Good Afternoon,
This communications hopes to provide some clarity to recent and future increases for our providers of waiver funded and ICF/DD supports.
FY 20 INCREASES UPDATE
The Division's system has been updated and will run updates for the January 1, 2020 rate increases to residential rates (CILA, CGH, CCI, CLF). Next Friday providers should have MOBIUS Remittance Reports showing the payments for Jan. 1 - March 16, 2020. As a reminder, community-based providers have already started receiving the increase in payments since March 17, 2020. Due to the legislative delay, Public Notice for the FY20 ICF/DD and MC/DD rate increases was posted on May 29, 2020. The State is submitting a State Plan Amendment with an effective date of June 1, 2020 for the rate increase, which cannot be implemented until federal approval is received.
FY 21 INCREASES IMPLEMENTATION
The FY 21 budget included a wage rate increase effective 7/1/20 ($1.00) and 1/1/21 ($.50) for non-executive staff. Our waiver amendments (for community services) have been submitted and the state plan amendment (for ICF/DDs) will be submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval for both the 7/1 and 1/1 increase. IDHS was awaiting clarification from the General Assembly on the implementation of the increase based on the language in the budget implementation (BIMP) bill; that clarification was received last week. IDHS will now file emergency rules for implementation.
The two increases, subject to federal approval, will be implemented as follows:
- For the $1.00/hour increase, at least $0.80/hour must be provided as a direct increase to non-executive staff wages with priority given to direct care staff, as of July 1, 2020; and
- For the $0.50/hour increase, at least $0.40/hour must be provided as a direct increase to non-executive staff wages with priority given to direct care staff, as of January 1, 2021.
As a reminder, the increases must be approved by CMS prior to implementation. We are optimistic that the $1.00 increase will be effective 7/1 as requested.
NEW RATE SHEETS
I know providers are anxiously awaiting new Rate Sheets. Unfortunately, with all the changes with permanent and temporary increases this has been difficult to generate. Rate Summary Sheets and a cover memo to each agency listing the person's name, their SSN, and their new topline rate will be provided in mid to late July 2020 for the January 1 and July 1, 2020 rate. Our plan is to issue new Rate Sheets in January 2021 when the last of the permanent and temporary changes have been implemented. We appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime.
Thank you for all you do.
Warmly,
Allison
