SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will soon see some helpful changes thanks to legislation led by State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) that was signed into law on Friday.

House Bill 4517 allows the IHFSRB to work with other government agencies to improve efficiencies and ensure they have the resources they have to continue working on containing health care costs and promoting the accessibility to health facilities.

“This legislation takes recommendations from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board and implements them to provide more efficiency and better service,” Harris said. “Providing them with the proper resources creates a better health system for Illinois residents.”

Furthermore, the plan removes Certificates of Recognition from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, updates references to the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act and eliminated all language pertaining to the Center for Comprehensive Health Planning.

The Center for Comprehensive Health Planning was created in 2009, which would have cost IDPH millions of dollars, but was never implemented due to lack of funding.

The law goes into effect January 1.

###