Good Afternoon,
QUICK NOTES
- The preliminary seven-day statewide COVID-19 positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 26-June 1, 2021 is 1.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 26-June 1, 2021 is 1.8%.
FY 22 BUDGET
The Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) is wrapping up its Spring Session, and soon the Governor will act on the FY22 budget the ILGA passed. We are appreciative to the ILGA for the additional investment, on top of the $122M in the Governor's requested budget, for DDD, and to the significant advocacy of our stakeholders! We are optimistic that this new budget will help us make progress towards the Guidehouse Rate Study recommendations and provide crucial funding to support the I/DD system in Illinois. More to come!
LIGAS COMPLIANCE TOOL/POCA NEXT STEPS
As a matter of next steps with the Ligas Compliance Tool, the Plans of Corrective Action (POCAs) have been reviewed by the Ligas Court Monitor and Program Analyst. Based on the review, the POCAs have been placed in three categories: (1) accepted, (2) provisionally accepted with corrections needed, and (3) returned for revision. In the coming days, ISCs and providers, regardless of category, will be receiving the reviewed POCAs via the Cisco Secure Email Encryption Service, from the Bureau of Quality Management. Please be aware, the email will include "#ILEncrypt#" as part of the subject line. In order to open the email, you will be required to register within the Cisco system. Once registered, you will be able to log in to the system and read any encrypted email received.
For those POCAs in the "returned for revision" category, providers or ISCs will have 30 days from receipt of POCA to update and return the POCA to BQM and the Ligas Program Analyst. In order to send the updated POCA, please use the same Cisco Secure Email Encryption Service, which simply requires you to include #ILEncrypt# in the email subject line. The encrypted email should be sent, via the Cisco system, to cynthia.schierlspreen@illinois.gov and ligasmonitor.proganalyst@gmail.com. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Cyndi Schierlspreen, Bureau Chief of BQM.
DRAFT INFORMATION BULLETINS
Over the past couple of weeks, the Division has finalized a few Information Bulletins (IBs) and introduced a number of DRAFT IBs. We received feedback from the Associations that providers are overwhelmed with the number and frequency. We certainly did not plan to overwhelm providers but a combination of July 1 changes, with some policy guidance that has been in the works over the past several months, led to an outpouring of new IBs. We will try to be more mindful of how they are released ongoing. We will be giving more time for feedback (June 15th) on the newly released IBs to give ample time for review.
Please note that we do expect another couple of IBs to be released before the end of the FY to wrap up some requirements under the Ligas Consent Decree. They include an IB on Healthcare Expectations and Abuse, Neglect & Individual Rights. We will hold new IBs on settings until the new fiscal year.
We have also received feedback that providers are looking for additional time to make changes based on updated guidance in our IBs. This is an excellent point. In the future, the Division will be more mindful of giving more lead time for providers by pushing out the effective dates.
DRAFT information bulletins
NCI STAFF STABILITY SURVEY - PLEASE COMPLETE!
NCI Staff Stability (SS) survey is a national initiative to gather information regarding Direct Support Person (DSP) employment and retention issues. The survey data can be used to inform and influence state and national policy and initiatives. Providers in Illinois have an opportunity to be heard about the DSP shortage by completing the SS survey. The results will only be considered valid if enough providers fill out the survey. Currently only 45 providers out 258 that employ DSPs have completed the 2020 survey. The survey must be submitted by June 30, 2021. If you employ DSPs and have not received the survey link please contact Cynthia.schierlspreen@illinois.gov.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS TRAINING
The Bureau of Quality Management of the Division of Developmental Disabilities is offering a Financial Wellness session about Financial Exploitation and Protecting Your Identity. This session is for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, guardians, and parents. The training will be held virtually on June 9, 2021 at 12:30 pm and will last about one and a half hours. If you are interested please contact Cynthia.schierlspreen@illinois.gov to get registered. The training will be interactive so to get the most out of the training you must have audio and video capabilities.
ENHANCED FMAP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
As you are aware, Congress passed and the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021. One of the provisions of the ARPA provides that states can receive an enhanced and temporary ten (10) percent increase to their federal Medicaid match (FMAP) for certain Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) expenditures. Guidance was released that requires states to solicit feedback from stakeholders and develop a plan for submission to CMS.
To that end, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), on behalf of DDD and all the other agencies providing waiver services, has developed two ways to submit comments:
- HFS has published a Public Notice seeking comments on the implementation of the enhanced FMAP. If you plan to submit public comments, please CC Sarah Myerscough-Mueller (sarah.myerscough-mueller@illinois.gov) so the Division can review as well.
- Public Notice
- Stakeholder Feedback Form
- HFS' Medicaid Advisory Committee's Public Education Subcommittee will be meeting next Thursday, June 3, 2021, from 9:30am to 12:00pm. Included on the agenda is the opportunity for public comments on the use of the enhanced FMAP.
Thank you for all you do!
Warmly,
- Allison V. Stark
- Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- 600 East Ash-Building 400, Springfield, IL 62703
- Tel: (217) 782 -6803
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
