Members, 

Important Medicaid Alert!

Help Medicaid customers who remain eligible ensure their coverage continues without disruption! View the Ready to Renew ToolKit and resources below!

As you know, Medicaid customers have not been asked to renew their Medicaid coverage since March 2020. When continuous enrollment ends, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) must resume annual Medicaid eligibility verifications, also known as “redeterminations.” 

HFS is urging healthcare providers and community organizations to help Medicaid customers get ready to renew their coverage. HFS has created a Ready to Renew Toolkit in multiple languages so that anybody who interacts with Medicaid customers can easily and regularly use the key messages and materials.

The most important thing Medicaid customers can do right now is ensure their current address is on file with the Illinois Medicaid program.  This is critical because the time-sensitive redetermination materials will be mailed to customers as their renewal date approaches. Customers may be required to supply HFS with additional information needed to establish their eligibility.  

Ready to Renew Resources:

• Governor’s “Ready to Renew” Press Release
• “Ready to Renew” Toolkit
• Provider Notice (05/21/19)
• Provider Notice (02/14/20)
• Long Term Services and Supports
• ABE Manage My Case
• MEDI website and MEDI Login

Policy Update

Expedited Payment Status—Reapply before June 30^th! 

During the public health emergency (PHE) Supportive Living Program facilities were not being removed from expedited payment status due to failure to reapply. The PHE end date is approaching, so providers should be prepared to reapply if they have not already done so within the past year. Facilities that are past due and have not reapplied by 06/30/23 will be removed from expedited payment status. 

For additional information and instructions, click here. To access a blank cash position statement, click here.

Questions regarding the Cash Position Statement should be directed to the Bureau of Health Finance at 217-524-4489.

Questions regarding the application process and the resident roster should be directed to the Bureau of Long Term Care at 217-782-0545.

Paid Leave for All Workers 

Governor Pritzker signed the Paid Leave for All Workers Act into law last Monday. When signing the bill, the Governor said, “Working families face so many challenges, and it’s been my mission to alleviate those burdens in every way I can.” 

Under the new law, employees will accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to 40 hours total. Employees can start using the accrued time beginning March 1, 2024, or once they have worked 90 days. Illinois becomes the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason.  To learn more, click here.

Lifeline Telephone Assistance Program

Lifeline offers a subsidy to cover monthly phone service bills, cell phone bills, and internet bills.  Consumers who qualify may use Lifeline to offset the cost of a landline or cell phone or broadband service with participating providers. To learn more about the Lifeline program, click here. Post information about Lifeline in your community and help spread the word today.  

Long Live Illinois Campaign

Check out the Illinois Department on Aging’s new spring campaign Long Live Illinois designed to reach under vaccinated older adults and encourage them to get up-to-date on their COVID-19 boosters.  We encourage you to share Long Live Illinois graphics and FAQs on your social media channels and in your newsletters! To access the toolkit, click here.

Legislative Update

The AALC is partnering with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to finalize quality measures and add-on payments for Supportive Living Providers related to the quality component of the skilled nursing Medicaid rate.  

We are also working with the Illinois General Assembly regarding investment in Supportive Living Memory Care and potential conversion of existing units.

Lastly, the AALC lobbying team is engaging our legislative champions and state partners as the General Assembly enters its primary budgeting portion of the legislative session and will have more information for AALC members as we approach the May 19th scheduled adjournment.

2023 Key Dates:  

March 24: Deadline – Third Reading Deadline - Substantive Senate Bills in the House

March 31: Deadline – Third Reading Deadline – Substantive Senate Bills in the Senate  

April 4:     Consolidated Election  

April 28:   Deadline – Substantive Bills Out of Committee in both Chambers  

May 11:    Deadline – Third Reading Substantive House Bills in Senate  

May 12:    Deadline – Third Reading Substantive Senate Bills in House  

May 19:    Adjournment

On the federal level, AALC is advocating for the passage of S.495 to expand veterans’ long term care options. Last month, the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would give eligible veterans access to assisted living. AALC supports this measure and believes that the Illinois Supportive Living Program would be a good candidate to participate in the initial pilot to learn more click here.

To review AALC’s priorities for 2023, click here.

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.