(20 ILCS 2310/2310-394)

Sec. 2310-394. Multiple sclerosis; home services.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall create a program of services for persons with multiple sclerosis to help those persons stay in their homes and out of institutions. The Department shall collaborate with consumers to develop a program of services that is consumer directed.

(1) There shall be meaningful consumer participation in all aspects of program design, review, and improvement.

(2) A review committee shall be established, comprised of consumers and other stakeholders. The committee shall meet at least once a year to evaluate the program, including quality assurance data, and shall submit program recommendations to the Department.

(3) Consumers shall have control in the selection, management, and termination of providers.

(4) Providers shall be educated about consumer-directed services and multiple sclerosis.

(b) To be eligible for the program, a person must meet the following requirements:

(1) He or she must have a current diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

(2) He or she must have applied for benefits under the Home Services Program operated by the Department of Human Services and must have been determined not eligible for benefits under that program because his or her retirement assets or life insurance assets, or both, exceeded the limits applicable to that program.

(3) He or she must have assets not exceeding $17,500. In determining whether a person's assets meet this requirement, the Department must disregard retirement assets up to a total of $500,000 and disregard all life insurance assets.

(c) This Section does not create any new entitlement to a service, program, or benefit, but does not affect any entitlement to a service, program, or benefit created by any other law.

(Source: P.A. 95-744, eff. 7-18-08.)