Kelly Supports Legislation to Improve Mental Health Care Access

CHICAGO, Ill. — State Representative Michael Kelly, D-Chicago is co-sponsoring a bill that would preserve and expand access to mental health care across the state. 

“Long wait times and lack of staff are barriers that prevent many people from getting mental health care,” said Kelly. “As a firefighter, I see these obstacles everyday. Responding to someone in crisis and then making them wait even longer to get mental health help is not fair. I am co-sponsoring House Bill 4238 to address these issues so that Illinoisans can get the care they need.”

House Bill 4238 establishes the Rebuild Illinois Mental Health Workforce Act, which provides millions of dollars of new funding for community mental health services. This funding would help mental health care providers gain and retain staff and decrease the waitlist for mental health service. The bill also creates the Substance Use Disorder Rate Equity Act which would increase reimbursement rates for community-based substance use treatment services.

“An investment in the mental health workforce and substance use treatments is an investment in the health of the state,” said Kelly. “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill to improve mental health care for all.”

House Bill 4238 is under the consideration of the Appropriations-Human Services Committee. For more information on Rep. Kelly’s legislative agenda, please contact his district office at district@repkelly.com or (773) 736-0218.