Illinois 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB0120 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/17/2025

                    104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB0120 Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 105/4.02 Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms. LRB104 06106 KTG 16139 b   A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB0120 Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:  20 ILCS 105/4.02 20 ILCS 105/4.02  Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms.  LRB104 06106 KTG 16139 b     LRB104 06106 KTG 16139 b   A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB0120 Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 105/4.02 20 ILCS 105/4.02
20 ILCS 105/4.02
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms.
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A BILL FOR
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1  AN ACT concerning State government.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by
5  changing Section 4.02 as follows:
6  (20 ILCS 105/4.02)
7  Sec. 4.02. Community Care Program. The Department shall
8  establish a program of services to prevent unnecessary
9  institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of
10  long term care or who are established as persons who suffer
11  from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder under the
12  Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act, thereby enabling them to
13  remain in their own homes or in other living arrangements.
14  Such preventive services, which may be coordinated with other
15  programs for the aged, may include, but are not limited to, any
16  or all of the following:
17  (a) (blank);
18  (b) (blank);
19  (c) home care aide services;
20  (d) personal assistant services;
21  (e) adult day services;
22  (f) home-delivered meals;
23  (g) education in self-care;

 

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB0120 Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 105/4.02 20 ILCS 105/4.02
20 ILCS 105/4.02
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms.
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A BILL FOR

 

 

20 ILCS 105/4.02



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1  (h) personal care services;
2  (i) adult day health services;
3  (j) habilitation services;
4  (k) respite care;
5  (k-5) community reintegration services;
6  (k-6) flexible senior services;
7  (k-7) medication management;
8  (k-8) emergency home response;
9  (l) other nonmedical social services that may enable
10  the person to become self-supporting; or
11  (m) (blank).
12  The Department shall establish eligibility standards for
13  such services. In determining the amount and nature of
14  services for which a person may qualify, consideration shall
15  not be given to the value of cash, property, or other assets
16  held in the name of the person's spouse pursuant to a written
17  agreement dividing marital property into equal but separate
18  shares or pursuant to a transfer of the person's interest in a
19  home to his spouse, provided that the spouse's share of the
20  marital property is not made available to the person seeking
21  such services.
22  The Department shall require as a condition of eligibility
23  that all new financially eligible applicants apply for and
24  enroll in medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois
25  Public Aid Code in accordance with rules promulgated by the
26  Department.

 

 

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1  The Department shall, in conjunction with the Department
2  of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family
3  Services), seek appropriate amendments under Sections 1915 and
4  1924 of the Social Security Act. The purpose of the amendments
5  shall be to extend eligibility for home and community based
6  services under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security
7  Act to persons who transfer to or for the benefit of a spouse
8  those amounts of income and resources allowed under Section
9  1924 of the Social Security Act. Subject to the approval of
10  such amendments, the Department shall extend the provisions of
11  Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code to persons who, but
12  for the provision of home or community-based services, would
13  require the level of care provided in an institution, as is
14  provided for in federal law. Those persons no longer found to
15  be eligible for receiving noninstitutional services due to
16  changes in the eligibility criteria shall be given 45 days
17  notice prior to actual termination. Those persons receiving
18  notice of termination may contact the Department and request
19  the determination be appealed at any time during the 45 day
20  notice period. The target population identified for the
21  purposes of this Section are persons age 60 and older with an
22  identified service need. Priority shall be given to those who
23  are at imminent risk of institutionalization. The services
24  shall be provided to eligible persons age 60 and older to the
25  extent that the cost of the services together with the other
26  personal maintenance expenses of the persons are reasonably

 

 

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1  related to the standards established for care in a group
2  facility appropriate to the person's condition. These
3  noninstitutional non-institutional services, pilot projects,
4  or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in
5  addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded
6  and administered by the Department of Human Services. The
7  Departments of Human Services, Healthcare and Family Services,
8  Public Health, Veterans' Affairs, and Commerce and Economic
9  Opportunity and other appropriate agencies of State, federal,
10  and local governments shall cooperate with the Department on
11  Aging in the establishment and development of the
12  noninstitutional non-institutional services. The Department
13  shall require an annual audit from all personal assistant and
14  home care aide vendors contracting with the Department under
15  this Section. The annual audit shall assure that each audited
16  vendor's procedures are in compliance with Department's
17  financial reporting guidelines requiring an administrative and
18  employee wage and benefits cost split as defined in
19  administrative rules. The audit is a public record under the
20  Freedom of Information Act. The Department shall execute,
21  relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written
22  inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services
23  and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to
24  effect the following: (1) intake procedures and common
25  eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving
26  noninstitutional non-institutional services; and (2) the

