Feds Approve Illinois Expansion Of Medicaid Mental Health Coverage, State Prepares To Launch 10 Pilots

On May 7, 2018, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Illinois 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver to transform its behavioral health system to expand coverage of mental health and addiction services and integrate behavioral health with physical health service delivery. The approval allows the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to launch 10 pilots, starting July 1, 2018. The pilots focus on the following services: residential and inpatient treatment for individuals with addiction disorder, crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis, and intensive in-home services to stabilize behaviors that may lead . . .