Gov. JB Pritzker took action Friday on various healthcare-related bills, including one that aims to improve recruitment and retention of the behavioral health workforce. [Health News Illinois]

The law creates a workgroup inside the office of the chief behavioral health officer. The officer or their designee could appoint up to 15 members who will review policies and regulations to identify barriers that prevent workers from providing services. A report highlighting short- and long-term recommendations will be due to the General Assembly within a year after the group’s first meeting.

The governor also took action on several proposals intended to ease some licensing requirements. That includes a plan that will allow licensed advanced practice registered nurses certified as nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners the full authority to practice for up to six months while waiting for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to approve their licenses.

Another law creates a pre-license practice allowance for individuals enrolled in a specialty or residency training program for dentistry while waiting for license approval. And Pritzker signed a bill that will in part expedite healthcare licensure for spouses of service members who come to Illinois.

Other new laws relate to insurance, including one that requires a clinical peer to review any adverse determinations made by an insurer. Another prohibits prior authorizations for federally approved drug therapies that treat hereditary bleeding disorders.

Insurers will also be required, starting in 2026, to cover medically necessary treatment of a mental, emotional, nervous or substance use disorder or condition for all individuals who have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth at the same extent and cost-sharing as for any other covered condition. They will also be required to cover hormone therapy due to menopause.

Other new laws will:

• Lower the age of consent of blood typing services to 17.
• Amend existing law so advanced practice registered nurses in specialized mental health rehabilitation facilities can fulfill the requirement of a weekly visit to the facility and that the medical director can visit the facility at least monthly.
• Require the Department of Public Health to develop and implement a crisis-standards-of-care plan to support healthcare facilities in situations where local medical resources are overwhelmed. 
• Update emergency medical services education requirements to allow for online and out-of-region training options and allow paramedics with three years of experience to teach high school emergency medical technicians classes with oversight. 

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