SB2760 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36466 KTG 66569 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2760

Introduced 1/16/2024, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 105/3.11
20 ILCS 105/4.01	from Ch. 23, par. 6104.01
20 ILCS 105/4.02
20 ILCS 105/5.03 new

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program (program), removes from the list of program services clearinghouse information provided by senior citizen home owners who want to rent rooms to or share living space with other senior citizens. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to perform certain actions to increase the effectiveness of the program, removes a requirement that the Department ensure the determination of need tool is accurate in determining program participants' level of need. In a provision concerning pre-service certification for in-home workers who provide housekeeping or home aide services, requires employing agencies to pay wages to in-home workers for pre-service and in-service training. Provides that the Department may authorize (rather than shall delay) program services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department to implement co-payments under the program. Requires the Department to make annual (rather than quarterly) reports on care coordination unit performance and adherence to service guidelines. Removes expired rate levels. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees. Provides that all final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by changing Sections 3.11, 4.01, and 4.02 and by adding Section 5.03 as follows:

(20 ILCS 105/3.11)

Sec. 3.11. Greatest social need. "Greatest For the purposes of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 210.50, "greatest social need" means the need caused by noneconomic factors that restrict an individual's ability to perform normal daily tasks or that threaten his or her capacity to live independently. These factors include, but are not limited to, physical or mental disability, language barriers, and cultural or social isolation caused by, among other things, racial and ethnic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.

(Source: P.A. 101-325, eff. 8-9-19.)

(20 ILCS 105/4.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 6104.01)

Sec. 4.01. Additional powers and duties of the Department. In addition to powers and duties otherwise provided by law, the Department shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To evaluate all programs, services, and facilities for the aged and for minority senior citizens within the State and determine the extent to which present public or private programs, services and facilities meet the needs of the aged.

(2) To coordinate and evaluate all programs, services, and facilities for the Aging and for minority senior citizens presently furnished by State agencies and make appropriate recommendations regarding such services, programs and facilities to the Governor and/or the General Assembly.

(2-a) To request, receive, and share information electronically through the use of data-sharing agreements for the purpose of (i) establishing and verifying the initial and continuing eligibility of older adults to participate in programs administered by the Department; (ii) maximizing federal financial participation in State assistance expenditures; and (iii) investigating allegations of fraud or other abuse of publicly funded benefits. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, but only for the limited purposes identified in the preceding sentence, this paragraph (2-a) expressly authorizes the exchanges of income, identification, and other pertinent eligibility information by and among the Department and the Social Security Administration, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Revenue, the Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and any other governmental entity. The confidentiality of information otherwise shall be maintained as required by law. In addition, the Department on Aging shall verify employment information at the request of a community care provider for the purpose of ensuring program integrity under the Community Care Program.

(3) To function as the sole State agency to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of the State's senior citizens and the State's minority senior citizens.

(4) To receive and disburse State and federal funds made available directly to the Department including those funds made available under the Older Americans Act and the Senior Community Service Employment Program for providing services for senior citizens and minority senior citizens or for purposes related thereto, and shall develop and administer any State Plan for the Aging required by federal law.

(5) To solicit, accept, hold, and administer in behalf of the State any grants or legacies of money, securities, or property to the State of Illinois for services to senior citizens and minority senior citizens or purposes related thereto.

(6) To provide consultation and assistance to communities, area agencies on aging, and groups developing local services for senior citizens and minority senior citizens.

(7) To promote community education regarding the problems of senior citizens and minority senior citizens through institutes, publications, radio, television and the local press.

(8) To cooperate with agencies of the federal government in studies and conferences designed to examine the needs of senior citizens and minority senior citizens and to prepare programs and facilities to meet those needs.

(9) To establish and maintain information and referral sources throughout the State when not provided by other agencies.

(10) To provide the staff support that may reasonably be required by the Council.

(11) To make and enforce rules and regulations necessary and proper to the performance of its duties.

(12) To establish and fund programs or projects or experimental facilities that are specially designed as alternatives to institutional care.

(13) To develop a training program to train the counselors presently employed by the Department's aging network to provide Medicare beneficiaries with counseling and advocacy in Medicare, private health insurance, and related health care coverage plans. The Department shall report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the training program on or before December 1, 1986.

(14) To make a grant to an institution of higher learning to study the feasibility of establishing and implementing an affirmative action employment plan for the recruitment, hiring, training and retraining of persons 60 or more years old for jobs for which their employment would not be precluded by law.

