Illinois will boost reimbursement for critical health services supporting vulnerable children and families, thanks to a new law led by State Senator Omar Aquino aimed at strengthening the Medicaid system. The new law makes significant improvements to reimbursement rates and add-on payments to support the full spectrum of health care needs in Illinois, including increased funding for psychiatric care, skilled nursing facilities, children’s community health centers, birth centers, prosthetics and orthotics, optometry services and safety net hospitals, which serve some of the state’s most vulnerable populations. Further, the law takes a significant step toward reducing barriers to mental health treatment by eliminating prior authorization for medications used to treat serious mental health disorders. It also lifts up the work often taken for granted by unpaid caregivers who care for those with disabilities in their family. The law provides that they can be reimbursed for family caregiving services they provide to a medically complex child. Senate Bill 3268 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect immediately.