CHICAGO, Ill. – Governor JB Pritzker has signed legislation he says should help expand the mental health workforce in Illinois, as well as increasing access to such services state-wide.
The legislation, in part, allows professionals who’ve been out of practice in mental health for less than five years, to be able to reinstate their license with the state.
“We need a mental health care workforce that is robust enough to get people help when they need it, not after months on a waiting list,” said Pritzker, at a signing ceremony Friday in Chicago.
Licensure of mental health professionals is also addressed in the legislation, as is expansion of availability to what Pritzker calls “critical” behavioral health services statewide. That’s in addition to support for businesses who employ people who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
“The Recovery and Mental Health Tax Credit Act will provide tax credits to employers who hire and provide a supportive environment for employees in recovery from substance use disorders and other mental illnesses,” said Pritzker.
The governor Friday, in a separate ceremony, also signed a bill requiring health insurance and managed care plans to cover prostate cancer screenings.
