If passed, HB2811 will amend the Substance Use Disorder Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code, introducing a structured approach to mental health crisis management across the state. The program will function for a period of five years, with specific guidelines for grant applications that cover necessary details such as population served and types of services offered. This legislative effort reflects a significant policy shift towards prioritizing mental health care and aims to create a supportive framework for individuals in crisis, along with provisions for future assessments and recommendations regarding mental health services.
Summary
House Bill 2811, introduced by Rep. Gregg Johnson, aims to enhance access to mental health crisis services in Illinois through the establishment of a Behavioral Health Receiving Center Grant Pilot Program. This initiative mandates the Department of Human Services to allocate grants to counties for the development and implementation of behavioral health receiving centers. The goal is to offer immediate assistance to individuals experiencing mental health crises, thereby reducing the incidence of hospital emergencies and incarceration associated with such crises. The Department is required to initiate a request for proposals by July 1, 2023, and complete grant allocations by December 31, 2023.
Contention
Despite the potential benefits, the bill faces scrutiny regarding the allocation of resources and the effectiveness of grant management. Critics may argue about the feasibility of establishing and maintaining behavioral health receiving centers, as the grant prohibitions on land purchases could limit options for location selection. Furthermore, ongoing challenges in funding and integrating mental health services with physical health services under managed care organizations may also be points of contention. Stakeholders will likely debate the methodology used for evaluating grant applications, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that these centers meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
Providing for behavioral health response unit and crisis call center programs; establishing the County and Regional Behavioral Health Response Unit and Crisis Call Center Fund and the County and Regional Behavioral Health Response Unit and Crisis Call Center Grant Program.