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Policy & Advocacy
Raising Providers' Voices
CBHA is actively engaged in advocating for the interests of community-based mental health and substance use providers across the state. Here are some key aspects of CBHA's advocacy efforts and accomplishments:

Legislative Advocacy

CBHA works closely with the Illinois General Assembly to champion legislative initiatives that enhance access to and availability of comprehensive, accountable, and quality behavioral healthcare services for the people of Illinois. This advocacy is crucial in shaping policies that support the needs of individuals and families who rely on these services.


Key Achievements and Initiatives

  • Historic Investment in Behavioral Health: CBHA, in collaboration with our industry partners, has achieved a significant milestone by securing over $200 million in permanent increases to Medicaid reimbursement rates. This achievement underscores our commitment to enhancing financial sustainability and supporting quality care delivery across the behavioral health sector.

  • Expansion of Telehealth Services: CBHA has been instrumental in advocating for and achieving the expansion of telehealth services. This expansion has been particularly significant in improving access to behavioral healthcare, especially in underserved or rural areas.

  • Creation of Behavioral Health Workforce Center and Loan Repayment Program: CBHA has advocated for the establishment and funding of a Behavioral Health Workforce Center and a loan repayment program. These initiatives are aimed at addressing workforce shortages and ensuring that there are enough qualified professionals to meet the behavioral healthcare needs of Illinois residents.

  • Strengthening the Crisis Continuum: CBHA has played a key role in efforts to strengthen the crisis continuum in Illinois. This includes initiatives to improve crisis intervention services and ensure that individuals in crisis receive timely and appropriate care.
Impact

Through its advocacy efforts, CBHA has made a significant impact on the behavioral healthcare landscape in Illinois. By securing legislative victories and policy changes, CBHA has helped to improve access to care, enhance service quality, address workforce challenges, and strengthen crisis response capabilities across the state.

Overall, CBHA continues to be a leading voice for community-based mental health and substance use providers in Illinois, working tirelessly to advocate for policies and initiatives that support a robust and responsive behavioral healthcare system for all residents.



Current Priorities

CBHA's current priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing the diverse needs and challenges faced by community-based behavioral healthcare providers in Illinois. Here's an overview of these priorities:
  1. Sustainable Funding for Behavioral Healthcare:
    • Ensuring adequate and sustainable funding is crucial for maintaining and expanding behavioral healthcare services across the state.
  2. Workforce Recruitment and Retention:
    • Addressing workforce shortages and implementing strategies to attract and retain qualified professionals in the behavioral healthcare field.
  3. Administrative Burden Reduction:
    • Streamlining administrative processes and reducing bureaucratic burdens to allow providers to focus more on client care.
  4. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC):
    • Supporting the implementation and expansion of CCBHCs, which provide comprehensive behavioral health services and integrated care coordination.
  5. Child & Adolescent Policy and Programs:
    • Focusing on policies and programs that address the specific needs of children and adolescents receiving behavioral healthcare services.
  6. Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment and Access:
    • Enhancing access to effective treatment options for mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
  7. Race, Equity, and Social Justice:
    • Promoting equity and social justice within the behavioral healthcare system, addressing disparities and ensuring equitable access to care.
  8. Revenue Cycle Management and Managed Care Transparency and Oversight:
    • Improving transparency and oversight in managed care arrangements and ensuring fair and efficient revenue cycle management practices.
  9. Strengthening our Behavioral Health Crisis Continuum:
    • Enhancing crisis response services and ensuring a robust continuum of care for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
  10. Addressing Social Determinants of Health:
    • Recognizing and addressing the social factors that impact health outcomes, such as housing, employment, and access to supportive services.

These priorities are driven by input from CBHA's member organizations, reflecting the current challenges and opportunities within the behavioral healthcare landscape in Illinois. By focusing on these key areas, CBHA aims to advocate effectively for policies and initiatives that support the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and equitable behavioral healthcare services statewide.





Annual Spring Advocacy Day

In collaboration with industry allies, CBHA hosts an annual Advocacy Day, a pivotal event where members engage directly with legislators to advocate for critical issues impacting the behavioral health sector.


Annual Budget and Legislative Report 

CBHA's annual budget and legislative session report serves as a vital resource for our members, providing a detailed analysis of key budget and legislative developments and their implications for behavioral health organizations in Illinois. This report includes an analysis of the new budget and its implementation bill, the Medicaid omnibus, CBHA-initiated legislation, and other relevant legislation impacting behavioral health organizations.

Overall, CBHA's legislative session report serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the complex legislative landscape affecting behavioral health in Illinois. It equips members with the information they need to stay informed, compliant, and proactive in advocating for the needs of their organizations and the individuals they serve.

For policy and advocacy questions, please contact Tyler Smith, Director of Policy & Government Affairs, at tsmith@cbha.net.


CBHA's Illinois FY25 Budget Analysis

Item Name Posted By Date Posted
CBHA's Illinois FY25 Budget Analysis PDF (473.17 KB) Administration 7/3/2024