For Immediate Release
May 10, 2011
Contact: Danny Chun; 630.276.5558

Illinois' Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Crisis
IHA Policy Paper Addresses Obstacles and Offers Recommendations to State Leaders

Naperville - Deeply concerned with the state's deteriorating behavioral health system, the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) has just released a policy paper, Shaping the Debate: Illinois Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Crisis. The policy paper provides an in-depth look at the issues contributing to the lack of access to mental health and substance abuse services, and the unavailability or maldistribution of services around the state. The paper also explores tangible solutions to improve access to needed treatments.

"We recognize that the state faces challenges on many fronts with difficult decisions and choices," said IHA President Maryjane A. Wurth. "However, the Illinois Hospital Association and its more than 200 member hospitals and health care systems strongly believe the state needs to take action on Illinois' deteriorating behavioral health system. It is about providing the right care at the right time for people with mental or substance abuse illnesses before it is too late."

The crisis in Illinois' behavioral health system has grown worse in recent years with the loss of state-operated and private hospital inpatient beds, community mental health agency funding cuts, and a shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. As a result, Illinois hospitals are encountering a steadily increasing number of persons with mental illness or substance abuse problems in their emergency departments, medical beds and specialty facilities.

IHA recommendations outlined in the paper include:

• Integrate primary medical and specialty behavioral health services, including through the establishment of Regional Integrated Behavioral Health Networks (regional networks would be set up under legislation supported by IHA, House Bill 2982, which has passed the Illinois House and is now pending in the Senate);
• Assure sufficient acute inpatient and crisis capacity in state-operated or private settings that are appropriately designed, staffed and funded;
• Ensure care for mentally ill people in the right place at the right time, whether in acute care or outpatient settings, nursing homes, or independent or supportive housing in the community;
• Bring specialty psychiatric and substance resources to hospital emergency departments;
• Improve Medicaid financing to pay for the reasonable costs of delivering services;
• Pay psychiatrists a reasonable rate;
• Assist rural hospitals through telemedicine to bring them the expertise of academic and specialty medicine; and
• Use technology such as the electronic medical record to improve quality and coordination.

The IHA policy paper is being shared with the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Director of the Division of Mental Health, state legislators and policymakers as a tool to work with the hospital community and other key partners to address the issues of patient access to and needed support for behavioral health services in Illinois.

Shaping the Debate: Illinois Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Crisis

About the Illinois Hospital Association
The Illinois Hospital Association, with offices in Naperville, Springfield and Washington, D.C., is an advocate for 200 hospitals and health systems and the patients and communities they serve.

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