lllinois' three million Medicaid users will soon have more access to mental health and substance abuse treatments. Officials in Washington, D.C. okayed a new state program that sets aside about $2 billion in Medicaid funds for the services.

Mental health centers were decimated during Illinois’ extended budget stalemate. Illinois is moving forward with plan to extend and expand behavioral health services to people who couldn't otherwise afford it, in a way that officials say will be cost-neutral to taxpayers.