Psychiatry Practice Incentive Act

Another victory for IPS!

On July 30, 2010, Governor Quinn signed HB 5053 into law, PA 96-1411. IPS was pleased to support this important bill that was introduced by a rural health organization.  This Law creates the Psychiatry Practice Incentive Act.   

The purpose of the Act is to establish a program in the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure access to psychiatric health care services by establishing programs of grants, loans, and loan forgiveness to recruit and retain psychiatric service providers in designated areas of the State for physicians who will agree to establish and maintain psychiatric practice in areas of the State demonstrating the greatest need for more psychiatric care.  The program is intended to encourage licensed psychiatrists to locate in areas where shortages exist and to increase the total number of psychiatrists in the State. Shortage areas are determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program applies to general psychiatric residencies and child and adolescent fellowships.   

Residency, and child and adolescent fellowship, programs seeking funds under this Act must submit an application to the IDPH. The application must include evidence of local support for the program, either in the form of funds, services, or other resources.  The ratio of State support to local support shall be determined by the IDPH as set forth in the Act.  In establishing this ration, the IDPH may vary the amount of the required local support depending upon the criticality of the need for more professional health care services, the geographic location, and the location of the economic base of the designated shortage.  

For more information on the requirements of the law, please go to:  http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-1411.  The effective date for this law is January 1, 2011.