Illinois state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would ban prior authorization for mental health medications for Medicaid patients, news outlet WGEM reported March 7.
State Rep. Bill Hauter, MD, said physicians in Illinois are "greatly frustrated by this denials of care, the preauthorization abuses and the step therapy that's just absolutely ridiculous," according to the report. Dr. Hauter is also an emergency room physician.
The introduction of the legislation comes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for state lawmakers to end prior authorization for mental healthcare. The bill would not affect patients with private insurance, however.