Morris Supports Healthcare Bill Expanding Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

CHICAGO — State Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, backed a bill that aims to relieve high mental health services costs by increasing coverage for behavioral health and substance abuse treatment for patients who receive treatment labeled as out-of-network.

“Coming from a background in healthcare, I know the importance of patients being able to focus on their mental health recovery, or health in general, without having to worry about coverage details changing,” Morris said. “You shouldn’t have to pay more out of pocket just because of the location you visited or the service you received.”

House Bill 1085 seeks to narrow the gap between how often behavioral healthcare visits that are out of network are reimbursed, in order to put mental health care on the same footing as physical health care. 

The bill also sets a new minimum reimbursement rate for in-network mental health and substance abuse treatment. This will encourage more providers to join insurance networks here in Illinois to expand services to the most underserved areas. Additionally, all medically necessary, hour long psychotherapy sessions and services by behavioral health trainees will be covered.

“Mental health services and substance abuse treatment are as viable as any other treatments you can receive at a healthcare facility,” Morris said. “We’re making sure that insurance coverage can start to reflect that.”