(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ existing behavioral health parity law last week won added enforcement power and enhanced access to addiction treatment under a bill approved by Governor Bruce Rauner.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1707, spearheaded by the Kennedy Forum Illinois, the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health and members of the Illinois Parity Implementation Coalition, and which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed by Rauner on August 22.
The new law improves the scope and coverage of Illinois’ parity laws and provides clear enforcement power to the Department of Insurance. The legislation also prohibits prior authorization and step-therapy requirements for FDA-approved medications to treat substance use disorders and requires generic medications be on the lowest-tier of prescription formularies.
“This law is putting the ability to treat people and get them well back in the hands of providers,” Rauner said. “It lets providers do their jobs saving lives.”
The legislation also prohibits exclusions of the prescription coverage and related support services for substance use disorders.
“To combat the opioid crisis, people need immediate access to medications for medically assisted treatment,” said Illinois Association for Behavioral Health C.E.O Sara Moscato Howe. “By prohibiting prior authorization and other administrative barriers, individuals will get the right care and get the care when they need it.”
This legislation also aims to improve transparency by requiring insurance companies to make parity compliance information available via a public website, according to the bill’s chief sponsor.
“Complying with state and federal mental health parity laws only happens when insurers are held accountable,” said State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). “Transparency holds insurers to account and helps prevent coverage discrimination while enhanced enforcement power for the Department of Insurance can be invoked against insurance companies that violate parity law.”
Additionally, the legislation clarifies that medication-assisted treatment medical necessity determinations must comply with the American Society of Addiction medicine guidelines.
“This state, like many others, has a serious problem with the overuse of prescription painkillers and runaway opioid addictions,” said Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, who co-sponsored the bill. “Simplifying this process will most certainly improve patients’ quality of life and it will hopefully lead to less opioid overdoses.”
The law takes effect on January 1 2019.
sara@ilabh.org
Illinois Association for Behavioral Health News Blog 