Billing problems that threatened to close four of Chicago’s city-run mental health centers this spring have been partially resolved, according to an Illinois Department of Human Services spokesman.

The Chicago Department of Public Health "seems to have the billing issues under control. They are submitting claims on a routine basis now," says DHS spokesman Tom Green.

However, Green says the city is still not billing for 100 percent of its mental health services.

CDPH is "working to correct the system errors they experience. They are not yet current with their billing," he says.

The city, which used a new, electronic billing system that was incompatible with the state’s, could not submit reimbursement requests for several months.

It is unclear how the billing problems, which lasted from the beginning of the last fiscal year in July 2008 until recently, would affect the department's 2010 budget.

CDPH director Dr. Terry Mason said today that state budget cuts could threaten more than a quarter of the department's 2010 budget. He also said several mental health centers could close, depending on CDPH's final budget.

“We are pleased that everything is in sync again, as it should be,” says CDPH spokesman Tim Hadac. “We look forward to continuing to (use) every dollar that comes in as wisely as we can to serve Chicagoans of limited means who struggle with mental illness.”