The Division of Rehabilitation Services' Home Services Program (HSP) provides services to individuals with severe disabilities so they can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible.
DRS Hotline 1-877-581-3690: If you know your local DRS office or counselor's contact information, please continue to use that means of contact. If you do not know your local DRS office or Counselors contact information, please use the new DRS Hotline and you will be directed to the appropriate contact in your region.
If you are an HSP Customer in need of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), please contact your Counselor, your local DRS office (locator link) or the DRS Hotline at 1-877-581-3690.
DRS Waiver Merger and Town Hall Meeting - Recording Available
- Central Support is working with HFS to draft a new waiver that will replace the 3 DRS waivers: the Persons with Disabilities Waiver; Persons with Brain Injury Waiver; & Persons with HIV/AIDs waiver. Merging waivers lifts administrative burden and allows all waiver customers access to the same services.
- Several different target dates have been discussed for implementation. Central Office will provide a definitive date when we have one.
- Three virtual Town Hall Meetings took place on March 27th 9:30-10:30 & 1:30-2:30 and March 28th, 2024 from 1:30-2:30. The purpose of the Town Hall Meetings was to inform HSP Customers and IPs of our plans to merge waivers and to seek their feedback.
- A recording of the 03/28/2024 Virtual Town Hall is available.
- Home Service Program (HSP) Town Hall Presentation (pdf)
DHS Home Service Program Waiver Merger Questions and Answers
1. Why are DHS' Home Service waiver programs being merged?
Medicaid waivers are state and federally funded programs designed to help individuals with severe disabilities to remain living in their own homes. It is called a waiver because Medicaid restrictions are waived, allowing the State to use Medicaid funds to cover non-medical services like personal assistants.
The Persons with Brain Injury and Persons with HIV/AIDS waivers have services that are not presently available to customers in the Persons with Disabilities (PD) waiver. Merging the waivers will allow all customers, that demonstrate a need, to have access to these services. Additionally, merging the waiver programs into one will result in a more responsible use of state resources.
2. Are there going to be age requirements?
Currently, the only waiver that has an age requirement is the Persons with Disabilities (PD) waiver. The PD waiver is not available to persons who are 60 or older at the time of application. Persons who have an HIV/AIDS diagnosis or a brain injury diagnosis can be eligible for waiver services even if they are 60 or older at time of application.
If a person who has been receiving PD waiver services turns age 60, they are able to remain in the waiver. These age requirements will not change with the waiver merger.
3. Are new services going to be available?
Merging the waivers will allow all customers, that demonstrate a need, to have access to services that were previously only available to customers enrolled in the Persons with HIV/AIDS waiver and the Persons with Brain Injury waiver. These services include: Day Habilitation; Pre-Vocational; Cognitive/Behavioral Therapies; Supported Employment; and Targeted Case Management.
4. Are case management services going to be available?
Basic case managed is offered by HSP Counselors to all customers during assessments; however, targeted case management will be available on an on-going basis to all customers who demonstrate a need for for more intensive case management. Previously, case management services were only available for customers in the Persons with Brain Injury and Persons with HIV/AIDS waivers.
5. Will my services be cut after the merger?
No, your services will not be reduced or terminated due to the waiver merger. Service plans will not change unless your impairment and/or needs change following a redetermination conducted by your HSP counselor.
6. Will the SCMs change?
Service Cost Maximums (SCMs) are the maximum amount of money that can be spent on your services each month. SCMs are based upon Determination of Need (DON) assessment scores. A new DON assessment is completed at each annual eligibility assessment. The higher the DON score, the higher the SCM. SCM tables are increased when the rates for HSP services are increased. The SCMs for current customers will not change.
7. Can I see information from the Town Hall meetings?
A recording of the Town Hall meeting on March 28, 2024, and a copy of the presentation slides are available at this link:IDHS: Home Services Program (HSP) (state.il.us)
8. Where can I see the details about the waiver merger?
Once completed the new waiver will be posted for public comment. Please monitor these links to view details about the waiver merger.
