Members, 

We are excited to announce that with the end of the federal and state public health emergencies approaching, AALC plans to resume in-person activities, including hosting an educational conference and the Wii World Series and Spelling Bee competition.  Yes! The Wii and Bee are back! Though the format may be slightly different than in years past, you will recognize the opportunity to promote friendly competition and emphasize how our residents thrive.  

Please take a moment to complete this survey and tell us whether your residents want to participate. 

It is very fitting that this year’s Supportive Living theme is “Our Time to Thrive!”  We look forward to having you capture and share on social media all the ways that our residents and staff thrive in our Supportive Living Program.  

Keep an eye on our website periodically for updates related to our in-person programming. I hope to see you in October in Springfield!

Policy Update

PHE Ending in May

Governor JB Pritzker last month announced the state's public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, aligning the state with the federal government's decision to end the national public health emergency. To learn more, click here.

Unwinding and Returning to Regular Operations 

The expiration of the continuous coverage requirement authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) presents the single largest health coverage transition event since the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act. To learn more, click here.

MAC Public Education Subcommittee Outlines Operational Plan for the End of PHE

At the end of January, there was a special meeting of the Medicaid Advisory Committee Public Education Subcommittee.  HFS staff walked through a slide presentation detailing the operational plans in development as the end of the continuous coverage requirement approaches.  HFS and the Department of Human Services (DHS) established three goals to: (1) minimize the number of eligible customers who lose coverage; (2) provide customers with multiple completion and submission opportunities for their eligibility redetermination (ie – avenues to report physical address changes, receive help completing REDIs, or submit a request to reinstate lapsed coverage; also to connect ineligible customers with other coverage options); (3) ensure all Medicaid eligible customers continue to connect to coverage so they can continue to connect with their healthcare providers.   

For the first group of REDIs, if a customer’s certification period ends on June 30^th, 2023, they will receive an information form with a REDI due date of June 1st.  IF the form is not received by June 15^th, customers will receive a cancellation notice.  Timeliness and accuracy are needed. The same schedule and requirements will be the case for each month, as a new batch of REDIs will be processed each month.   

The REDI due date printed on the notice is the date that providers and assisters are asked to share with customers, and their information must be submitted by this date.   

Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Legislation aimed at HCBS

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) in introducing legislation to expand access to home and community-based services for older adults, people with disabilities and injured workers, while increasing pay and improving benefits for the caregivers who provide this life-sustaining care. The Better Care Better Jobs Act establishes programs and provides funds for state Medicaid programs to improve home- and community-based services (HCBS), such as home health care, personal care, case management, and rehabilitative services.

Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to award planning grants, develop quality measures, and provide technical assistance to states regarding specified HCBS improvements, particularly with respect to access, utilization, and the associated workforce. The bill also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for HCBS in states that develop plans and meet specified benchmarks for improvements.

The bill also makes permanent (1) the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program (a grant program to help states increase the use of HCBS for long-term care and decrease the use of institutional care), and (2) certain provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of HCBS. To learn more, click here.

Medicaid: What to Watch in 2023

KFF’s “Medicaid: What to Watch in 2023” issue brief provides information on issues and considerations affecting Medicaid this year, including Medicaid Coverage and Financing; Access and Health Equity; and, Enrollment and Access Among People Eligible for Medicaid through Age or Disability.  Click here for the issue brief.

Prevention of Spousal Impoverishment Standards for 2023

The standards for the prevention of spousal impoverishment effective January 1, 2023, are changing. To read the recent Provider Notice, click here. 

Pre Admission Screening Process

If you have questions about the preadmission screening process that went into effect and use of AssessmentPro (AP) that went into effect 4/18/22 for potential SLP residents, be sure to check the resources guide.  To access the Resource Guide, click here.

Response to Heightened Scrutiny Site Visit

HFS recently posted the state’s response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)’ Illinois Heightened Scrutiny Site Visit Report. To read the Provider Notice, click here. 

Cost Report Filling Extension 

HFS announced today that it is granting Long Term Care (LTC) providers one extra month for the filling of the Illinois Medicaid Cost Report. To read the Provider Notice, click here.

Cost Reports:

Access 2022 Cost Reports by clicking here.

Legislative Update

AALC has another busy legislative and regulatory agenda planned for 2023! Our priorities include increasing memory care rates, creating a limited expansion that would allow current providers to convert existing units to memory care, implementing a permanent rate increase to offset the loss of SNAP, and working with HFS to finalize the enhanced quality payments.  However, our main concern continues to be protecting the SLP’s link to nursing home rates.  AALC is eager to learn what is included in the Governor’s proposed budget next week. 

AALC has already begun meeting with legislative leaders to share our agenda.  Based on our conversations with state officials and legislative champions, we know there is strong support to advance and protect the Supportive Living Program.   To read more about our priorities, click here.

Member Spotlight

MEMBERS! If you know of a vendor who might be interested in joining AALC, share their information with us at info@aalcillinois.org and we will reach out to them. Are you a vendor member and interested in bringing content to our Supportive Living communities? Let us know and we will feature you in an upcoming newsletter.