Current Legislative Priorities
One of the Illinois Psychiatric Society's major goals is to advocate for our patients and profession. We do this through the work of our Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC,) our Council, our contract lobbyist(s), our staff, and individual members at the grassroots level.
Our advocacy positions can range from monitoring, interested party, support, active support, opposition and active opposition, depending upon the nature of the subject and the impact that the proposed legislation will have on our patients and profession.
2023 Legislative Priorities
The goal of IPS advocacy in the 2023 year is to raise quality, parity, equity and access to psychiatric care, for all citizens of Illinois. We believe this can be achieved by focusing our legislative agenda on these key points:
Increase access to psychiatric care through funding additional residency training positions, funding and retaining additional psychiatrists at state hospitals, and increasing acute care capacity to fit the needs of the state
Increase access to care through ensuring full parity for psychiatric treatment, a streamlined prior authorization process for medications, and increased availability of safe, evidence-based means for accessing care, such as telepsychiatry and collaborative care
Update and modernize Illinois' mental health code and mental health court to ensure all patients have access to safe, evidence-based care in the least restrictive setting
Ensure safe, effective treatment of patients by appropriately-trained professionals who adhere to the latest standards of care
Advocacy Action Center
Mental Health Blueprint
Policy Pillers to Improve Acess to Care
A Better Way Forward
Real Solutions for Mental Health Care Acess in Illinois
