(305 ILCS 5/11-5.2)

Sec. 11-5.2. Income, Residency, and Identity Verification System.

(a) The Department shall ensure that its proposed integrated eligibility system shall include the computerized functions of income, residency, and identity eligibility verification to verify eligibility, eliminate duplication of medical assistance, and deter fraud. Until the integrated eligibility system is operational, the Department may enter into a contract with the vendor selected pursuant to Section 11-5.3 as necessary to obtain the electronic data matching described in this Section. This contract shall be exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 1-10 of that Code.

(b) Prior to awarding medical assistance at application under Article V of this Code, the Department shall, to the extent such databases are available to the Department, conduct data matches using the name, date of birth, address, and Social Security Number of each applicant or recipient or responsible relative of an applicant or recipient against the following:

(1) Income tax information.

(2) Employer reports of income and unemployment insurance payment information maintained by the Department of Employment Security.

(3) Earned and unearned income, citizenship and death, and other relevant information maintained by the Social Security Administration.

(4) Immigration status information maintained by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(5) Wage reporting and similar information maintained by states contiguous to this State.

(6) Employment information maintained by the Department of Employment Security in its New Hire Directory database.

(7) Employment information maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in its National Directory of New Hires database.

(8) Veterans' benefits information maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) database.

(9) Residency information maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State.

(10) A database which is substantially similar to or a successor of a database described in this Section that contains information relevant for verifying eligibility for medical assistance.

(c) (Blank).

(d) If a discrepancy results between information provided by an applicant, recipient, or responsible relative and information contained in one or more of the databases or information tools listed under subsection (b) of this Section or subsection (c) of Section 11-5.3 and that discrepancy calls into question the accuracy of information relevant to a condition of eligibility provided by the applicant, recipient, or responsible relative, the Department or its contractor shall review the applicant's or recipient's case using the following procedures:

(1) If the information discovered under subsection (b) of this Section or subsection (c) of Section 11-5.3 does not result in the Department finding the applicant or recipient ineligible for assistance under Article V of this Code, the Department shall finalize the determination or redetermination of eligibility.

(2) If the information discovered results in the Department finding the applicant or recipient ineligible for assistance, the Department shall provide notice as set forth in Section 11-7 of this Article.

(3) If the information discovered is insufficient to determine that the applicant or recipient is eligible or ineligible, the Department shall provide written notice to the applicant or recipient which shall describe in sufficient detail the circumstances of the discrepancy, the information or documentation required, the manner in which the applicant or recipient may respond, and the consequences of failing to take action. The applicant or recipient shall have 10 business days to respond.

(4) If the applicant or recipient does not respond to the notice, the Department shall deny assistance for failure to cooperate, in which case the Department shall provide notice as set forth in Section 11-7. Eligibility for assistance shall not be established until the discrepancy has been resolved.

(5) If an applicant or recipient responds to the notice, the Department shall determine the effect of the information or documentation provided on the applicant's or recipient's case and shall take appropriate action. Written notice of the Department's action shall be provided as set forth in Section 11-7 of this Article.

(6) Suspected cases of fraud shall be referred to the Department's Inspector General.

(e) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-689, eff. 6-14-12; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)