HB 1085 Passes Unanimously in IL Senate, Heads to Governor’s Desk for Final Signature

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Thank you to the social workers and social work students who called, e-mailed, and met with their legislators this month and helped to push House Bill 1085 across the finish line and pass in the Illinois Senate. The bill, which establishes minimum reimbursement rates for in-network behavioral health services, ensuring that mental health and substance use disorder treatment is covered by health insurance under fair terms, heads to the governor's desk where it is expected he will sign it into law.

A very big thank you goes out to Illinois Senator Karina Villa, LSW, and Representative Lindsey LaPointe, LSW (both NASW-IL members!) as well as Heather O'Donnell, Director of Behavioral Health Strategy & Partnerships at DuPage County Health Department for their work on getting this bill passed.

From Heather O'Donnell: "This bill is the biggest investment in behavioral health services through private insurance since the federal and state parity laws were passed in the early 2000s. It will bring hundreds of millions of dollars into services and covers all mental health and substance use services for insurance plans regulated by the state. It also addresses many other barriers to care and harnesses the behavioral health workforce in Illinois. We estimate it will impact 2.5 million people across the state, making it easier for them to access care."

For more advocacy-related news from the NASW-Illinois Chapter, visit the "Advocacy" sub-tab on our "News" page. Or check out our Bill Tracker which shows all of the bills the NASW-Illinois Chapter is tracking for the current Illinois legislative session.

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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with over 120,000 members. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is one of the association's largest chapters representing over 20,000 licensed Illinois social workers and school social workers, with over 5,000 active members. NASW strives to advance social work careers, grow social work businesses, and protect the profession.