(15) To present one award annually in each of the categories of community service, education, the performance and graphic arts, and the labor force to outstanding Illinois senior citizens and minority senior citizens in recognition of their individual contributions to either community service, education, the performance and graphic arts, or the labor force. The awards shall be presented to 4 senior citizens and minority senior citizens selected from a list of 44 nominees compiled annually by the Department. Nominations shall be solicited from senior citizens' service providers, area agencies on aging, senior citizens' centers, and senior citizens' organizations. If there are no nominations in a category, the Department may award a second person in one of the remaining categories. The Department shall establish a central location within the State to be designated as the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame for the public display of all the annual awards, or replicas thereof.

(16) To establish multipurpose senior centers through area agencies on aging and to fund those new and existing multipurpose senior centers through area agencies on aging, the establishment and funding to begin in such areas of the State as the Department shall designate by rule and as specifically appropriated funds become available.

(17) (Blank).

(18) To develop a pamphlet in English and Spanish which may be used by physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches pursuant to the Medical Practice Act of 1987, pharmacists licensed pursuant to the Pharmacy Practice Act, and Illinois residents 65 years of age or older for the purpose of assisting physicians, pharmacists, and patients in monitoring prescriptions provided by various physicians and to aid persons 65 years of age or older in complying with directions for proper use of pharmaceutical prescriptions. The pamphlet may provide space for recording information including but not limited to the following:

(a) name and telephone number of the patient;

(b) name and telephone number of the prescribing physician;

(c) date of prescription;

(d) name of drug prescribed;

(e) directions for patient compliance; and

(f) name and telephone number of dispensing pharmacy.

In developing the pamphlet, the Department shall consult with the Illinois State Medical Society, the Center for Minority Health Services, the Illinois Pharmacists Association and senior citizens organizations. The Department shall distribute the pamphlets to physicians, pharmacists and persons 65 years of age or older or various senior citizen organizations throughout the State.

(19) To conduct a study of the feasibility of implementing the Senior Companion Program throughout the State.

(20) The reimbursement rates paid through the community care program for chore housekeeping services and home care aides shall be the same.

(21) From funds appropriated to the Department from the Meals on Wheels Fund, a special fund in the State treasury that is hereby created, and in accordance with State and federal guidelines and the intrastate funding formula, to make grants to area agencies on aging, designated by the Department, for the sole purpose of delivering meals to homebound persons 60 years of age and older.

(22) To distribute, through its area agencies on aging, information alerting seniors on safety issues regarding emergency weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold, flooding, tornadoes, electrical storms, and other severe storm weather. The information shall include all necessary instructions for safety and all emergency telephone numbers of organizations that will provide additional information and assistance.

(23) To develop guidelines for the organization and implementation of Volunteer Services Credit Programs to be administered by Area Agencies on Aging or community based senior service organizations. The Department shall hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines for public comment, suggestion, and determination of public interest. The guidelines shall be based on the findings of other states and of community organizations in Illinois that are currently operating volunteer services credit programs or demonstration volunteer services credit programs. The Department shall offer guidelines for all aspects of the programs including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) types of services to be offered by volunteers;

(b) types of services to be received upon the redemption of service credits;

(c) issues of liability for the volunteers and the administering organizations;

(d) methods of tracking service credits earned and service credits redeemed;

(e) issues of time limits for redemption of service credits;

(f) methods of recruitment of volunteers;

(g) utilization of community volunteers, community service groups, and other resources for delivering services to be received by service credit program clients;

(h) accountability and assurance that services will be available to individuals who have earned service credits; and

(i) volunteer screening and qualifications. The Department shall submit a written copy of the guidelines to the General Assembly by July 1, 1998.

(24) To function as the sole State agency to receive and disburse State and federal funds for providing adult protective services in a domestic living situation in accordance with the Adult Protective Services Act.

(25) To hold conferences, trainings, and other programs for which the Department shall determine by rule a reasonable fee to cover related administrative costs. Rules to implement the fee authority granted by this paragraph (25) must be adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

(Source: P.A. 98-8, eff. 5-3-13; 98-49, eff. 7-1-13; 98-380, eff. 8-16-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-331, eff. 1-1-16.)

