HR0711 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0711 LRB100 15583 MST 30733 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In Illinois, there are 683,000 people who need treatment for a mental illness disorder and only 42.6% received care; in Illinois within the last year, approximately 267,000 individuals aged 12 or older are dependent on or abused drugs, including prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioids, and only 11.7% received drug treatment; and

WHEREAS, Illinois ranks 41st in the nation for mental health service coverage provided to children, with only 45% of children receiving necessary care; according to Southern Illinois Healthcare, there is an average of only one psychiatrist available to serve 1.5 million patients; wait times to see a psychiatrist in the Illinois community mental health system can range from four to six months; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Sheriff Association reports that the county jails are overflowing due to not having any where to send people with mental illness and nonviolent drug offenses; on any given day, Cook County Jail is home to 2,500 to 2,800 mentally ill inmates, making it the largest mental health institution in the country; and

WHEREAS, According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the lack of an adequate behavioral health workforce attributes to "insufficient community behavioral health services capacity"; and

WHEREAS, According to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Illinois has the 6th largest number of mental health professional shortage areas among states with 85 of 102 counties in Illinois having areas designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas for Mental Health Services; Illinois ranks 30th in mental health workforce availability with 844 people per mental health worker compared to the national median of 752; the average length of time to fill an open behavioral health position in many rural counties can be as long as 18 months; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, more than 50 counties that had hospitals did not have inpatient psychiatric care and 24 counties did not have hospitals; in Illinois, there is a staggering and shameful lack of access to behavioral health care represented by a shortage of specialists, such as child and adolescent psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and other behavioral health care workers; and

WHEREAS, The administrative staff cost of providing community behavioral health services by community agencies has increased dramatically, by as much as two to five times, since the advent of Medicaid Managed Care; and

WHEREAS, Individuals, including mothers and children, suffering from mental illness or substance use disorders or both rely on care and treatment provided by a stable, well-trained direct support workforce; and

WHEREAS, Behavioral healthcare has moved to a new chronic care, public health model that recognizes the importance of prevention and the primacy of long-term recovery, which requires a diverse, skilled, and trained workforce that employs a range of workers, including recovery specialists, case workers, and highly trained caregivers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare a Mental Healthcare Emergency in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the consideration of a comprehensive legislative package to address the community mental health and substance disorder workforce and behavioral healthcare access crisis in Illinois by the end of the 100th General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Governor Bruce Rauner, Secretary of Human Services James Dimas, Director of Healthcare and Family Services Felicia Norwood, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady.