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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In the United States, approximately 15 percent of
3children aged three through 17 have a developmental disability;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Community-based services provide people with
6developmental disabilities the opportunity to live full lives
7that maximize their independence; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Individuals with developmental disabilities
9deserve the same opportunities, experiences, and freedoms
10others enjoy; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Illinois has a statewide database called the
12Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS), which
13records information about individuals with developmental
14disabilities who are potentially in need of services; and
 
15    WHEREAS, As funding becomes available, the State uses the
16PUNS data to select individuals for services, such as housing,
17personal support, behavioral services, speech therapy,
18transportation, and many other necessary services; and
 
19    WHEREAS, As of March 3, 2019, there were over 19,000
20individuals on the PUNS database actively awaiting services;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Section 1115 of the Social Security Act gives the
3U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to
4approve experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects that
5are found to be likely to assist in the promotion of the
6objectives of the Medicaid program; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The purpose of these demonstrations, which gives
8states additional flexibility to design and improve their
9programs, is to demonstrate and evaluate the state-specific
10policy approaches to better serving Medicaid populations; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In October 2016, the State of Illinois applied for
12an 1115 Demonstration Waiver to build a continuum of services
13for behavioral health disorders; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In May 2018, the federal government approved
15Illinois's plan to better serve Medicaid beneficiaries with
16mental health challenges and substance use disorders;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois
20Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Illinois
21Department of Human Services to apply for an 1115 Demonstration

 

 

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1Waiver to increase the services available for individuals with
2developmental disabilities and to serve Illinois citizens who
3are waiting services on the PUNS waitlist at a more appropriate
4pace; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6delivered to the Office of the Governor, the Director of the
7Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary
8of the Department of Human Services.