Table of Contents:
- HHS Opens Portal to Distribute $15 Billion to Medicaid & CHIP Providers
- DDD Reinvent and Restore Communication
- IM+CANS Provider Portal and Batch Import Data File Available July 1, 2020
- IM+CANS Informational Webinars Scheduled
- DMH Clarification of PPP & DMH May Payments
- Governor Signs FY21 Budget Package.
- Durbin Seeks More Robust Federal Funding for Community Health Centers
- CARES Act Funding for Disability Housing
- IDPH Long-Term Care Recorded Webinar
- Celebrate Developmental Disability Professionals Day on July 15th
- Foothold Technology’s Project Expressions Open for Submissions
- Vote Yes For Fair Tax Organizational Sign-On
- Are You Interested in Serving as an Integrated Health Home?
- Equip for Equality Requesting Input on Priorities
- DHS DDD Information Bulletin Drafts
- Invitation to Provide Input on Equip for Equality's Priorities - Virtual Meeting on 6/24
- IARF Webinar: WC-102: Communication & Restricted Duty
HHS OPENS PORTAL TO DISTRIBUTE $15 BILLION TO MEDICAID & CHIP PROVIDERS
Earlier this week HHS announced, then subsequently opened its portal to allow Medicaid and CHIP providers to seek funding appropriated in the CARES Act. After several weeks of delays, which included a letter from heads of leading Congressional Committees, the portal is now open for providers to apply for and receive a minimum of 2% of gross annual Medicaid funding. Below are helpful links:
Portal Link
Application
Instructions
Terms and Conditions
FAQs
We’ve been advised the application requests a significant amount of information, some of which may not seem related to the distribution. Also, based on experiences with distributions from the Medicare portal, we should be prepared for some changes along the way. Providers have until July 20th to apply for funding from the portal, and must submit the attestation form within 90 days of receiving funding.
NOTE: Unlike the PPP program, you don’t need to worry about ‘funds running out’ as HHS has already collected Medicaid data from states. It may be worth providers considering given this a few days for any additional guidance and technical assistance to surface. (Contact: Josh Evans)
DDD REINVENT AND RESTORE COMMUNICATION
Earlier this week, Director Stark released a DDD Communication to the provider community. The communication outlines COVID-19 changes that will continue into FY 21 and those that will be modified, effective July 1, 2020. Among those changes includes extending CDS closures through August 31, introduction of reinvention payments and allowing 37U billing for all individuals in CILA services. Information Bulletins will be forthcoming from the Division outlining changes. A full list of all changes that will take effect July 1 can be found in the communication linked above.
The Director summarized the memo on the statewide provider call yesterday and answered a series of questions. Additional questions were submitted via email and we expect the I/DD Committee to discuss the communication during its meeting next week as we await additional guidance from the Division.
(Contact: Beth Owens)
IM+CANS PROVIDER PORTAL AND BATCH IMPORT DATA FILE AVAILABLE JULY 1, 2020
HFS released the following notice announcing the launch of the IM+CANS Provider Portal on July 1, 2020, and the availability of a batch import process in the portal for providers who are required to utilize the Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Assessment of Needs and Strengths (IM+CANS):
On July 1, 2020, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will open the IM+CANS Provider Portal to all providers who utilize the IM+CANS. Providers will have the option of utilizing direct data entry to enter IM+CANS data into the Portal or utilizing a batch import process. Providers will be required to begin entering data via a direct data entry or batch import method on July 1, 2020.
Providers who utilize the batch import process must use the Department’s standardized file format when uploading data into the IM+CANS Provider Portal. The IM+CANS Batch Import Guide, Standardized Batch Import File Format and IM+CANS Portal Data Dictionary are accessible on the IM+CANS Provider Portal section of the HFS website.
Questions regarding this notice, the IM+CANS or the IM+CANS Portal may be directed to the Bureau of Behavioral Health via telephone at 217-557-1000 or email at HFS.BBH@illinois.gov. For technical questions regarding the Batch Upload process, please email HFS.CRSHelp@illinois.gov.