(20 ILCS 105/4.02)

Sec. 4.02. Community Care Program. The Department shall establish a program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes or in other living arrangements. Such preventive services, which may be coordinated with other programs for the aged and monitored by area agencies on aging in cooperation with the Department, may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:

(a) (blank);

(b) (blank);

(c) home care aide services;

(d) personal assistant services;

(e) adult day services;

(f) home-delivered meals;

(g) education in self-care;

(h) personal care services;

(i) adult day health services;

(j) habilitation services;

(k) respite care;

(k-5) community reintegration services;

(k-6) flexible senior services;

(k-7) medication management;

(k-8) emergency home response;

(l) other nonmedical social services that may enable the person to become self-supporting; or

(m) (blank). clearinghouse for information provided by senior citizen home owners who want to rent rooms to or share living space with other senior citizens.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services. In determining the amount and nature of services for which a person may qualify, consideration shall not be given to the value of cash, property, or other assets held in the name of the person's spouse pursuant to a written agreement dividing marital property into equal but separate shares or pursuant to a transfer of the person's interest in a home to his spouse, provided that the spouse's share of the marital property is not made available to the person seeking such services.

The Beginning January 1, 2008, the Department shall require as a condition of eligibility that all new financially eligible applicants apply for and enroll in medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.

The Department shall, in conjunction with the Department of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family Services), seek appropriate amendments under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act. The purpose of the amendments shall be to extend eligibility for home and community based services under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act to persons who transfer to or for the benefit of a spouse those amounts of income and resources allowed under Section 1924 of the Social Security Act. Subject to the approval of such amendments, the Department shall extend the provisions of Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code to persons who, but for the provision of home or community-based services, would require the level of care provided in an institution, as is provided for in federal law. Those persons no longer found to be eligible for receiving noninstitutional services due to changes in the eligibility criteria shall be given 45 days notice prior to actual termination. Those persons receiving notice of termination may contact the Department and request the determination be appealed at any time during the 45 day notice period. The target population identified for the purposes of this Section are persons age 60 and older with an identified service need. Priority shall be given to those who are at imminent risk of institutionalization. The services shall be provided to eligible persons age 60 and older to the extent that the cost of the services together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to the person's condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects, or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Department of Human Services. The Departments of Human Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Public Health, Veterans' Affairs, and Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other appropriate agencies of State, federal, and local governments shall cooperate with the Department on Aging in the establishment and development of the non-institutional services. The Department shall require an annual audit from all personal assistant and home care aide vendors contracting with the Department under this Section. The annual audit shall assure that each audited vendor's procedures are in compliance with Department's financial reporting guidelines requiring an administrative and employee wage and benefits cost split as defined in administrative rules. The audit is a public record under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to effect the following: (1) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (2) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 60 years of age or older shall be conducted by the Department.

As part of the Department on Aging's routine training of case managers and case manager supervisors, the Department may include information on family futures planning for persons who are age 60 or older and who are caregivers of their adult children with developmental disabilities. The content of the training shall be at the Department's discretion.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient copayment for services provided under this Section, such copayment to be based upon the recipient's ability to pay but in no case to exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Additionally, any portion of a person's income which is equal to or less than the federal poverty standard shall not be considered by the Department in determining the copayment. The level of such copayment shall be adjusted whenever necessary to reflect any change in the officially designated federal poverty standard.

The Department, or the Department's authorized representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21 or blind or who has a permanent and total disability. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department shall increase the effectiveness of the existing Community Care Program by:

(1) ensuring that in-home services included in the care plan are available on evenings and weekends;

(2) ensuring that care plans contain the services that eligible participants need based on the number of days in a month, not limited to specific blocks of time, as identified by the comprehensive assessment tool selected by the Department for use statewide, not to exceed the total monthly service cost maximum allowed for each service; the Department shall develop administrative rules to implement this item (2);

(3) ensuring that the participants have the right to choose the services contained in their care plan and to direct how those services are provided, based on administrative rules established by the Department;

(4) (blank); ensuring that the determination of need tool is accurate in determining the participants' level of need; to achieve this, the Department, in conjunction with the Older Adult Services Advisory Committee, shall institute a study of the relationship between the Determination of Need scores, level of need, service cost maximums, and the development and utilization of service plans no later than May 1, 2008; findings and recommendations shall be presented to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2009; recommendations shall include all needed changes to the service cost maximums schedule and additional covered services;

(5) ensuring that homemakers can provide personal care services that may or may not involve contact with clients, including, but not limited to:

(A) bathing;

(B) grooming;

(C) toileting;

(D) nail care;

(E) transferring;

(F) respiratory services;

(G) exercise; or

(H) positioning;

(6) ensuring that homemaker program vendors are not restricted from hiring homemakers who are family members of clients or recommended by clients; the Department may not, by rule or policy, require homemakers who are family members of clients or recommended by clients to accept assignments in homes other than the client;

(7) ensuring that the State may access maximum federal matching funds by seeking approval for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for modifications to the State's home and community based services waiver and additional waiver opportunities, including applying for enrollment in the Balance Incentive Payment Program by May 1, 2013, in order to maximize federal matching funds; this shall include, but not be limited to, modification that reflects all changes in the Community Care Program services and all increases in the services cost maximum;

(8) ensuring that the determination of need tool accurately reflects the service needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders;

(9) ensuring that services are authorized accurately and consistently for the Community Care Program (CCP); the Department shall implement a Service Authorization policy directive; the purpose shall be to ensure that eligibility and services are authorized accurately and consistently in the CCP program; the policy directive shall clarify service authorization guidelines to Care Coordination Units and Community Care Program providers no later than May 1, 2013;

(10) working in conjunction with Care Coordination Units, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, Community Care Program providers, and other stakeholders to make improvements to the Medicaid claiming processes and the Medicaid enrollment procedures or requirements as needed, including, but not limited to, specific policy changes or rules to improve the up-front enrollment of participants in the Medicaid program and specific policy changes or rules to insure more prompt submission of bills to the federal government to secure maximum federal matching dollars as promptly as possible; the Department on Aging shall have at least 3 meetings with stakeholders by January 1, 2014 in order to address these improvements;

(11) requiring home care service providers to comply with the rounding of hours worked provisions under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and as set forth in 29 CFR 785.48(b) by May 1, 2013;

(12) implementing any necessary policy changes or promulgating any rules, no later than January 1, 2014, to assist the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in moving as many participants as possible, consistent with federal regulations, into coordinated care plans if a care coordination plan that covers long term care is available in the recipient's area; and

(13) (blank). maintaining fiscal year 2014 rates at the same level established on January 1, 2013.

By January 1, 2009 or as soon after the end of the Cash and Counseling Demonstration Project as is practicable, the Department may, based on its evaluation of the demonstration project, promulgate rules concerning personal assistant services, to include, but need not be limited to, qualifications, employment screening, rights under fair labor standards, training, fiduciary agent, and supervision requirements. All applicants shall be subject to the provisions of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

The Department shall develop procedures to enhance availability of services on evenings, weekends, and on an emergency basis to meet the respite needs of caregivers. Procedures shall be developed to permit the utilization of services in successive blocks of 24 hours up to the monthly maximum established by the Department. Workers providing these services shall be appropriately trained.

No Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991, no person may perform chore/housekeeping and home care aide services under a program authorized by this Section unless that person has been issued a certificate of pre-service to do so by his or her employing agency. Information gathered to effect such certification shall include (i) the person's name, (ii) the date the person was hired by his or her current employer, and (iii) the training, including dates and levels. Persons engaged in the program authorized by this Section before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 shall be issued a certificate of all pre-service pre- and in-service training from his or her employer upon submitting the necessary information. The employing agency shall be required to retain records of all staff pre-service pre- and in-service training, and shall provide such records to the Department upon request and upon termination of the employer's contract with the Department. In addition, the employing agency is responsible for the issuance of certifications of in-service training completed to their employees as well as paying wages to the in-home workers for pre-service and in-service training.

The Department is required to develop a system to ensure that persons working as home care aides and personal assistants receive increases in their wages when the federal minimum wage is increased by requiring vendors to certify that they are meeting the federal minimum wage statute for home care aides and personal assistants. An employer that cannot ensure that the minimum wage increase is being given to home care aides and personal assistants shall be denied any increase in reimbursement costs.

The Community Care Program Advisory Committee is created in the Department on Aging. The Director shall appoint individuals to serve in the Committee, who shall serve at their own expense. Members of the Committee must abide by all applicable ethics laws. The Committee shall advise the Department on issues related to the Department's program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. The Committee shall meet on a bi-monthly basis and shall serve to identify and advise the Department on present and potential issues affecting the service delivery network, the program's clients, and the Department and to recommend solution strategies. Persons appointed to the Committee shall be appointed on, but not limited to, their own and their agency's experience with the program, geographic representation, and willingness to serve. The Director shall appoint members to the Committee to represent provider, advocacy, policy research, and other constituencies committed to the delivery of high quality home and community-based services to older adults. Representatives shall be appointed to ensure representation from community care providers, including, but not limited to, adult day service providers, homemaker providers, case coordination and case management units, emergency home response providers, statewide trade or labor unions that represent home care aides and direct care staff, area agencies on aging, adults over age 60, membership organizations representing older adults, and other organizational entities, providers of care, or individuals with demonstrated interest and expertise in the field of home and community care as determined by the Director.

