Governor Pritzker Signs Landmark Law Expanding Behavioral Health Access for Illinoisans with Private Insurance (Chicago, IL) – Governor J.B. Pritzker last Friday signed House Bill 1085 (HB1085) into law, a move aimed at improving access to behavioral health services for Illinois residents covered by state-regulated private insurance.
The legislation codifies measures designed to strengthen parity in coverage, ensuring behavioral health services are reimbursed equitably by commercial insurers and addressing long-standing issues with network adequacy.
“Signing HB1085 into law is the last step in a years-long journey to bolster existing parity legislation,” said Mark Ishaug, president and CEO of Thresholds, a leading mental health organization in Illinois. “By ensuring equitable reimbursement for behavioral health services and tackling the underlying causes of poor network adequacy, Illinois is finally on track to meaningfully address barriers to accessing treatment.”
Thresholds played a key role in advocating for the law, working alongside legislative champions including Senate President Don Harmon, Senator Karina Villa, and Representative Lindsey LaPointe. The organization also acknowledged the efforts of former Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy Heather O’Donnell and her successor Amber Kirchhoff, as well as widespread support from mental health providers and advocacy groups, including members of the Healthy Minds Healthy Lives Coalition.
According to statistics, one in seven people experience a mental health condition each year, yet many struggle to access care despite paying insurance premiums. HB1085 seeks to address this by improving reimbursement rates for behavioral health providers and implementing other measures to expand access.
The law is expected to make it easier for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans to receive the care they need, helping individuals engage fully in school, work, and family life while supporting overall mental well-being.
Governor Pritzker Signs Landmark Law Expanding Behavioral Health Access for Illinoisans with Private Insurance
