Public Act 0016 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0006 Enrolled LRB095 08714 DRJ 28897 b

Public Act 095-0016

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 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, 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, and (ii) a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry.

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

Effective Date: 7/18/2007