Hernandez Passes Trio of Bills Aimed at Boosting Specialist Healthcare Access

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Norma Hernandez, D-Melrose Park, is taking aim at factors which contribute to shortages of specialist healthcare providers by passing three bills aimed at updating requirements and removing roadblocks that currently often lead to many Illinoisans being underserved.

“Part of building a brighter future for every family and community in Illinois is making sure that people who need specialized medical and behavioral health care are able to access it,” Hernandez said. “That means making sure that shortages of providers don’t lead to monthslong waits or even to patients needing to travel hours roundtrip—or even incur overnight stays—in order to be seen. It also means making sure that expert knowledge and best practices are at the heart of what we’re doing for Illinois families.”

Hernandez recently passed three bills aimed at helping underserved areas to see increased numbers of nearby specialist providers:

House Bill 2676 would allow ophthalmologists, optometrists and anesthesiologists to qualify for loan repayment assistance through the already-existing Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program (UHCPW). This program incentivizes newly trained specialists to move to and practice in “designated shortage areas” by helping with their educational loans if they do so.

House Bill 3160 would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to more promptly furnish providers of home and community-based services with updated and detailed rate sheets for the clients they serve. Rate sheets inform providers of the rates at which they can be reimbursed when caring for specific patients. Currently, some providers haven’t received updated rate sheets since 2019, which has made it difficult for providers to budget and maintain full operation. The bill would require DHS to furnish new rate sheets within 60 days of a provider’s request.

House Bill 3385 would require public colleges and universities to employ at least three licensed mental health professionals if the student body is at least 3,750 students or one licensed professional per 1,250 students otherwise. It also would change the makeup of mental health expert panels already required at public colleges and universities. Current law doesn’t explicitly spell out requirements for the makeup of the panels, but Hernandez’s bill would require them to have a minimum of two administrators, two faculty members and one mental health professional.