Local State Representative Discusses Benefits Of New Mental Health Bill
By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor
One in five people in Illinois experience mental illness every year, according to the Illinois chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
On February 20, residents gathered at the Elmwood Park Public Library for an education session with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, who represents part of Elmwood Park. She co-sponsored House Bill 1085, which improves access to mental health care in Illinois and chairs the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee.
The event was organized by Elmwood Park Neighbors United and facilitated by Silvia Rogel. LaPointe described the legislation that was signed into law on December 15 as the most significant bill of her six and a half years in office.
LaPointe outlined a problem that many families know firsthand. Even though about 93 percent of Illinois residents technically have health insurance, actually finding a therapist who accepts that insurance can be extremely difficult.
Behavioral health providers, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists are often paid far less by insurance companies than physical health providers. On top of that, they deal with heavier paperwork and administrative requirements. Many providers simply stop taking insurance.
For patients, that often means paying out of pocket. Sessions that once might have been accessible on a sliding scale often cost roughly $200 to $400 per visit in private practice, which can make regular care unaffordable for insured households.
The new law requires insurance companies to reimburse behavioral health providers at rates closer to physical health care services. The idea is if providers are paid fairly more of them will stay in-network and patients can actually use the insurance they already pay for. LaPointe emphasized the bill does not increase state spending. Instead, it shifts responsibility to private insurers.
The legislation also tries to cut some of the red tape that discourages providers from participating. It limits excessive documentation requirements for hour-long therapy sessions, shortens credentialing wait times to no more than sixty days, allows providers to bill for multiple services in one day, and permits supervised clinicians to bill under licensed oversight. She says these changes are meant to make staying in-network financially realistic for providers and expand the behavioral health workforce.
Residents asked whether higher reimbursement rates might eventually raise insurance premiums. LaPointe acknowledged the concern but said behavioral health care represents a relatively small share of overall health care spending and that early mental health treatment can prevent more serious and expensive medical issues later.
The conversation also turned to possible federal Medicaid changes expected in 2027, including work requirement reporting and twice-a-year eligibility paperwork for some adults aged 19 to 64. LaPointe warned that some people could lose coverage not because they are ineligible, but because they miss paperwork deadlines or struggle to understand the new reporting process.
As the discussion wrapped up, Rogel emphasized that “mental health struggles are far more common than many people assume.” LaPointe agreed and added that expanding access to care also means reducing the stigma and making it easier for families to talk openly about anxiety, depression, and treatment.
In Leyden Township, residents can access the Living Room, a walk-in crisis support center staffed by mental health professionals where people can speak with counselors, de-escalate situations, and connect to services without having to involve police.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to reach trained counselors 24 hours a day.