Jeff Lagasse
Healthcare Finance
Originally posted 11 August 25
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a piece of legislation that will ban the use of artificial intelligence in delivering therapy or psychotherapy unless it's overseen by licensed clinicians.
The Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act prohibits anyone from using AI to aid in mental health and therapeutic decision-making, while still allowing the use of AI for administrative and supplementary support services for licensed behavioral health professionals.
The intent, said Pritzker, is to protect patients from unregulated AI products, protect the jobs of qualified behavioral health providers, and protect children from rising concerns about the use of AI chatbots in mental health services.
“The people of Illinois deserve quality healthcare from real, qualified professionals and not computer programs that pull information from all corners of the internet to generate responses that harm patients,” said Mario Treto Jr., secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). “This legislation stands as our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our residents by ensuring that mental health services are delivered by trained experts who prioritize patient care above all else.”
Here are some thoughts:
Illinois has enacted the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, banning the use of artificial intelligence in therapy or psychotherapy unless supervised by licensed clinicians. The law allows AI for administrative and support functions but prohibits its use in direct therapeutic decision-making. Officials cite patient safety, protection of professional jobs, and prevention of harmful AI-generated advice as key reasons. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will enforce the law, with penalties up to $10,000 for violations.
