Becker’s Behavioral Health reports that a proposed Illinois bill would assess certain commercial insurers to help fund statewide behavioral health crisis services.
Proposed assessment for crisis services
According to Becker’s Behavioral Health, a bill proposed to the Illinois General Assembly in February would require commercial health insurers to help pay the state an estimated $100 million for behavioral health crisis services. The measure is proposed and has not been enacted.
Becker’s Behavioral Health reports that the crisis resources covered by the proposal include call centers, mobile crisis response and stabilization services. The bill describes these services as essential public health infrastructure that should be available statewide regardless of a person’s insurance status.
Who would be included
According to Becker’s Behavioral Health, Medicaid managed care organizations would be exempt from the proposed assessment. The proposal would apply to entities offering health or accident insurance and to HMOs that had at least $1 million in payments during the previous fiscal year.
Becker’s Behavioral Health reports that each covered payer would be responsible for a proportional share of the estimated $100 million total. The bill states that commercial insurance policies issued or administered in Illinois generally do not provide comprehensive coverage across the full continuum of behavioral health crisis services.
Funding and enforcement provisions
According to Becker’s Behavioral Health, the proposal aims to reduce the share of crisis-service costs borne by Medicaid, local governments and taxpayers. Contributions collected under the bill would go into the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund.
Becker’s Behavioral Health reports that the Illinois Department of Human Services could raise the total assessment above $100 million two years after the bill’s enactment. Under the proposed measure, payers that do not comply could face annual interest of no more than 18% on unpaid liabilities, along with penalties of 5% per month.
What this means for Illinois patients
According to Becker’s Behavioral Health, the bill concerns potential funding for statewide behavioral health crisis infrastructure, including call centers, mobile response and stabilization. For people seeking local treatment options, the directory lists 218 published clinics in Illinois.
This is general information, not medical advice.
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This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.