HB1085: Why Mental Health Access in Illinois Matters – And How You Can Help

In Illinois, a critical piece of legislation, HB1085, is on the table, and it could change the way we all access mental health care.

HB1085 is designed to make sure mental health and substance use disorder treatment are treated as seriously as physical health. It would require insurance companies to pay fair, sustainable rates to therapists, social workers, and counselors, and it would make it easier for people like you and me to actually get the care we need.

Right now, too many Illinois families face long waitlists, denied claims, and sky-high private-pay fees because therapists can’t afford to work with insurance companies that pay far too little for their time. HB1085 is a chance to fix that.

Where the Bill Stands Right Now

According to the Illinois General Assembly, HB1085 has already passed the Illinois House of Representatives and was referred to the Senate Assignments Committee on April 8, 2025. As of July 10, 2025, the bill is still in committee, meaning it hasn’t been scheduled for a full Senate vote yet.

This is why contacting legislators is so important: they need to know that Illinois residents support this bill and want it prioritized during the next session.

What HB1085 Would Do

This bill addresses four key areas that directly impact your ability to find care:

• Fair Reimbursement – Sets a minimum pay rate for therapists so they can afford to stay in insurance networks rather than going private-pay only.
  

  What this means - This is about making sure therapists are paid enough by insurance companies. Think of it like this: If a plumber charges too little, they can't afford to stay in business. The same is true for therapists. By setting a minimum payment rate, the bill helps ensure that therapists can afford to accept insurance, making it easier for you to find a therapist who is "in-network" with your plan.
  

• Service Coverage – Requires insurance plans to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatments.

  What this means - This part of the bill requires insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use treatments. It's like a guarantee that your insurance company can't say "no" to covering a therapy session or a program for substance abuse just because it's mental health-related.
  

• Parity – Brings mental health coverage in line with physical health coverage, so mental health isn’t treated as “lesser.”

  
  

  What this means - This means "equal treatment." The bill aims to make sure that insurance companies treat mental health the same way they treat physical health. For example, if your insurance covers three visits to a physical therapist for a knee injury, it should also cover three visits to a mental health therapist for anxiety, without special limits or higher costs.
  

• Workforce Support – Speeds up credentialing and helps clinics hire more providers so waitlists shrink and people can get help faster.

  What this means - This is about helping new therapists get to work faster. It would speed up the process of "credentialing," which is the lengthy process where insurance companies approve a therapist to be part of their network. By speeding this up, more therapists can start seeing patients sooner, which helps shorten waitlists and gives you more options for care.
  

Why This Matters

Low reimbursement rates and endless red tape have led to what advocates call a “two-tiered system.” One for people who can afford to pay out of pocket and one for those who can’t, leaving many without care.

Research backs this up:

A 2024 report found that outpatient mental health services in Illinois are reimbursed on average 27% lower than comparable physical health services, with some insurer gaps as high as 56%.

What this means - When you go to a therapist for a mental health appointment, your insurance company often pays that therapist 27% less than it would pay a general doctor for an appointment of similar length. This makes it difficult for therapists to run a sustainable business and can lead to them dropping insurance plans, forcing patients to pay for their care entirely out of pocket.

On top of that, insurance companies don’t pay extra for experience or therapy specialties. A counseling intern fresh out of grad school is reimbursed at the exact same rate as a therapist with 30 years of experience, even if that therapist has advanced training in EMDR, IFS, or other evidence-based modalities. There is a zero-tiered system for expertise or specialization, which is completely different from how the medical field works (medical interns aren’t paid the same as neurologists, for instance).

Many Illinois providers report long delays (90 - 120 days) in getting credentialed by insurance companies, which means new therapists can’t see clients even when demand is sky-high.

Nationally, more than 122 million people (over one-third of the U.S. population) live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area as of August 2024. When providers can’t afford to accept insurance, this shortage becomes even more painful. (Source)

What this means - Over one-third of the U.S. population lives in a place where there just aren't enough mental health professionals to meet the demand. When therapists in these areas can't afford to accept insurance, it makes it even harder for people to find and afford the help they need.

Without changes like HB1085, Illinois risks deepening this two-tiered system, where therapy becomes a luxury instead of a basic part of health care. This bill is about equity, access, and respect - for the people seeking help and the providers who show up every day to do this life-saving work.

What You Can Do

Your voice matters, and legislators need to hear from the people who rely on these services.

Here’s how you can help today:

#1 - Find Your Legislators:

Find my Elected Official - Enter your address in the top left search bar and then scroll down on the right once to the bottom of the list for your local official. Tap the picture for your official to find their contact information. 

#2 - Copy, Paste & Send the Letter Below:

Letter to Legislators

Subject: Please Support HB1085 - Behavioral Health Sustainability and Access

Dear [Legislator’s Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m a [resident/licensed mental health professional/consumer] in Illinois. I’m writing to urge you to support HB1085 during the upcoming veto session.

As someone who sees firsthand the impact of low reimbursement rates and insurance barriers, I know how hard it is for people to get the care they need. HB1085 addresses three of the biggest hurdles: stagnant reimbursement rates, denials for multiple services in a single day, and months-long credentialing delays that keep new clinicians from seeing clients.

This bill doesn’t cost the state a dime; it simply holds insurers accountable. Providers can’t wait another decade for rates to catch up. Families can’t wait 90+ days for a new clinician to be credentialed when they’re in crisis now.

HB1085 is a commonsense step toward fairness, access, and sustainability in mental health care. Please vote yes when it comes to the floor.

Thank you for your time and for supporting the mental health of Illinois families.

Sincerely, 

[Your Name] 

[Your Address or City]

HB1085 is about making mental health care accessible and sustainable for everyone. By ensuring fair pay for providers and tearing down access barriers, we take a step toward a more compassionate, equitable Illinois.

Take 5 minutes today: Copy the letter above, send it to your legislators, and share this article with a friend. Together, we can make sure mental health care in Illinois is available when people need it, not just for those who can afford to pay cash.