 

 

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1  establishment and development of noninstitutional
2  non-institutional services in areas of the State where they
3  are not currently available or are undeveloped. On and after
4  July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals
5  60 years of age or older shall be conducted by the Department.
6  As part of the Department on Aging's routine training of
7  case managers and case manager supervisors, the Department may
8  include information on family futures planning for persons who
9  are age 60 or older and who are caregivers of their adult
10  children with developmental disabilities. The content of the
11  training shall be at the Department's discretion.
12  The Department is authorized to establish a system of
13  recipient copayment for services provided under this Section,
14  such copayment to be based upon the recipient's ability to pay
15  but in no case to exceed the actual cost of the services
16  provided. Additionally, any portion of a person's income which
17  is equal to or less than the federal poverty standard shall not
18  be considered by the Department in determining the copayment.
19  The level of such copayment shall be adjusted whenever
20  necessary to reflect any change in the officially designated
21  federal poverty standard.
22  The Department, or the Department's authorized
23  representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for
24  services provided to or in behalf of a person under this
25  Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the
26  estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may

 

 

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1  be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any,
2  and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who
3  is under age 21 or blind or who has a permanent and total
4  disability. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery,
5  at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to
6  the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to
7  which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery
8  shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is
9  occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other
10  dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed
11  against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they
12  remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the
13  claimant to compel administration of the estate for the
14  purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from
15  the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the
16  Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid
17  Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this
18  Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf
19  of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery
20  from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in
21  this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real
22  estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined
23  by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare
24  and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.
25  The Department shall increase the effectiveness of the
26  existing Community Care Program by:

 

 

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1  (1) ensuring that in-home services included in the
2  care plan are available on evenings and weekends;
3  (2) ensuring that care plans contain the services that
4  eligible participants need based on the number of days in
5  a month, not limited to specific blocks of time, as
6  identified by the comprehensive assessment tool selected
7  by the Department for use statewide, not to exceed the
8  total monthly service cost maximum allowed for each
9  service; the Department shall develop administrative rules
10  to implement this item (2);
11  (3) ensuring that the participants have the right to
12  choose the services contained in their care plan and to
13  direct how those services are provided, based on
14  administrative rules established by the Department;
15  (4)(blank);
16  (5) ensuring that homemakers can provide personal care
17  services that may or may not involve contact with clients,
18  including, but not limited to:
19  (A) bathing;
20  (B) grooming;
21  (C) toileting;
22  (D) nail care;
23  (E) transferring;
24  (F) respiratory services;
25  (G) exercise; or
26  (H) positioning;

 

 

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1  (6) ensuring that homemaker program vendors are not
2  restricted from hiring homemakers who are family members
3  of clients or recommended by clients; the Department may
4  not, by rule or policy, require homemakers who are family
5  members of clients or recommended by clients to accept
6  assignments in homes other than the client;
7  (7) ensuring that the State may access maximum federal
8  matching funds by seeking approval for the Centers for
9  Medicare and Medicaid Services for modifications to the
10  State's home and community based services waiver and
11  additional waiver opportunities, including applying for
12  enrollment in the Balance Incentive Payment Program by May
13  1, 2013, in order to maximize federal matching funds; this
14  shall include, but not be limited to, modification that
15  reflects all changes in the Community Care Program
16  services and all increases in the services cost maximum;
17  (8) ensuring that the determination of need tool
18  accurately reflects the service needs of individuals with
19  Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders;
20  (9) ensuring that services are authorized accurately
21  and consistently for the Community Care Program (CCP); the
22  Department shall implement a Service Authorization policy
23  directive; the purpose shall be to ensure that eligibility
24  and services are authorized accurately and consistently in
25  the CCP program; the policy directive shall clarify
26  service authorization guidelines to Care Coordination

 

 

