Metro East Sun

The Illinois State Senate has passed a bill that would expand behavioral health care resources across the state.

State Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) worked in collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems in Granite City and Centerstone in Alton to promote the initiative, according to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.

"Building on efforts by Chestnut Health Systems and Centerstone in Alton, the Senate approved enhancements to our behavioral health care resources across the state," Crowe wrote in a May 31 Facebook post. "I commend our Metro East organizations for taking a proactive role in providing quality health care services to Illinois residents, and I’m honored to have been able to support their initiatives."

In April, Crowe wrote a letter to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services urging for the development of a pilot program for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. The initiative was included in Senate Bill 2294 which was recently passed by the Senate.

“Following the pandemic, the availability of quality mental health and addiction services is more critical than ever,” Crowe said in a statement. “Implementing a new approach to treatment will help facilitate a more accessible, community-centered health care system in disadvantaged areas.”

Used in 40 other states, the CCBHC model provides behavioral health care service to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, with Metro East providers reporting a decrease in homelessness, hospitalization and emergency room visits among clients.