Grasse Advances Legislation Through Committee to Raise Standards of Mental Health Care in Nursing Homes

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, is continuing her fight for better mental health care by leading the passage of new legislation to increase the frequency of required Department of Human Services (DHS) follow-up visits for patients in nursing homes who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

“When it comes to mental healthcare in nursing homes, Illinois has fallen behind state and federal standards, and it’s time for that to change.” Grasse said. “People dealing with serious mental health challenges aren’t getting the visits from qualified DHS caregivers they deserve, and quality of care is suffering as a result. This legislation will bring us in compliance and raise the level of care they receive.”

Grasse has made fair health care accessibility a priority during her time as a lawmaker, and House Bill 4509 fits into that agenda with new requirements for DHS follow-ups for patients in nursing homes with serious mental illnesses.

Grasse’s legislation makes the following changes to the Nursing Home Care Act:
      DHS follow-up visits on patients checking into nursing homes are required after 60 days, not 90;
      DHS visits are required after a significant change in a physical or mental condition; and
      DHS is required to remove the need for unnecessary conflict-of-interest waivers for pre- admission screenings.

House Bill 4509 has the support of the DHS, the Illinois AARP and the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. It recently passed the Illinois House Human Services Committee with bipartisan support.