Monday, March 23rd, 2020
Dear Partners,
Thank you for your patience as we work with you to maintain Illinois' human service delivery system during this time. As we shared in communications on March 16, 2020 and March 19, 2020, IDHS is making every effort to sustain funding for organizations that are unable to provide services or able only to provide limited services because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
IDHS is providing this sustaining funding so that providers are able to keep their doors open and can continue to retain staff, even with no or limited service delivery. Staff salaries and benefits should be paid and staff retained. Sustaining funding is conditioned upon continuing to pay staff salaries and benefits and IDHS will be tracking the same.
The federal guidance permits grantees to continue to charge salaries and benefits to currently active awards. In addition, grantees can continue to charge Facility and Administrative costs such as occupancy, insurance, taxes, and utilities. The federal guidance is being applied to state-funded grants.
Please see further payment information, below:
Expense-Based Grants: IDHS will continue to make payments for expense-based grants as normal.
Fixed-Rate Grants: For fixed-rate grants, please continue to submit billing information. IDHS will make grant payments equal to "average monthly billings x reimbursement rate." The portion of the grant payment not supported by service billings will need to be expended for costs (e.g. salaries and benefits, facility and administrative costs).
IDHS Funded Medicaid Fee-For Service: For IDHS funded Medicaid fee-for-service providers, please continue to submit billing information. IDHS will make retention payments equal to "average monthly billings x reimbursement rate." Retention payments are to be expended for costs (e.g. salaries and benefits, facility and administrative costs).
If you are unsure as to which of the above categories your organization meets, please contact your IDHS program contact(s).
At this time, subject to the Comptroller's determinations and cash flow, IDHS expects payments to continue on roughly the same timelines without significant gaps or delays.
Please understand that new information and guidance is coming in each day. We ask for your patience and good faith and pledge the same to each of you in this trying time. IDHS will continue to provide updates, including FAQs, on the IDHS Coronavirus Website.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to the mission of IDHS: Providing equitable access to social and human services, supports, programs and resources to enhance the lives of all who we serve.
Sincerely,
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, IDHS
