The Bureau of Early Intervention requires monthly expenditure information to be submitted for reimbursement using the Early Intervention Periodic Financial Report for Administrative Contracts (EIPFR-ADM) and Instructions. To request the grantee's tailored copy of the EIPFR-ADM submit request to DHS.EIFiscal@illinois.gov.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Bureau of Early Intervention (EI), seeks a Vendor to establish and maintain an EI Credentialing program to support a system of credentialing and enrollment for approximately 4,800 EI Providers. The EI Program currently serves approximately 21,000 children between birth-to-three who have developmental delays or disabilities. Children eligible for the EI Program receive a range of services, chief among them: speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental therapy. In addition, approximately 10,000 children are receiving limited services to evaluate their eligibility and assess their needs for particular services to help them overcome developmental delays and disabilities.
The EI Program is operated under federal Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the state Early Intervention Services System Act. Both state and federal laws require the establishment and enforcement of personnel standards for EI Providers serving children in the EI Program. In Illinois, this is accomplished through the credentialing process. The EI Credentialing Office coordinates the credentialing process with EI enrollment to allow EI Providers to be authorized and reimbursed for EI services and Medicaid enrollment to support Medicaid Federal Financial Participation (FFP) reimbursement to IDHS for EI services.
IDHS's goal is to improve the quality of services offered to infants and toddlers in the EI Program through an effective network of EI providers. Maintaining a system of credentialing ensures that new EI Providers are qualified and prepared with the appropriate pediatric experience and education to provide services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. The credential renewal process establishes requirements for EI providers to participate in continuing professional education activities and ongoing professional development that will help maintain and improve their competencies.
The EI Credentialing and Enrollment office will:
- A.2.1. The Vendor will establish and maintain a system of credentialing for approximately 4,800 EI Providers as defined in the administrative code for the EI Program (89 IL Administrative Code 500).
- A.2.1.1. The EI Credentialing Office is responsible for all steps related to credentialing which include: providing application materials and revising and updating them as requested by IDHS; receiving, tracking, reviewing, and approving application materials; issuing temporary and full credentials; renewing credentials by reviewing and approving ongoing professional development plans and continuing education documentation and college/university coursework to determine compliance with 89 Il Admin Code 500.60(k), and updating information about credentialed EI Providers, as needed.
- A.2.1.2. The EI Credentialing Office will have a system in place to ensure that providers, when applicable, meet the education credential requirement as defined in 89 Illinois Administrative Code 500.60(g). The Vendor must establish a system which includes the review of continuing professional education and course work/degree program documentation to determine participant compliance and the posting of a searchable database of approved college and university coursework to include course name, college/university, course number, and number of semester hours of credit awarded/core knowledge area.
- A.2.1.3. The Vendor will be required to provide EI evaluation/assessment credential application materials; receive, review and approve application materials; provide payment for review of evaluation reports; and issue a credential for EI Providers who will provide evaluations/assessments for the EI Program.
- A.2.1.4. The Vendor will develop and maintain a database of Illinois' credentialed and/or enrolled EI Providers, update the database with new information from EI providers within 48 hours of receiving, maintain a tracking system of Provider Agreements including information on assistant/supervisor assignments and Payee assignments to ensure compliance with Rule language, and generate reports upon request of the IDHS.
- A.2.1.5. The Vendor will coordinate the following checks for all potential EI providers applying for and, when appropriate, renewing EI credentials: CANTS/SACWIS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System/Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)/Illinois Fingerprint Criminal Background, and Illinois Sex Offender Registry (SOR). The Vendor will work with the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and authorized vendors of Live Scan Background checks to coordinate the process, will maintain all related electronic and paper files, and will examine each check to determine compliance with State statute/Administrative rule.
- A.2.1.6. The Vendor must provide training on the credentialing process and/or issues through sessions offered by the Illinois EI Training Program.
- A.2.1.7. The Vendor must have the capacity to accept fees for credentialing, including credit card processing, to be utilized in the event that the IDHS chooses to require such fees.
- A.2.2. The Vendor will establish and maintain a system to process enrollment forms. The Vendor will offer provider enrollment materials, and revise and update them as requested by IDHS; process applications for provider enrollment and notices of changes in provider status and information; review forms for accuracy and completion; and forward completed materials to the Early Intervention Central Billing Office (CBO and IDHS).
- A.2.3. The Vendor will provide technical assistance on credentialing and enrolling through a toll-free phone number(s), Monday through Friday, excluding state-recognized holidays as well as maintain a voicemail option for off hours.
- A.2.4. The Vendor will develop and maintain a credentialing and enrollment website to support a diverse range of professionals to better reflect the populations they will serve, that includes EI Provider Credential and Enrollment applications; a catalog of credentialed and or enrolled EI Providers that can be indexed by provider, credential, or county; an associate-level credentialed provider list; an up-to-date directory of provider information; on-line access to technical assistance regarding the application processes including technology such as instructional video podcasts, RSS Feed and electronic newsletters/notices; timely posting of informational notices and other documents provided by IDHS.
- A.2.5. The Vendor will participate, upon request, in Workgroups of the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention or other EI stakeholder/partners of IDHS.
- A.2.6. The Vendor will utilize and accommodate all provider enrollment systems created by the State of Illinois and related entities including any and all new and updated systems necessary to fulfill the enrollment process for EI Providers.
- A.2.7. The Vendor will submit a quarterly report, including progress/status of milestones and deliverables, identified in Section A.5 below, in a format approved by the IDHS.
