The federal government is allowing the state of Illinois to use $2 billion in Medicaid dollars to invest in behavioral health programs partly meant to address the opioid crisis.
According to Governor Rauner, the state received a waiver for the effort from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Rauner says the state will use the existing Medicaid funds to test 10 pilot programs to expand preventive and community health services. Many of the proposed treatment plans address mental illness and substance abuse.
The waiver will expire in five years. It can be renewed.
