Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4495

LRB104 17166 KTG 30585 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4495

Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/5-37.5 new

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthen Linkage to Follow-Up Care after a Behavioral Health Crisis Act. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for purposes of timely linking an individual to follow-up mental health care immediately after a behavioral health crisis, when mobile crisis response services are provided to someone in a behavioral health crisis, the Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool approved by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall enable the delivery of community support services, medication monitoring, and other specified services when delivered by the same provider, for up to 30 days without beginning, performing, or completing an integrated assessment and treatment plan. Provides that such services shall be billed separate from mobile crisis response services. Prohibits the Department from imposing more stringent requirements on its Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool than those requirements that exist on the effective date of the amendatory Act, as long as the services provided are delivered under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. Requires the Department to file any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Strengthen Linkage to Follow-Up Care after a Behavioral Health Crisis Act.

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-37.5 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-37.5 new)

Sec. 5-37.5. Strengthen linkage to follow-up care after a behavioral health crisis.

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to strengthen access to immediate follow-up treatment after a child or adult experiences a mental health or substance use crisis and eliminate administrative barriers that impede timely linkage to care.

(b) Bridging treatment lags between crisis services and follow-up mental health services. For purposes of timely linking an individual to follow-up mental health care immediately after a behavioral health crisis, when mobile crisis response services, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(d)(3), are provided to someone in a behavioral health crisis, the Department-approved Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool shall enable delivery of the services listed below when delivered by the same provider, for up to 30 days without beginning, performing, or completing an integrated assessment and treatment plan:

(1) Community support services, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(d)(2)(A).

(2) Medication administration, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(d)(2)(C).

(3) Medication monitoring, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(d)(2)(D).

(4) Medication training, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(d)(2)(E).

(5) Targeted case management services, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 140.453(e).

The services listed in paragraphs (1) through (5) shall be billed separate from mobile crisis response services.

(c) For purposes of this Section, no more stringent requirements for the Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool shall be imposed by the Department than those requirements that exist on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, as long as the services provided in accordance with this Section are delivered under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts.

(d) The Department shall file any rule necessary to implement the provisions of this Section within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.