What services are offered?
Our program offers numerous options for independence:
- Personal Assistant (PA): Provides assistance with household tasks, personal care and, with permission of a doctor, certain health care procedures. PAs are selected, employed, and supervised by individual customers.
- Homemaker Services: Personal care provided by trained and professionally supervised personnel for customers who are unable to direct the services of a PA. Instruction and assistance in household management and self-care are also available.
- Maintenance Home Health: Services provided through a treatment plan prescribed by a physician or other health care professional. Other services include nursing care and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
- Electronic Home Response: Emergency response system offered by hospitals and community service organizations. This rented signaling device provides 24-hour emergency coverage, permitting the individual to alert trained professionals at hospitals, fire departments, or police departments.
- Home Delivered Meals: Provided to individuals who can feed themselves but are unable to prepare food.
- Adult Day Care: The direct care and supervision of customers in a community-based setting to promote their social, physical, and emotional well-being.
- Assistive Equipment: Devices or equipment either purchased or rented to increase an individual's independence and capability to perform household and personal care tasks at home.
- Environmental Modification: Modifications in the home that help compensate for loss of ability, strength, mobility or sensation; increase safety in the home, and decrease dependence on direct assistance from others.
- Respite Services: Temporary care for adults and children with disabilities aimed at relieving stress to families. Respite services may be provided for vacation, rest, errands, family crisis or emergency. Services may include personal assistant, homemaker or home health.
We also provide specialized services for people with HIV/AIDS and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Our Community Reintegration Program helps individuals with disabilities who live in nursing homes move into community with the supports they need to live as independently as possible.
Who can receive these services?
We serve people with severe disabilities under age 60 who need help with daily living activities in their homes. Many of these people are at risk of moving into a nursing home or other facility. (For those 60 and over, please contact the Illinois Department on Aging.)
How are services provided?
Customers may hire their own PAs to assist in their home, based on the service plan they have jointly developed with their DRS rehabilitation counselor.
Homemaker agencies may supply workers for persons who need someone to supervise their PA in the home.
How to apply?
Use the online Rehabilitation Services Web Referral to refer yourself or someone else for services.
We provide services in 48 local offices located in communities throughout the state. Use the DHS Office Locator and search for Rehabilitation Services to find the nearest local office or call toll-free: (800) 843-6154 (Voice, English or Español) or (866) 324-5553 (TTY).
HFS Statewide Transition Plan
On January 16, 2014 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued new regulations for the provision of Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The intent of the new regulations is to ensure that individuals receiving long-term care services and supports through HCBS programs have full access to benefits of community living and the opportunity to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate.
Each state that operates a 1915(c) waiver or a Section 1915(i) state plan benefit that was in effect on or before March 17, 2014, is required to file a Statewide Transition Plan outlining the state's strategies for bringing its HCBS delivery system into compliance with the federal regulations.
For more information, please visit the HFS Statewide Transition Plan Website and the Final HCBS Rule page.
HCBS Settings Announcement
Pursuant to the final Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations, states must ensure Adult Day Care, TBI Habilitation, and TBI Prevocational Providers are compliant with Federal Person-Centered Planning and Settings requirements. Agencies that do not meet these requirements will be barred by federal law from participating in any Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waiver program.
Agencies must ensure:
- Participants have full access to the benefits of community living
- Participants receive services in the most integrated setting
- Their programs meet Home and Community-Based Settings requirements specified in federal 42 CFR 441.301(c)(4)-(c)(5)
- Their programs meet Person-Centered Planning requirements specified in federal 42 CFR 441.30 (c)(1)-(c)(3)
All existing and new agency providers must receive training on these mandatory requirements. Training and other resources may be reviewed at the following link on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services webpage: Additional Resources | HFS (illinois.gov)
