Charlie Health Celebrates Illinois Vote to Require Medicaid Coverage of Life-Saving Virtual Mental Healthcare

Leading mental healthcare provider praised Illinois lawmakers for passing a Medicaid omnibus bill that requires reimbursement for virtual intensive outpatient care

SPRINGFIELD, IL, June 1, 2026 — Charlie Health, the nation’s leading provider of behavioral healthcare for people with serious, complex needs, today welcomed the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of a Medicaid omnibus bill requiring reimbursement for virtual intensive outpatient programs (IOP), a structured level of care for people whose conditions are too serious for weekly therapy alone. The measure ensures Illinoisans on Medicaid can access the same evidence-based, life-saving care afforded to those with private insurance. Passage of the requirement is critical as the state confronts a deepening behavioral health crisis, with 92 of Illinois’ 102 counties experiencing a shortage of mental healthcare providers.

Carter Barnhart, Founder and CEO of Charlie Health, said the following:

“By requiring Medicaid reimbursement for evidence-based virtual care, lawmakers have affirmed a simple truth: Where you live and what insurance you carry should never decide whether you can get lifesaving mental healthcare. This is a landmark win for the people of Illinois, where we’ve served nearly 2,000 patients with serious mental health challenges over the past five years. I’m deeply grateful to the legislators, the Department of Health and Family Services, advocates, and partners who fought for this, especially Rep. Laura Faver Dias and Sen. Sara Feigenholtz. Together, their leadership means thousands of Illinoisans, especially those in communities where intensive in-person care is hours away or simply unavailable, will now have a real path to healing. This bill ensures the most vulnerable people in the state aren’t left behind, and we’re proud to stand with everyone who made it possible.”

Charlie Health’s IOP delivers outcomes that meet or exceed industry benchmarks: 90% of adults see their depression decrease by discharge, and those gains hold, with clients maintaining a 43% reduction in depression symptoms a year later. The model also reduces costly returns to more intensive treatment, translating into 40% lower behavioral healthcare costs in the year following treatment compared to other IOPs, a meaningful savings for Medicaid programs and the patients they serve.

About Charlie Health

Charlie Health is a behavioral health provider delivering high acuity, evidence-based care that drives life-saving outcomes. The company’s Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) provide personalized treatment for kids, teens, and adults facing serious mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders, helping people get the right support at the right time for their unique needs. Charlie Health’s innovative treatment model combines clinical expertise, human connection, and a focus on measurement-based care to support long-term healing. Charlie Health is in-network with most major health plans, including commercial and Medicaid, across 40 states and counting. To learn more, visit charliehealth.com.

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