SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker's signature could increase access to behavioral healthcare and substance use treatment by improving insurance adequacy. This comes after state lawmakers spent three years working on the mental health parity plan.

The proposal calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to utilize a new formula to calculate minimum reimbursement rates for providers and publish them in a bulletin for insurance companies. Sponsors said proper compensation could encourage more behavioral healthcare specialists to join insurance networks.

"There's a cost to do nothing," said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). "Our constituents and, in fact, many representatives and senators in this chamber, and reporters I've talked to about this bill, are bear

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