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1  Units and Community Care Program providers no later than
2  May 1, 2013;
3  (10) working in conjunction with Care Coordination
4  Units, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services,
5  the Department of Human Services, Community Care Program
6  providers, and other stakeholders to make improvements to
7  the Medicaid claiming processes and the Medicaid
8  enrollment procedures or requirements as needed,
9  including, but not limited to, specific policy changes or
10  rules to improve the up-front enrollment of participants
11  in the Medicaid program and specific policy changes or
12  rules to insure more prompt submission of bills to the
13  federal government to secure maximum federal matching
14  dollars as promptly as possible; the Department on Aging
15  shall have at least 3 meetings with stakeholders by
16  January 1, 2014 in order to address these improvements;
17  (11) requiring home care service providers to comply
18  with the rounding of hours worked provisions under the
19  federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and as set forth
20  in 29 CFR 785.48(b) by May 1, 2013;
21  (12) implementing any necessary policy changes or
22  promulgating any rules, no later than January 1, 2014, to
23  assist the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in
24  moving as many participants as possible, consistent with
25  federal regulations, into coordinated care plans if a care
26  coordination plan that covers long term care is available

 

 

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1  in the recipient's area; and
2  (13) (blank).
3  By January 1, 2009 or as soon after the end of the Cash and
4  Counseling Demonstration Project as is practicable, the
5  Department may, based on its evaluation of the demonstration
6  project, promulgate rules concerning personal assistant
7  services, to include, but need not be limited to,
8  qualifications, employment screening, rights under fair labor
9  standards, training, fiduciary agent, and supervision
10  requirements. All applicants shall be subject to the
11  provisions of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
12  The Department shall develop procedures to enhance
13  availability of services on evenings, weekends, and on an
14  emergency basis to meet the respite needs of caregivers.
15  Procedures shall be developed to permit the utilization of
16  services in successive blocks of 24 hours up to the monthly
17  maximum established by the Department. Workers providing these
18  services shall be appropriately trained.
19  No September 23, 1991 (Public Act 87-729) person may
20  perform chore/housekeeping and home care aide services under a
21  program authorized by this Section unless that person has been
22  issued a certificate of pre-service to do so by his or her
23  employing agency. Information gathered to effect such
24  certification shall include (i) the person's name, (ii) the
25  date the person was hired by his or her current employer, and
26  (iii) the training, including dates and levels. Persons

 

 

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1  engaged in the program authorized by this Section before the
2  effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 shall be issued a
3  certificate of all pre-service and in-service training from
4  his or her employer upon submitting the necessary information.
5  The employing agency shall be required to retain records of
6  all staff pre-service and in-service training, and shall
7  provide such records to the Department upon request and upon
8  termination of the employer's contract with the Department. In
9  addition, the employing agency is responsible for the issuance
10  of certifications of in-service training completed to their
11  employees.
12  The Department is required to develop a system to ensure
13  that persons working as home care aides and personal
14  assistants receive increases in their wages when the federal
15  minimum wage is increased by requiring vendors to certify that
16  they are meeting the federal minimum wage statute for home
17  care aides and personal assistants. An employer that cannot
18  ensure that the minimum wage increase is being given to home
19  care aides and personal assistants shall be denied any
20  increase in reimbursement costs.
21  The Community Care Program Advisory Committee is created
22  in the Department on Aging. The Director shall appoint
23  individuals to serve in the Committee, who shall serve at
24  their own expense. Members of the Committee must abide by all
25  applicable ethics laws. The Committee shall advise the
26  Department on issues related to the Department's program of

 

 

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1  services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. The
2  Committee shall meet on a bi-monthly basis and shall serve to
3  identify and advise the Department on present and potential
4  issues affecting the service delivery network, the program's
5  clients, and the Department and to recommend solution
6  strategies. Persons appointed to the Committee shall be
7  appointed on, but not limited to, their own and their agency's
8  experience with the program, geographic representation, and
9  willingness to serve. The Director shall appoint members to
10  the Committee to represent provider, advocacy, policy
11  research, and other constituencies committed to the delivery
12  of high quality home and community-based services to older
13  adults. Representatives shall be appointed to ensure
14  representation from community care providers, including, but
15  not limited to, adult day service providers, homemaker
16  providers, case coordination and case management units,
17  emergency home response providers, statewide trade or labor
18  unions that represent home care aides and direct care staff,
19  area agencies on aging, adults over age 60, membership
20  organizations representing older adults, and other
21  organizational entities, providers of care, or individuals
22  with demonstrated interest and expertise in the field of home
23  and community care as determined by the Director.
24  Nominations may be presented from any agency or State
25  association with interest in the program. The Director, or his
26  or her designee, shall serve as the permanent co-chair of the

