SPRINGFIELD – The Department of Healthcare and Family Services would be required to reimburse epilepsy specialists for providing telehealth treatment services under State Senator Laura Fine’s (D-Glenview) legislation, which passed committee Tuesday.

“Epilepsy affects hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, and it’s important they have the option to seek treatment from the comfort of their home in the midst of a global pandemic,” Senator Fine said. “Epilepsy specialists need to be reimbursed for providing critical telehealth services to their patients.”

There are more than 65 million people around the world who have epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, and many have sought treatment via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Fine’s legislation would ensure epilepsy specialists in Illinois receive the reimbursement they deserve for providing telehealth treatment to individuals with epilepsy or related disorders.

“Illinoisans deserve access to medical services in a timely manner,” Senator Fine said. “This legislation will make this access more convenient and improve the quality of life for patients. Many other behavioral and medical health providers are already being reimbursed for telehealth services, and expanding this umbrella to include epilepsy specialists will benefit individuals living with epilepsy across the state.”

House Bill 3025 passed the Senate Health Committee and now goes to the full Senate.