Nominations may be presented from any agency or State association with interest in the program. The Director, or his or her designee, shall serve as the permanent co-chair of the advisory committee. One other co-chair shall be nominated and approved by the members of the committee on an annual basis. Committee members' terms of appointment shall be for 4 years with one-quarter of the appointees' terms expiring each year. A member shall continue to serve until his or her replacement is named. The Department shall fill vacancies that have a remaining term of over one year, and this replacement shall occur through the annual replacement of expiring terms. The Director shall designate Department staff to provide technical assistance and staff support to the committee. Department representation shall not constitute membership of the committee. All Committee papers, issues, recommendations, reports, and meeting memoranda are advisory only. The Director, or his or her designee, shall make a written report, as requested by the Committee, regarding issues before the Committee.

The Department on Aging and the Department of Human Services shall cooperate in the development and submission of an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. Such joint report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 31 of the following fiscal year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Those persons previously found eligible for receiving non-institutional services whose services were discontinued under the Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 1992, and who do not meet the eligibility standards in effect on or after July 1, 1992, shall remain ineligible on and after July 1, 1992. Those persons previously not required to cost-share and who were required to cost-share effective March 1, 1992, shall continue to meet cost-share requirements on and after July 1, 1992. Beginning July 1, 1992, all clients will be required to meet eligibility, cost-share, and other requirements and will have services discontinued or altered when they fail to meet these requirements.

For the purposes of this Section, "flexible senior services" refers to services that require one-time or periodic expenditures, including, but not limited to, respite care, home modification, assistive technology, housing assistance, and transportation.

The Department shall implement an electronic service verification based on global positioning systems or other cost-effective technology for the Community Care Program no later than January 1, 2014.

The Department shall require, as a condition of eligibility, application for enrollment in the medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code (i) beginning August 1, 2013, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has failed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; or (ii) beginning June 1, 2014, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has not undertaken the required actions listed in the report required by subsection (a) of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

The Department may authorize shall delay Community Care Program services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code (i) beginning August 1, 2013, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has failed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; or (ii) beginning June 1, 2014, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has not undertaken the required actions listed in the report required by subsection (a) of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

The Department shall implement co-payments for the Community Care Program at the federally allowable maximum level (i) beginning August 1, 2013, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has failed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; or (ii) beginning June 1, 2014, if the Auditor General has reported that the Department has not undertaken the required actions listed in the report required by subsection (a) of Section 2-27 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

The Department shall continue to provide other Community Care Program reports as required by statute, which shall include an annual report on Care Coordination Unit performance and adherence to service guidelines.

The Department shall conduct a quarterly review of Care Coordination Unit performance and adherence to service guidelines. The quarterly review shall be reported to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate. The Department shall collect and report longitudinal data on the performance of each care coordination unit. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require the Department to identify specific care coordination units.

In regard to community care providers, failure to comply with Department on Aging policies shall be cause for disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, disqualification from serving Community Care Program clients. Each provider, upon submission of any bill or invoice to the Department for payment for services rendered, shall include a notarized statement, under penalty of perjury pursuant to Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that the provider has complied with all Department policies.

The Director of the Department on Aging shall make information available to the State Board of Elections as may be required by an agreement the State Board of Elections has entered into with a multi-state voter registration list maintenance system.

Within 30 days after July 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-23), rates shall be increased to $18.29 per hour, for the purpose of increasing, by at least $.72 per hour, the wages paid by those vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services. The Department shall pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713. For State fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the enhanced rate shall be $1.77 per hour. The rate shall be adjusted using actuarial analysis based on the cost of care, but shall not be set below $1.77 per hour. The Department shall adopt rules, including emergency rules under subsections (y) and (bb) of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the provisions of this paragraph.

The Department shall pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees pursuant to rules adopted by the Department. Subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2024, rates for adult day services shall be increased to $16.84 per hour and rates for each way transportation services for adult day services shall be increased to $12.44 per unit transportation.

Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2024, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $28.07 to sustain a minimum wage of $17 per hour for direct service workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. Providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in this paragraph.

The General Assembly finds it necessary to authorize an aggressive Medicaid enrollment initiative designed to maximize federal Medicaid funding for the Community Care Program which produces significant savings for the State of Illinois. The Department on Aging shall establish and implement a Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative. Under the Initiative, the Department on Aging shall, at a minimum: (i) provide an enhanced rate to adequately compensate care coordination units to enroll eligible Community Care Program clients into Medicaid; (ii) use recommendations from a stakeholder committee on how best to implement the Initiative; and (iii) establish requirements for State agencies to make enrollment in the State's Medical Assistance program easier for seniors.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Enrollment Oversight Subcommittee is created as a subcommittee of the Older Adult Services Advisory Committee established in Section 35 of the Older Adult Services Act to make recommendations on how best to increase the number of medical assistance recipients who are enrolled in the Community Care Program. The Subcommittee shall consist of all of the following persons who must be appointed within 30 days after June 4, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-587) this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly:

(1) The Director of Aging, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the Subcommittee.

(2) One representative of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, appointed by the Director of Healthcare and Family Services.

(3) One representative of the Department of Human Services, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.

(4) One individual representing a care coordination unit, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(5) One individual from a non-governmental statewide organization that advocates for seniors, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(6) One individual representing Area Agencies on Aging, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(7) One individual from a statewide association dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(8) One individual from an organization that employs persons who provide services under the Community Care Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(9) One member of a trade or labor union representing persons who provide services under the Community Care Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.

(10) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(11) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(12) One member of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(13) One member of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(14) One individual appointed by a labor organization representing frontline employees at the Department of Human Services.

The Subcommittee shall provide oversight to the Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative and shall meet quarterly. At each Subcommittee meeting the Department on Aging shall provide the following data sets to the Subcommittee: (A) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program and are enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program; (B) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program, but are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program; and (C) the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving services under the Community Care Program and are eligible for benefits under the State's Medical Assistance Program, but are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program. In addition to this data, the Department on Aging shall provide the Subcommittee with plans on how the Department on Aging will reduce the number of Illinois residents who are not enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program but who are eligible for medical assistance benefits. The Department on Aging shall enroll in the State's Medical Assistance Program those Illinois residents who receive services under the Community Care Program and are eligible for medical assistance benefits but are not enrolled in the State's Medicaid Assistance Program. The data provided to the Subcommittee shall be made available to the public via the Department on Aging's website.

The Department on Aging, with the involvement of the Subcommittee, shall collaborate with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on how best to achieve the responsibilities of the Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative.

The Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall coordinate and implement a streamlined process for seniors to access benefits under the State's Medical Assistance Program.

The Subcommittee shall collaborate with the Department of Human Services on the adoption of a uniform application submission process. The Department of Human Services and any other State agency involved with processing the medical assistance application of any person enrolled in the Community Care Program shall include the appropriate care coordination unit in all communications related to the determination or status of the application.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative shall provide targeted funding to care coordination units to help seniors complete their applications for medical assistance benefits. On and after July 1, 2019, care coordination units shall receive no less than $200 per completed application, which rate may be included in a bundled rate for initial intake services when Medicaid application assistance is provided in conjunction with the initial intake process for new program participants.

The Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative shall cease operation 5 years after June 4, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-587) this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, after which the Subcommittee shall dissolve.

Effective July 1, 2023, subject to federal approval, the Department on Aging shall reimburse Care Coordination Units at the following rates for case management services: $252.40 for each initial assessment; $366.40 for each initial assessment with translation; $229.68 for each redetermination assessment; $313.68 for each redetermination assessment with translation; $200.00 for each completed application for medical assistance benefits; $132.26 for each face-to-face, choices-for-care screening; $168.26 for each face-to-face, choices-for-care screening with translation; $124.56 for each 6-month, face-to-face visit; $132.00 for each MCO participant eligibility determination; and $157.00 for each MCO participant eligibility determination with translation.

(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-102, Article 45, Section 45-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 85, Section 85-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 90, Section 90-5, eff. 1-1-24; revised 12-12-23.)

(20 ILCS 105/5.03 new)

Sec. 5.03. Judicial review. All final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all rules adopted under the Administrative Review Law. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the circuit court of the county in which the party applying for review resides; however, if the party is not a resident of this State, the venue shall be Sangamon County.