SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa stood alongside State Representative Lindsey LaPointe and fellow legislators and advocates to call for equity in mental health and substance use treatment.
“Many individuals across Illinois are being forced to wait extended periods of time to receive care, have
to go out-of-network and rack up extreme debt, or not receive any care at all,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “People who are already paying costly insurance premiums should be able to access the care outlined in their benefits, but can’t because of the lack of in-network providers.”
Senate Bill 55, with corresponding House Bill 1085, would require insurers to cover medically necessary out-of-network mental health and substance use benefits as if they were in-network. The measures would also set minimum reimbursement rates for care providers for proper compensation of their services and incentivize providers to join insurance networks.
According to the Illinois Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health, over 1.7 million adults in Illinois live with a mental health condition. Additionally, 61.8% of Illinoisans aged 12-17 who have
depression did not receive care according to 2021 data.
“This is a critical step toward true parity — where mental health is treated the same as physical health. By setting clear reimbursement boundaries and holding insurers accountable, we can break down financial barriers that have long prevented individuals and families from accessing the care they need,”
said LaPointe (D-Chicago). “My colleagues and I are committed to seeing this bill through the finish line because our communities depend on it. No one should have to fight for care when they are already fighting to heal.”
House Bill 1085 passed the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee Thursday.
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