Rauner Proposal Would Help Mentally Ill

Illinois' Medicaid program would be able to cover housing, employment services and more intervention services under a proposal to bring $2.7 billion in new federal funds to the state for the care of people struggling with mental illness and substance abuse.

The five-year proposal from the administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner could help "change the trajectory" of many Medicaid recipients' lives "by providing some needed resources," according to Felicia Norwood, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Norwood and other Rauner administration officials will attend a public hearing Thursday in Springfield as part of the state's plan to seek federal approval for a Medicaid waiver that would capture the additional federal funds.

Information provided by the Springfield State Journal-Register