Overview

A major strategic goal of the Illinois Psychiatric Society is to advocate on behalf of our patients and the psychiatric profession.

The legislative and government agencies significantly impact both our profession and our patients. Hundreds of laws are introduced each legislative session - some good, some not so good. Regulatory agencies, such as the State Medical Board, the Division Mental Health and others, promulgate rules to which we are required to adhere.

It is vital that we make our voices heard and our position known. We do this by participating in lobbying activities, IPS PAC contributions, and testifying before the Illinois General Assembly (the legislature). But the most effective way requires active participation of individual members of IPS.

What has IPS done for you lately?

• Telehealth:  IPS helped ensure that the telehealth reimbursement that began during the pandemic, remain in place post-pandemic.

• Collaborative Care Codes: IPS has helped with the implementation of the collaborative care bill. The system is up and running and new codes that integrate behavioral and physical health care are now being reimbursed.

• Uniform Prior Authorization: IPS was successful at writing and advocating for the passage of legislation to streamline the prior authorization process.

  More IPS Legislative Accomplishments.

What is IPS Working on NOW?

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:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Ensure safe, effective treatment of patients by appropriately-trained professionals who adhere to the latest standards of care

More on Current Legislative Priorities