"Access to mental health care is rapidly expanding in Illinois, thanks to a legislative victory won through a grassroots campaign that united patients and health care providers to take on the power of the health insurance industry. As organizers who worked on the campaign, we're excited to share the story of our win with the hope that it will give momentum and inspiration to similar campaigns in other states."
"This bill requires private insurers to pay mental health and substance abuse treatment providers fairly, and more in line with physical health care, so they can afford to accept private insurance, with the goal of ending ghost networks (lists of providers that are not actually available to take patients) and increasing the number of therapists working in Illinois."
"Our organization, The People's Lobby, decided to work on this campaign because a significant proportion of our members have faced huge problems in accessing quality health care as a result of profiteering by health insurance corporations. Starting in 2023, we joined the People's Action's "Care Over Cost" campaign to connect with other groups across the country organizing for health care justice."
House Bill 1085, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on December 12, 2025, expands mental health care access for about 2.5 million Illinois residents. The law requires private insurers to pay mental health and substance-abuse treatment providers more fairly and closer to rates for physical health care so more therapists can accept private insurance. The policy aims to end ghost networks and increase therapist availability. The People's Lobby led a three-year grassroots campaign beginning in 2023, joining People's Action's "Care Over Cost" effort and mobilizing patients and clinicians against insurance profiteering and access barriers.
Read at Truthout
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