who are poor, uninsured, suffering from serious mental illness, and require admission for inpatient psychiatric services.

(4) With the elimination of the CHIPS program, many Illinois residents with serious mental illness are forced to rely on hospital emergency rooms. This interferes with the orderly provision of emergency medical care to other patients and can delay appropriate care for the person suffering from mental illness. The elimination of CHIPS, which provides an acute care option for persons in crisis, also may increase homelessness and incarceration of mentally ill persons.

(b) CHIPS program restored. Beginning July 1, 2010, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health shall reinstate and fully operate the Community Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Services ("CHIPS") Program in the same manner as it had been operated on May 1, 2009.

(c) Reimbursement. The Division of Mental Health shall establish and pay adequate and timely reimbursement for private community hospitals, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals who render care under the CHIPS program using the same reimbursement methodology that was in effect on May 1, 2009.

(d) Regulations. The Division of Mental Health shall adopt such regulations as shall be necessary to implement this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

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