1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge your support for HB1085, critical legislation that will improve access to behavioral health services across Illinois by addressing barriers created by inadequate insurance reimbursement practices. Today, too many children, adolescents, and adults in need of mental health or substance use treatment face long wait times, inaccessible provider networks, and difficulty finding care that is covered by their insurance plans. A major driver of this problem is that behavioral health providers are often reimbursed at substantially lower rates than their medical/surgical peers, which in turn discourages participation in insurance networks and limits patient access. HB1085 helps close this gap by: • Improving insurance network adequacy for behavioral health by ensuring reimbursement rates are comparable to other forms of healthcare. • Aligning insurance practices with federal mental health parity expectations, so patients can actually access the care their benefits promise. • Doing so with no state fiscal impact — this bill simply requires private insurers to treat behavioral health care on par with other health services. Improving parity is among the most effective structural changes we can make to ensure Illinoisans receive timely, evidence-based care—and it will especially benefit underserved and vulnerable communities for whom private insurance barriers currently serve as a major obstacle to treatment. HB1085 is expected to be called this week during the veto session, and I respectfully ask for your YES vote. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to strengthening our state’s behavioral health system.