Illinois lawmakers have enacted legislation that extends telehealth access and coverage in the state, including payment parity for mental health and substance addiction treatments and the establishment of a commission to examine payment equality for all telehealth services. The bill ensuring coverage parity for virtual mental health and drug use disorder solutions is signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
- The Bill: The bill, HB 3308, requires insurance reimbursement parity for virtual mental health and substance use disorder services, as well as authorizing all other telehealth to be covered through 2027.
- Pandemic response: “The legislation I’ll sign today will solidify Illinois as a leader in telehealth access and expansion in the nation,” said Pritzker in a statement. “Illinois is now one of the first states in the nation to turn our emergency pandemic response into a permanent reality. “We are taking great strides to make sure that where you live no longer impacts how long you live,” he added. “Thanks to this new law, we are one step closer to that reality today.”
- In-person visits: The new law builds on executive orders Pritzker put into place earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the parity provision, HB 3308 also prevents insurance plans from requiring a patient to attend an in-person visit before a telehealth service.
- Rightful choice: It also bars insurers from requiring patients to provide a reason for choosing a telehealth visit over an in-person consult. At the same time, it safeguards patients’ ability to seek care in person if they so choose; insurers can’t mandate that physicians offer telehealth or require individuals to see a healthcare provider virtually if they prefer an in-person visit.
- Consequences: “The need for telehealth services have always existed, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated that need,” said State Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago. “I’m ecstatic that this measure will give patients the flexibility to receive the treatments they need, whether it be isolated due to an illness or remote services due to a lack of mobility.”