Fine pushes insurance companies to cover more comprehensive mental health care

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), health insurance companies would be required to provide more comprehensive mental healthcare coverage.

A Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is a specific type of group care to treat common mental health issues that require frequent and systematic follow-ups, such as depression and anxiety. Fine’s legislation, Senate Bill 2085, mandates insurance providers to include a CoCM in their coverage.

“Collaborative care models can often be more effective in treating patients with common mental health issues, and can save money for both patients and providers,” Fine said. “By requiring insurance companies to cover this type of integrated care, we allow patients in Illinois to have more freedom to seek out the care that is best for them.”

The bill passed through the Senate Committee on Insurance by a vote of 18 – 0 and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

New Fine bill requires state workers to live in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State workers would be required to live within the state of Illinois under a new proposal by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“State workers’ salaries are paid by Illinois taxpayers,” Fine said. “It just makes sense that if you’re going to be paid by income, sales, and property taxes that Illinois residents pay, then you should be subject to those same taxes.”

Senate Bill 1639 establishes a requirement that to work for any state agency within Illinois, a person must live in the state. The measure would not affect employees who work for a contractor that has a contract with the state, and allows for a three-month grace period.

The bill passed the Senate Committee on State Government and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Parents no longer forced to choose between custody or care of children under new bill by Fine

SPRINGFIELD – Responding to a situation that puts parents in the impossible position of choosing between maintaining custody of their child or providing their child mental health care, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) put forth legislation addressing eligibility for various Department of Child and Family Services programs.

“Many parents must face a heart-wrenching choice between providing their child the care they need and retaining custody of their child,” Fine said. “This bill eliminates that awful dilemma and allows parents more flexibility in caring for their child.”

Senate Bill 191 concerns eligibility for the Family Support Program services or an Individual Care Grant. Under current law, parents may be forced to lose custody of their children in order to provide them the mental health care they require. Because of this, many parents opt not to provide that care, leaving youths untreated and increasing their risk of delinquency.

The measure, which passed a Senate committee today, retains a child’s eligibility for an Individual Care Grant, which provides funding to parents of children with mental illnesses, even if they are placed under DCFS guardianship.

The bill is an initiative of the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian. It passed the Senate committee on Human Services and will proceed to the full Senate for consideration.

Fine: Budget address a sign of good things to come

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) issued the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2019 Budget Address:

“It was refreshing to hear a budget address from a governor who is willing to work with the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget. After four years of budget addresses that seemed hostile to cooperation and functioning government, this return to stability is a nice change.

“I’m encouraged by Gov. Pritzker’s pledge to search for new revenue sources. Any way that we can increase the state’s revenue stream without having to increase taxes on working families is step in the right direction.

“I was also pleased to hear the governor lay out his legislative and budgetary priorities for this General Assembly. It’s much easier to work with a governor who makes their intentions clear. That allows us in the legislature to set our own agenda in a way that is complementary to the executive so that we can coexist in the way we ought to: as separate but equal branches.

“Overall, I was pleased with the address, and I look forward to working with the governor along with my Senate colleagues to ensure that the budgets we pass in the future are all fair, balanced and beneficial to everyone in Illinois.”