April 9, 2021
Dear Providers,
We wanted to share some exciting news. With the passage of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), states have been provided an additional 10% in federal Medicaid matching funds (FMAP) for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services. The DDD has developed a plan to incorporate the additional FMAP funds, estimated at $45 million, for an increase in the proposed FY22 budget. This funding, when added to the funding proposed in the Governor's FY22 budget, will allow for a total investment of $122 million in the I/DD system in FY22.
The additional funds, coupled with challenges with the timeline to amend our current Adults with DD waiver by July 1st, has necessitated some additional modifications to our planning. Due to the State's budgetary processes, in combination with the Medicaid waiver amendment processes through the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (federal CMS), we will not be able to implement the Guidehouse recommendations included in the Governor's FY22 introduced budget effective July 1. Instead, we will be seeking an effective date of January 1, 2022. However, as detailed below, with the additional FMAP funds, we are extending the temporary COVID-19 5% per-diem rate increases for CILAs, as well as the 15% per-diem rate increases for CDS, through December 31, 2021.
Revised DDD Implementation Plan:
Waiver Funded Providers
Effective July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, the DDD will be extending the temporary COVID-19 5% per-diem rate increases for Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA/60D) and maintaining the Community Day Services (CDS/31U/31C) hourly increase at 15%.
Effective January 1, 2022, based on budget approval and federal CMS approval (bolded items are new):
- Implementing a $1.00/hour wage increase for DSPs (CILA/60D) (increased from originally proposed $.50/hour)
- Increase other frontline staff wages to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) averages (CILA)
- Address the staff hours discrepancy in 5-8 bed CILAs
- Create a vacancy factor in CILA residential rate
- Eliminate the collection of earned income
- Implement CDS and At-Home Day rate methodology
- $1.00/hour wage increase for DSPs (increased from originally proposed $.50/hour)
- Increase other frontline staff wages to BLS averages
- Increase day programming hours to 1,200
- Implement Supported Employment rates and annual hours cap
- Revise the rate methodologies for Intermittent CILA and Host Family CILA
ICF/DD Providers
Effective July 1, 2021, based on budget approval and State Plan Amendment approval:
- $0.50/hour wage increase for ICF Aides
- Increase other frontline staff wages to BLS averages
Effective January 1, 2022
- An additional $.50/hour wage increase for ICF Aides
- Increase day program rates in line with CDS rates
Please note that Children's Group Homes, Childcare Institutions, Community Living Facilities, our Independent Service Coordination Agencies and the majority of our other waiver and non-waiver-funded services (all services that were outside the focus of the Guidehouse Rate Study) will not see increases in FY22.
Over the coming weeks, I will hold Q & A sessions to answer your questions and to respond to any concerns. The Division appreciates all you do on a day to day basis, especially under the current pandemic, to support those in our service system.
Sincerely,
- Allison Stark
- Director
- Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Illinois Department of Human Services
