Illinois is seeking permission from the federal government to use Medicaid funding to pay for mental health and substance abuse not typically covered under the program, reports Crain's Chicago Business.
State legislators have requested a five-year waiver from certain Medicaid rules as part of the state's proposed health and human services transformation initiative. The waiver would allow the state to test alternative ways of serving Medicaid beneficiaries suffering from mental illness and substance abuse problems, according to the article.
Illinois would use Medicaid money to pay for housing, job support and certain medication-based addiction treatments, among other services.
Pending federal approval, the waiver would take effect July 1, 2017.