Summit Policy Positions
The Summit is in the process of developing detailed policy recommendations concerning the key issues in mental health policy. The links below connect to those policies which have been developed. However, the main problems in Illinois cut across all of these areas. They are:
- The lack of funding for mental health services. We cannot fix the mental health system when we rank no better than 35th among the 50 states in per capita spending on mental health services. The lack of funding for mental health services is caused in part by the state's structural funding problems.
- The lack of coordination among mental health service providers. Illinois needs a mental health authority with responsibility to insure continuity of care and accountability for outcomes as persons with mental illnesses are cared for in public and private hospitals, nursing homes, community agencies and in the criminal justice system.
Current issues facing persons with mental illnesses in Illinois include:
- Substantial cuts to community mental health services in the Governor's proposed FY2012 budget.
- The movement to managed care for the Illinois Medicaid program. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for mental health services in Illinois. For more details see Medicaid Reform and Managed Care Proposals.
- New restrictions on the availability of psychotropic medications for person on Medicaid.
