Syed Backs AI Healthcare Reform Bill to Secure High- Quality Mental Healthcare for All Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working to ensure Illinoisans seeking behavioral healthcare are protected from unlicensed providers including deceptive artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, state Rep.Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, championed a bicameral measure safeguarding consumers seeking therapy or psychotherapy from those unqualified.

“Deceptive companies shaving down healthcare expenses by passing the responsibility of complex mental healthcare to unlicensed providers, or worse non-human providers, is an ineffective and unethical path to caring for Illinoisans who need help,” Syed said. “High-quality care requires advanced training and a very human skillset, and we no amount of cost saving justifies compromising that.”

House Bill 1806 creates the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act that requires any therapy service to be conducted by a licensed professional. Those licensed may use AI if they maintain full responsibility for its interactions. However, licensed therapists cannot use AI to make any patient decisions or treatment plans. AI transcriptions of client sessions will also be prohibited under this measure, unless the patient is fully informed and approves of its use.

“I’m committed to ensuring our entire community, regardless of income, gets the healthcare they deserve. Whether that’s affordable prescription drugs, vital surgeries or regular mental health appointments, people deserve better than a system that cuts every corner in the name of profits,” Syed said. “Unlicensed providers, chatbots taking the place of human beings; these are just more thinly veiled denials of care, and they have to stop.”

House Bill 1806 passed unanimously out of the House and Senate, and it now awaits the governor’s signature for final consideration.