QUICK NOTES:
- On November 29, 2022, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) hosted a webinar, Enrolling Children's Waiver Participants into Managed Care.
- ICILA Provider Query: The DDD is looking for success stories within the Intermittent CILA Program that can be shared with I/DD stakeholders both to help waiver recipients and families/guardians understand how the program can work as well as provider agencies that might have interest in opening an ICILA program. If you are an ICILA provider and would like to share your success stories, please reach out to Megan.Brennan@illinois.gov.
- The DDD will be announcing the calendar of trainings for the rest of Fiscal Year 2023 soon. Please be on the lookout for that communication.
PUNS EARLY NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO GO OUT THIS MONTH!
As the DDD has done for the last several years, the DDD will be mailing early notification letters to those individuals who the DDD expects to send a PUNS selection letter in summer 2023. A total of 1,337 letters are scheduled to be mailed this week. Individuals and families/guardians (as applicable) who receive letters should now begin working with their Independent Service Coordination (ISC) Agency to establish their Medicaid eligibility as well as gather documentation necessary to verify clinical eligibility in advance of the summer of 2023 PUNS selection.
FY25 ISC NOFO CLARIFICATION
The DDD would like to clarify that the DDD plans to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ISC Agency program during Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) for services to begin in Fiscal Year 2025 (starting July 1, 2024) based on the approval the DDD received last year that extended the length of the ISC program grant cycle to 5 years. In the coming months, the DDD plans to engage you all, as well as the broader I/DD stakeholder community, to discuss the ISC Program and the grants via feedback and listening sessions. The DDD wants to ensure the best possible ISC program and process for the new grants.
CDS COVID GUIDANCE
The DDD has received significant feedback from stakeholders regarding the DDD Community Day Services (CDS) COVID-19 guidance. The DDD is currently updating that guidance in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). At this time, individuals and providers must determine what level of protection from viruses they should take. This may mean considering the local infection rate in your area when determining if masking is necessary. Current Information Bulletins providing guidance for CDS are located at the following links:
HCBS SETTINGS RULE BENEFICIARY COMPLAINT PROCESS
DDD is now offering a phone number and email address for people who are concerned about individual issues with a site or service related to the HCBS settings rule. Call 877-657-0005 or email DHS.HCBScomplaints@illinois.gov and a DDD staff person will reach out within 72 hours to understand the issues and connect with stakeholders to problem solve solutions.
If you have a general complaint about DDD services, please follow the process laid out on the DDD website by contacting Mike Vespa at Michael.Vespa@illinois.gov.
ICDD/DDD HOUSING NAVIGATOR WEBINAR
As a reminder, the DDD and the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) are working together on a pilot program for supportive housing. The Housing Navigator Pilot involves the ISC agencies working to educate individuals with I/DD who may be interested in supportive housing options. ICDD and DDD are hosting a webinar to update I/DD stakeholders on the progress of the pilot. Webinar information including the registration link are below.
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Registration Link: Cisco Webex Meetings - Register Meeting
ICDD PARTNERING WITH CQL ON FREE PROVIDER TRAININGS
In 2023, the ICDD will be hosting a series of in-person and virtual trainings, presented by the Council on Quality Leadership (CQL), for provider agencies. The trainings will include such topics as person-centered thinking, community participation and promoting rights. More information on each of the trainings including dates and registration links can be found on the ICDD website here: CQL 2023 Trainings for DDD Provider Agencies.
DDD OUTREACH CLARIFICATION
The DDD has shared through various DDD communications information regarding general email inboxes that may be used for specific types of questions. One such general email inbox is DHS.DD.MediRede@illinois.gov. The staff who monitor this e-mail address work under the Division of Family and Community Services (FCS) local office 238. They do not fall under the umbrella of the DDD. The only questions and communication that should be going to this email inbox are those related solely to Medicaid eligibility and service benefits. The inbox should not be receiving questions about rejected claims, DD waiver services, DDD policies, etc. Please direct questions for which you do not have a specific email inbox to DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov and the DDD will direct your inquiry to the appropriate person or agency.
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
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