 

 

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1  advisory committee. One other co-chair shall be nominated and
2  approved by the members of the committee on an annual basis.
3  Committee members' terms of appointment shall be for 4 years
4  with one-quarter of the appointees' terms expiring each year.
5  A member shall continue to serve until his or her replacement
6  is named. The Department shall fill vacancies that have a
7  remaining term of over one year, and this replacement shall
8  occur through the annual replacement of expiring terms. The
9  Director shall designate Department staff to provide technical
10  assistance and staff support to the committee. Department
11  representation shall not constitute membership of the
12  committee. All Committee papers, issues, recommendations,
13  reports, and meeting memoranda are advisory only. The
14  Director, or his or her designee, shall make a written report,
15  as requested by the Committee, regarding issues before the
16  Committee.
17  The Department on Aging and the Department of Human
18  Services shall cooperate in the development and submission of
19  an annual report on programs and services provided under this
20  Section. Such joint report shall be filed with the Governor
21  and the General Assembly on or before March 31 of the following
22  fiscal year.
23  The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
24  shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required
25  by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and
26  filing such additional copies with the State Government Report

 

 

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1  Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required
2  under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
3  Those persons previously found eligible for receiving
4  noninstitutional non-institutional services whose services
5  were discontinued under the Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal
6  Year 1992, and who do not meet the eligibility standards in
7  effect on or after July 1, 1992, shall remain ineligible on and
8  after July 1, 1992. Those persons previously not required to
9  cost-share and who were required to cost-share effective March
10  1, 1992, shall continue to meet cost-share requirements on and
11  after July 1, 1992. Beginning July 1, 1992, all clients will be
12  required to meet eligibility, cost-share, and other
13  requirements and will have services discontinued or altered
14  when they fail to meet these requirements.
15  For the purposes of this Section, "flexible senior
16  services" refers to services that require one-time or periodic
17  expenditures, including, but not limited to, respite care,
18  home modification, assistive technology, housing assistance,
19  and transportation.
20  The Department shall implement an electronic service
21  verification based on global positioning systems or other
22  cost-effective technology for the Community Care Program no
23  later than January 1, 2014.
24  The Department shall require, as a condition of
25  eligibility, application for the medical assistance program
26  under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

 

 

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1  The Department may authorize Community Care Program
2  services until an applicant is determined eligible for medical
3  assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
4  The Department shall continue to provide Community Care
5  Program reports as required by statute, which shall include an
6  annual report on Care Coordination Unit performance and
7  adherence to service guidelines and a 6-month supplemental
8  report.
9  In regard to community care providers, failure to comply
10  with Department on Aging policies shall be cause for
11  disciplinary action, including, but not limited to,
12  disqualification from serving Community Care Program clients.
13  Each provider, upon submission of any bill or invoice to the
14  Department for payment for services rendered, shall include a
15  notarized statement, under penalty of perjury pursuant to
16  Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that the
17  provider has complied with all Department policies.
18  The Director of the Department on Aging shall make
19  information available to the State Board of Elections as may
20  be required by an agreement the State Board of Elections has
21  entered into with a multi-state voter registration list
22  maintenance system.
23  The Department shall pay an enhanced rate of at least
24  $1.77 per unit under the Community Care Program to those
25  in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance
26  coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees

 

 

