(210 ILCS 46/3-304.2)

Sec. 3-304.2. Designation of distressed facilities.

(a) The Department shall, by rule, adopt criteria to identify facilities that are distressed and shall publish this list quarterly. No facility shall be identified as a distressed facility unless it has committed violations or deficiencies that have actually harmed residents.

(b) The Department shall notify each facility and licensee of its distressed designation and of the calculation on which it is based.

(c) A distressed facility may contract with an independent consultant meeting criteria established by the Department. If the distressed facility does not seek the assistance of an independent consultant, then the Department shall place a monitor or a temporary manager in the facility, depending on the Department's assessment of the condition of the facility.

(d) A facility that has been designated a distressed facility may contract with an independent consultant to develop and assist in the implementation of a plan of improvement to bring and keep the facility in compliance with this Act and, if applicable, with federal certification requirements. A facility that contracts with an independent consultant shall have 90 days to develop a plan of improvement and demonstrate a good faith effort at implementation, and another 90 days to achieve compliance and take whatever additional actions are called for in the improvement plan to maintain compliance in this subsection (d). "Independent" consultant means an individual who has no professional or financial relationship with the facility, any person with a reportable ownership interest in the facility, or any related parties. In this subsection (d), "related parties" has the meaning attributed to it in the instructions for completing Medicaid cost reports.

(e) A distressed facility that does not contract with a consultant shall be assigned a monitor or a temporary manager at the Department's discretion. The cost of the temporary manager shall be paid by the Department. The authority afforded the temporary manager shall be determined through rulemaking.

If a distressed facility that contracts with an independent consultant but does not, in a timely manner, develop an adequate plan of improvement or comply with the plan of improvement, then the Department may place a monitor in the facility.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority of the Department to place a monitor in a distressed facility if otherwise justified by law.

(f) The Department shall by rule establish a mentor program for owners of distressed facilities. That a mentor program does not exist, or that a mentor is not available to assist a distressed facility, shall not delay or prevent the imposition of any penalties on a distressed facility, authorized by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)