The Lead August 24, 2023
From the Desk of Angela Schnepf, President and CEO
On August 15, we attended the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) hearing as the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPHs) proposed changes to the Assisted Living regulations are on their agenda. As a result of ongoing negotiations with the Department and our continued concerns on their changes, JCAR has agreed to an extension and will hold these rules for consideration until the September 12 meeting. We remain strongly opposed to the tripling of licensure fees. We continue to have discussions with IDPH as the next hearing date nears. We will keep you updated on all activities surrounding the proposed changes and negotiations.
Kindest regards,
Angela
Sheltered Care Boot Camp Recap
The LeadingAge Illinois Sheltered Care Boot Camp was held yesterday in Lisle. Close to 30 sheltered care members attended the inaugural event.
Dr. Albertina Donaldson, assistant division chief of long term care at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), opened the session with an overview of IDPH survey issues and procedures. Adam Guetzow and Elizabeth Heredia, attorneys at Hinshaw and Culbertson, discussed the best practices to employ while in the survey process and the violation appeal process along with addressing attendee questions and issues.
Who’s Ready for Topgolf? LeadingAge Illinois Networking Event
Thursday, September 14
3:00 – 5:00 PM
2050 Progress Pkwy
Schaumburg, IL
Recommended Contribution of $150 Per Person or more to the LeadingAge Illinois PAC to attend.
Please join us at a unique LeadingAge Illinois networking event at Schaumburg’s premier entertainment destination. Enjoy an afternoon of fun, food & drink, and conversation with fellow members in climate controlled hitting bays.
The activity part of this event is for all skill levels and not competitive and just for fun. Food and drinks are included in your ticket purchase. Come join us for this unique event, while also supporting the LeadingAge Illinois PAC.
Purchase Your Event Tickets Here by September 12
Note: When making your $150 or more payment via the PayPal link, please type “Topgolf” in the “Write a note” section.
Medicaid Ready to Renew Toolkit
The Ready to Renew messaging toolkit be found at the Ready to Renew Toolkit Webpage of HFS or document from IAMHP. You can use these materials through your communication channels to help people who use Medicaid get ready to renew their coverage.
This week, Governor Pritzker held a press conference to reaffirm Illinois’ commitment to protect coverage for eligible Medicaid customers, as annual eligibility verifications resume. Medicaid customers haven’t been through a redetermination in over three years, which is why it’s so important that they’re ready when their renewal date comes up. We are firmly committed to offering as much assistance as customers need to get through this process because the State wants everyone who is eligible for Medicaid to continue to be covered, without any disruption. Click here for the full press release.
Supportive Living:
Updated Supportive Living Program Provided Cost Reports
Click here for the most updated reports.
Nursing/Rehabilitation:
Updated 2023 LTC Forms and Instructions
Click here for the short form information for sheltered care and non-Medicaid communities.
Other:
Help Set the LeadingAge Illinois 2024 Public Policy Priorities
LeadingAge Illinois had a successful legislative session in 2023, unanimously passing a number of our member-driven public policy priorities. The 2024 session will be here before we know it and we have been putting together our 2024 priorities and will continue to seek solutions to member challenges.
We need your input. Let us know what barriers and challenges you are facing due to statutes and regulations limiting you from continuing to provide the highest level of care and services to older adults. Send your ideas and feedback to Jason Speaks, director of government relations.
Throughout this most trying time, maintaining mental health can be a challenge. Through the Lead, we will be sharing resources and information on mental health as well as speaking with legislators and regulators on assistance needed in our member communities. The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) has many resources for mental health, some of which are income-based and others for the general community.
The White House released a fact sheet on all of the Administration’s efforts to date on their strategy to address the National Mental Health Crisis. On July 25, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor issued proposed rules to strengthen mental healthcare access. According to the White House, the package of proposed rules would ensure “families have the same access to mental health and substance use benefits as they do physical health benefits. And it would make it easier to get in-network mental health care and eliminate barriers to access that keep people from getting the care they need, when they need it.” The proposed rules would require health plans to analyze where they are failing to meet their requirements under the law, and will require plans to improve access to mental health care – by including more mental health professionals in their networks or reducing red tape to get care – to be in compliance with the law. The proposed rules also provide specific examples that make clear that health plans cannot use more restrictive prior authorization, other medical management techniques, or narrower networks that make it harder for people to access mental health and substance use disorder benefits than their medical benefits. Under the proposed rules, health plans would also have to use similar factors in setting out-of-network payment rates for mental health and substance use disorder providers as they do for medical providers.
Click here for the LeadingAge Mental Well Being Resources