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1  pursuant to rules adopted by the Department. The Department
2  shall review the enhanced rate as part of its process to rebase
3  in-home service provider reimbursement rates pursuant to
4  federal waiver requirements. Subject to federal approval,
5  beginning on January 1, 2024, rates for adult day services
6  shall be increased to $16.84 per hour and rates for each way
7  transportation services for adult day services shall be
8  increased to $12.44 per unit transportation.
9  Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2024,
10  rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $28.07 to
11  sustain a minimum wage of $17 per hour for direct service
12  workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no
13  lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval.
14  Providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to
15  the Department that they remain in compliance with the
16  mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe
17  benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and
18  payment for training, health insurance, travel, or
19  transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate
20  increases described in this paragraph.
21  Subject to and upon federal approval, on and after January
22  1, 2025, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to
23  $29.63 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct
24  service workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall
25  be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal
26  approval. Providers of in-home services shall be required to

 

 

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1  certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with
2  the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Fringe
3  benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and
4  payment for training, health insurance, travel, or
5  transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate
6  increases described in this paragraph.
7  Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026,
8  rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to
9  sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service
10  workers. Rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no
11  lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. In
12  order for a provider of in-home services to be eligible to
13  receive the $32.75 rate, the provider must pay a minimum wage
14  of $20 per hour to all direct service workers employed by the
15  provider. Providers of in-home services shall be required to
16  certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with
17  the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. By no
18  more than 60 days after issuing notification of the rate
19  increase, the Department shall require providers of in-home
20  services to submit such certification to the Department in
21  order for the provider to be eligible for the $32.75 rate for
22  in-home services. The Department shall also require each
23  provider of in-home services to submit cost reports to the
24  Department consistent with Section 240.2023 of Title 89 of the
25  Illinois Administrative Code in order for the provider to be
26  eligible for the $32.75 rate for in-home services. Fringe

 

 

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1  benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and
2  payment for training, health insurance, travel, or
3  transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate
4  increases described in this paragraph.
5  To ensure that in-home service payment rates are adequate
6  to maintain a sufficient direct care workforce to meet the
7  needs of Community Care Program beneficiaries and provide
8  access to services in the amount, duration, and scope
9  specified in beneficiaries' person-centered service plans,
10  beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that
11  each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total
12  payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it
13  furnishes under the Community Care Program on total
14  compensation for direct service workers who furnish those
15  services. "Compensation" means salary, wages, and other
16  remuneration as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act and
17  implementing regulations (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq., 29 CFR Parts
18  531 and 778); benefits (such as health and dental benefits,
19  life and disability insurance, paid leave, retirement, and
20  tuition reimbursement); and the employer share of payroll
21  taxes for direct service workers delivering services
22  authorized under this Section. This calculation shall not
23  include excluded costs as defined in this paragraph. The
24  Department shall require each provider annually to submit a
25  direct service worker cost report certifying that the provider
26  has met the minimum spending requirement. The report must be

 

 

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1  based upon actual, documented expenditures, attested to by an
2  authorized representative of the provider, and submitted
3  within 6 months after the end of the reporting period. The
4  Department shall adopt rules amending current rules on
5  financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs to
6  implement this paragraph. If a provider fails to meet the
7  requirements of this paragraph, the Department may sanction
8  the provider by closing intake of Community Care Program
9  participants on some or all of the provider's contracts for a
10  period of time, or by terminating some or all of the provider's
11  contracts under the Community Care Program. For purposes of
12  this paragraph, "excluded costs" mean costs of administering
13  required trainings for direct service workers (such as costs
14  for qualified trainers and training materials); travel costs
15  for direct service workers (such as mileage reimbursement or
16  public transportation subsidies); costs of personal protective
17  equipment for direct service workers; and the cost of health
18  insurance coverage for direct service workers not exceeding
19  the value of an enhanced rate paid under the Community Care
20  Program to in-home service provider agencies that offer health
21  insurance coverage as a benefit to direct service workers
22  consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713.
23  The General Assembly finds it necessary to authorize an
24  aggressive Medicaid enrollment initiative designed to maximize
25  federal Medicaid funding for the Community Care Program which
26  produces significant savings for the State of Illinois. The

 

 

