Rep. Jackie Haas | Photo Courtesy of Jackie Haas website
Rep. Jackie Haas | Photo Courtesy of Jackie Haas website
The upper chamber of the General Assembly has passed several pieces of legislation pertaining to mental health and could approve a House bill that places mental telehealth services under the umbrella of insurance coverage.
State Rep. Jackie Haas (D-Kankakee) said in a state House GOP YouTube video discussing the party’s Reimagine Illinois platform that the approval of House Bill 3758, or HB 3758, has been made important by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think we all know that in this time of the pandemic that it’s even more important for folks who are still a little bit reluctant to go visit their doctor face to face,” Haas said.
LegiScan explains that HB 3758 “Provides that individual or group policies of accident or health insurance that cover telehealth services must provide coverage for telehealth services used to treat a mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition.”
The House unanimously approved a bill that expands insurance coverage for telehealth treatment, the State Journal-Register reported.
State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) told the publication that the coronavirus has led to many people turning to telehealth.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data shows that approximately 3% of adults in Illinois have a serious mental condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
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