Rate Increase for DDD Programs

Purpose:

This Information Bulletin serves as notice of a rate increase for community based programs pursuant to Public Act 100-0023.

Background:

The legislature appropriated funding to the Illinois Department of Human Services to increase rates and reimbursements to fund a minimum of a $0.75 per hour wage increase for front-line personnel, including, but not limited to, direct support persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff working in community-based provider organizations serving individuals with developmental disabilities and facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the ICF/DD Care Act as ID/DD Facilities and the MC/DD Care Act as MC/DD (fna SNF/Ped) facilities.

The intent of the wage increase is to improve wages and/or benefits for the above referenced categories of employees. In no case should the money be used to cover other operational costs or expenses, or fund wage or benefit increases for other employees. The Division does not intend to define the term "other, non-administrative support staff", which is referenced in the legislation. That will be left to individual agencies.

The $0.75 per hour wage increase was intended to benefit all covered employees and applied across the board. It should not be provided as a performance-based bonus or merit increase. It is our expectation that all covered employee will receive the wage and corresponding fringe benefit increase effective August 1, 2017. The wage increase is applicable to the programs listed in the table below.

Rate Calculations and Grant Amendments:

The programs impacted by the wage increase are depicted below on the table below. The Division will recalculate rates and issue new rate sheets for all individuals in those programs that use individual rates and all facilities for those programs that use provider rates. Grant agreements will be amended for all applicable grant programs. The rate recalculation and grant amendment process will take approximately 60 days to complete; however, the increase is effective August 1, 2017. Grant agreements will include language to allow pre-award costs for personnel costs to facilitate an August 1, 2017 effective date. Although general percentage increases are displayed below to estimate overall impact and explain calculations used by the Division, providers should look to their actual rate sheets and grant agreements for actual funding expectations.

Overall Program Calculations:

In addition to the $0.75 per hour increase provided for in recent legislation, the Administration has decided to increase rates and funding to allow for the impact of the wage increase to fringe benefits. The financial impact of the $0.75 per hour increase, plus the fringe, was converted into a percentage for all programs. The percentage increase varies among the programs due to the different fringe percentages included in the rate methodologies. The ICF/IDD and MC/DD percentage increase will not be adjusted for the Health Service Area (H.S.A.) multipliers. Applying the HSA multiplier will result in a wage increase less than $0.75 per hour for 91 of the 225 ICF/DD providers and two of the 10 MC/DD providers.

Wage Increase Effect on Home Based Services/Purchase of Services:

Standard statewide rates that are used within the Home-Based Services and Support (HBS) Program, e.g., rates for Developmental Training and Supported Employment, will be impacted by this increase. The monthly allocation for HBS, however, is not changed by this action since HBS increases are enacted in January of each year, when applicable, in accordance with federal Supplemental Security Income changes. Individuals and families enrolled in HBS must work with their Fiscal Agent to ensure any needed modifications are made to the individual's service agreements so that the increased rates are accommodated within the monthly allocations.

Increase by Program

Notes to Table:

ICF/IDD & ICF/IDD DT Percentage will not be adjusted by HSA.

The following programs are not included in the wage increase:

19D - CCI Rates are set by Illinois Purchase of Care Review Board.

67O - CLF Out-of-State Rates are set by the respective state.

52O, 52P, 52S - Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy rates are tied to State Medicaid Rates.

35U - Senior Day Services rate is tied to Department of Aging rate formula.

55D - Personal Support Worker rates are set by the individual consumer.

Program Fringe Rates:

CILA & Community Programs Staff Training Fringe Benefits Calculated at 25%

POS & Day Programs Fringe Benefits Calculated at 20%

ICF/IDD, MC/DD, ICF/IDD DT and ICF/IDD Facilities Staff Training Fringe Benefits Calculated at 21%

Questions:

Please direct questions to Gary M. Kramer and George Bengel via email:

George.Bengel@illinois.gov or Gary.Kramer@illinois.gov  

The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.

Effective Date:

This rate change is effective August 1, 2017.