Members, 

With the Public Health Emergency ending this month, we're excited to return to a new normal with the launch of in-person meetings, state-wide competitions and more!

Between AALC's recent success in the legislative session, our in-person Annual Meeting in October, and the relaunch of our popular Wii Bowling and Spelling Bee competitions this summer, we believe it is "our time to thrive!" 

Legislation: Knowing our work is never done, AALC is happy with our significant gains this year toward advancing and protecting the Supportive Living Program(SLP). You can read more about our achievements in securing a rate increase for the Supportive Living Dementia Care Setting in the legislative section below.

Events: Registration for all in-person events, including the Annual Meeting, Wii Bowling, and Spelling Bee competitions, opens in June, and we encourage you to sign up your residents and staff to participate in the fun! Visit our website to find out more about our upcoming events! Lastly, visit our online store to order t-shirts, buttons, and balloons to show everyone that it is "our time to thrive!"

SL 2023: Help us demonstrate the spirit of community, healthy living, and friendships made possible through SLP by posting photos of your residents as they participate in SL activities throughout the year. Be sure to tag @AALCIllinois and use hashtags:#OurTimeToThrive-SL2023 and #SpiritofSupportiveLiving so we can track and promote your community on social media!

Policy Update

SLP DCS Applications are due TODAY! May 31, 2023.

To read more about the limited Expansion of the Supportive Living Program Dementia Care Setting, click here. Note, applications and materials should be postmarked no later than May 31, 2023 and directed to:

Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Bureau of Long Term Care – Supportive Living Program

201 South Grand Ave East, FL 3 

Springfield, IL 62763

Reminder! Service Planning Requirements for SLP residents enrolled in MCOs

As you know, since July 2020, MCO case managers have assisted SLP residents in developing their services plan. Check out the recent HFS Provider Notice that includes contact information for each MCO by clicking here.

Medicaid Asset Limit Increase!

HFS announced this month that the customer resource (also known as asset) limit has increased moving from $2000 for an individual and $3000 for a couple to $17,500 for both individuals and couples. The resource test has resumed now that the Public Health Emergency has ended. To learn more, click here.

COVID-19 Guidance and the End of The PHE

This month IDPH issued updated interim guidance to provide guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and other long-term care (LTC) facilities that provide skilled personal care services. Facilities whose staff provide non-skilled personal care, should follow the separate IDPH Interim COVID-19 Guidelines for Assisted Living and Other Higher Risk Community Congregate Living Settings. To learn more, click here.

Additional Documents:

COVID-19 Guidelines for Assisted Living, and other Higher Risk Community Congregate Living Settings, click here to view.

Updated LTC COVID-19 Guidance End of PHE, click here to view.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:

End of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition Frequently Asked Questions

On May 12, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a 15-page FAQ document for State Medicaid agencies on the end of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition. The FAQ document provides additional information and clarification on the Medicaid redetermination and unwinding process. The FAQ includes guidance in the following areas:

• Returned mail condition, which was added by the CAA, 2023 into Section 6008(f)(2)(c) of the FFCRA and established a new condition for receiving the FFCRA temporary FMAP increase.
• Medicaid and CHIP resumption of premiums, and the modifications of the condition found in the CAA, 2023, and described in SHO#23-002.
• Renewals for individuals receiving SSI in Section 1634 States.
• Data sharing requirements for beneficiary information.
• Former foster care child group 1115 authority.

Click here to view the full FAQ document.

Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):

The Unwinding of Medicaid Continuous Enrollment: Knowledge and Experiences of Enrollees

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has released a brief that gauges Medicaid enrollees' knowledge of and preparedness for the Medicaid renewal process and possible disenrollment from the Medicaid program. The findings are based on a survey of health insurance consumers fielded between February 21, 2023, and March 14, 2023. Key findings indicate that most Medicaid enrollees were not aware that states are now permitted to resume disenrolling people from the Medicaid program, and nearly half of the Medicaid enrollees indicated they have not been through a renewal process, including two-thirds of older adults. The brief also notes that fewer older adults indicate they have provided updated contact information to their state Medicaid agency.

Click here to read the full brief.

Legislative Update

With the 2023 Spring Legislative adjourning, AALC is pleased to share that it secured a desperately needed dementia care rate increase that will finally allow SLP DCS construction to move forward. AALC has been working on this initiative since 2020 when it became clear that COVID-19 had dramatically changed the operating environment and the increased cost of care was prohibiting expansion. Beginning January 2024, the new SLP DCS rate will be 1.5 times the non-dementia supportive living Medicaid rate up from 1.27 times. 

Additionally, AALC worked tirelessly to enact protections that would ensure existing providers were not inadvertently harmed by the current planned expansion of the SLP DCS. The application to obtain SLP DCS approval for sites in a select few counties closes on May 31^st and HFS indicated it would announce approvals in early fall.  

Since Supportive Living rates remain linked to nursing facility rates, Supportive Living rates will also see an increase in January 2023 owing to the $90 million increase allocated to the support component of the nursing facility rates. This translates to around an additional $10 million for the Supportive Living Program.

AALC will continue its work with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to implement enhanced payments for quality and make permanent the temporary rate increase implemented in January 2023 to offset the loss of SNAP. All rate increases will likely require that the Department amend the current waiver and we will be monitoring closely, ready to submit public comments.

AALC is grateful that Legislative Leaders who continue to champion and protect our Supportive Living Program, recognize the value and quality the SLP model delivers to those who are among the most vulnerable in our communities. 

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.