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1  Department on Aging shall establish and implement a Community
2  Care Program Medicaid Initiative. Under the Initiative, the
3  Department on Aging shall, at a minimum: (i) provide an
4  enhanced rate to adequately compensate care coordination units
5  to enroll eligible Community Care Program clients into
6  Medicaid; (ii) use recommendations from a stakeholder
7  committee on how best to implement the Initiative; and (iii)
8  establish requirements for State agencies to make enrollment
9  in the State's Medical Assistance program easier for seniors.
10  The Community Care Program Medicaid Enrollment Oversight
11  Subcommittee is created as a subcommittee of the Older Adult
12  Services Advisory Committee established in Section 35 of the
13  Older Adult Services Act to make recommendations on how best
14  to increase the number of medical assistance recipients who
15  are enrolled in the Community Care Program. The Subcommittee
16  shall consist of all of the following persons who must be
17  appointed within 30 days after June 4, 2018 (the effective
18  date of Public Act 100-587):
19  (1) The Director of Aging, or his or her designee, who
20  shall serve as the chairperson of the Subcommittee.
21  (2) One representative of the Department of Healthcare
22  and Family Services, appointed by the Director of
23  Healthcare and Family Services.
24  (3) One representative of the Department of Human
25  Services, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.
26  (4) One individual representing a care coordination

 

 

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1  unit, appointed by the Director of Aging.
2  (5) One individual from a non-governmental statewide
3  organization that advocates for seniors, appointed by the
4  Director of Aging.
5  (6) One individual representing Area Agencies on
6  Aging, appointed by the Director of Aging.
7  (7) One individual from a statewide association
8  dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research,
9  appointed by the Director of Aging.
10  (8) One individual from an organization that employs
11  persons who provide services under the Community Care
12  Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.
13  (9) One member of a trade or labor union representing
14  persons who provide services under the Community Care
15  Program, appointed by the Director of Aging.
16  (10) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as
17  co-chairperson, appointed by the President of the Senate.
18  (11) One member of the Senate, who shall serve as
19  co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
20  Senate.
21  (12) One member of the House of Representatives, who
22  shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Speaker of
23  the House of Representatives.
24  (13) One member of the House of Representatives, who
25  shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Minority
26  Leader of the House of Representatives.

 

 

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1  (14) One individual appointed by a labor organization
2  representing frontline employees at the Department of
3  Human Services.
4  The Subcommittee shall provide oversight to the Community
5  Care Program Medicaid Initiative and shall meet quarterly. At
6  each Subcommittee meeting the Department on Aging shall
7  provide the following data sets to the Subcommittee: (A) the
8  number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and
9  service area, who are receiving services under the Community
10  Care Program and are enrolled in the State's Medical
11  Assistance Program; (B) the number of Illinois residents,
12  categorized by planning and service area, who are receiving
13  services under the Community Care Program, but are not
14  enrolled in the State's Medical Assistance Program; and (C)
15  the number of Illinois residents, categorized by planning and
16  service area, who are receiving services under the Community
17  Care Program and are eligible for benefits under the State's
18  Medical Assistance Program, but are not enrolled in the
19  State's Medical Assistance Program. In addition to this data,
20  the Department on Aging shall provide the Subcommittee with
21  plans on how the Department on Aging will reduce the number of
22  Illinois residents who are not enrolled in the State's Medical
23  Assistance Program but who are eligible for medical assistance
24  benefits. The Department on Aging shall enroll in the State's
25  Medical Assistance Program those Illinois residents who
26  receive services under the Community Care Program and are

 

 

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1  eligible for medical assistance benefits but are not enrolled
2  in the State's Medicaid Assistance Program. The data provided
3  to the Subcommittee shall be made available to the public via
4  the Department on Aging's website.
5  The Department on Aging, with the involvement of the
6  Subcommittee, shall collaborate with the Department of Human
7  Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services
8  on how best to achieve the responsibilities of the Community
9  Care Program Medicaid Initiative.
10  The Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services,
11  and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall
12  coordinate and implement a streamlined process for seniors to
13  access benefits under the State's Medical Assistance Program.
14  The Subcommittee shall collaborate with the Department of
15  Human Services on the adoption of a uniform application
16  submission process. The Department of Human Services and any
17  other State agency involved with processing the medical
18  assistance application of any person enrolled in the Community
19  Care Program shall include the appropriate care coordination
20  unit in all communications related to the determination or
21  status of the application.
22  The Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative shall
23  provide targeted funding to care coordination units to help
24  seniors complete their applications for medical assistance
25  benefits. On and after July 1, 2019, care coordination units
26  shall receive no less than $200 per completed application,

 

 

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