HJ0088 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0088 LRB096 17064 KTG 32385 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly recognizes that access to behavioral health services is critical for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders; and

WHEREAS, A 2006 study conducted by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council revealed that individuals with behavioral health issues die on average 25 years sooner than the general population; and

WHEREAS, A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed the lack of coordination of behavioral health care with other health care provided in various settings; and

WHEREAS, Community mental health centers are safety net providers for individuals with behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders; and

WHEREAS, Community mental health centers do not currently receive reimbursement that reflects the costs of providing behavioral health services; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other state vendors, community mental health centers serving a disproportionate number of Medicaid funded individuals do not have the ability to cost shift between public and private pay; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress is likely to expand Medicaid coverage in comprehensive health care reform legislation, thus increasing the demand for behavioral health services; and

WHEREAS, Federally qualified health centers receive enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, such as through federal grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Services Act, for serving underserved populations; and

WHEREAS, Community mental health centers typically serve large Medicaid or indigent populations, or both, but receive no enhanced reimbursement; and

WHEREAS, A federal designation similar to federally qualified health centers could provide community mental health centers an opportunity to receive enhanced reimbursement for behavioral, mental health, and substance use services, which could reduce the amount of uncompensated care provided in these settings and increase the capacity of community mental health centers to provide services and supports; and

WHEREAS, The creation of criteria for the certification of federally qualified behavioral health centers is included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which passed the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 2009; and

WHEREAS, The creation of criteria for the certification of federally qualified behavioral health centers is the first step in strengthening the community mental health safety net by providing accessible, affordable, and coordinated care to individuals with behavioral health issues, as well as creating a nationwide minimum reimbursement for community based behavioral health services, established at the federal level, that reflects the actual cost of providing those services; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to include criteria for the certification of federally qualified behavioral health centers in any comprehensive health care reform legislation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this joint resolution be presented to President Barack Obama, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.