IARF is working collaboratively with our fellow trade associations to attempt to address lingering questions about implementing the above changes, and will keep members appraised as soon as possible. (Contact Dan Frey)
IM+CANS INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS SCHEDULED
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will be hosting a series of informational webinars on the Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Assessment Needs and Strengths (IM+CANS) Provider Portal.
The informational webinars will cover the functionality of the IM+CANS Provider Portal, as well as technical details related to the batch upload process of the Portal.
The links to pre-register for the webinar trainings can be found. Providers may pre-register up to 60 minutes prior to the start of the webinars. You can view the available dates and webinars by clicking here. (Contact Dan Frey)
DMH CLARIFICATION OF PPP & DMH MAY PAYMENTS
DHS Secretary Hou sent a communication on June 3, 2020 regarding the CARES Act’s Federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP). This alert includes additional DMH-specific information. In order to calculate appropriate May payments, DMH needs each IDHS/DMH-funded provider organization to complete a PPP survey at dhs.illinois.gov/cv/ppp.
DMH Fiscal Operations staff are reaching out, by phone, to providers who indicate on the survey that they were approved for PPP. This is necessary in order to obtain further grant-level information. Once we have this information, we will be able to process your payments.
Please note: providers approved for PPP in April who have already completed the survey do not need to complete it again. Additionally, payments to providers who were ineligible to apply for PPP or were denied enrollment into the program are already being processed.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, which should be sent to Brock Dunlap, Deputy Director of Business Policy and Fiscal Operations (Brock.Dunlap@illinois.gov) (Contact Dan Frey)
GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNS FY21 BUDGET PACKAGE
On Wednesday, Governor Pritzker signed the FY21 budget package into law. The budget seeks up to $5 billion in borrowing from the Federal Reserve to make up for shortfalls in GRF and assumes additional federal funding to come later this summer through an act of Congress.
As members are aware, the behavioral health budget largely reflects the Governor’s proposed budget, while debate continues on how to implement the $1.00 and $0.50/hr wage rate component increases in the I/DD budget. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
DURBIN SEEKS MORE ROBUST FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has joined several dozen colleagues in calling for more funding for community health centers facing financial fallout from COVID-19. Durbin joined 40 other senators in a letter last week sent to the Senate appropriation committee’s health subcommittee asking for additional emergency money in the next COVID-19 package.
They wrote that community health centers have played a critical role in responding to the pandemic by offering testing and services that help keep people out of emergency rooms, where beds are in high need. (Contact Dan Frey)
CARES ACT FUNDING FOR DISABILITY HOUSING
Federal officials have allocated millions of dollars for new housing opportunities for people with disabilities across the nation. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making available nearly $77 million to support as many as 8,300 housing vouchers for this population. The funding is being offered through the Section 811 Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program. It was announced late last month and is part of the CARES Act, a large coronavirus relief package approved by Congress in March. Read the full article in Disability Scoop HERE. (Contact: Beth Owens)
IDPH LONG-TERM CARE RECORDED WEBINAR
On June 5th IDPH hosted a COVID-19 Question and Answer Session for Long-Term Care and Congregate Residential Setting Webinar. The webinar provided information on upcoming IDPH webinars, LTCF NHSN IDPH Group, information, resources for testing in long-term care and offered time for open Q & A. As a reminder, ICF/DD’s are not included in the LTC testing mandates at this time. The recorded webinar in its entirety can be found HERE. (Contact: Beth Owens)
CELEBRATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROFESSIONALS DAY ON JULY 15TH
Developmental Disability Professionals go by many names – QIDPs, Case Managers, and Service Coordinators to name just a few. Regardless of formal title, their purpose is to assist people with developmental disabilities to live full, meaningful, and productive lives. Developmental Disability Professionals fulfill a variety of roles – they facilitate the provision of residential services, create employment opportunities, serve as behavior analysts, coordinate medical services and much more.
Developmental Disability Professionals provide services to some of the most vulnerable people in our country. They do so because they recognize that all people are an inherently valuable and important part of the fabric of our communities. Developmental Disability Professionals are resilient in times of challenge, uncompromising in the provision of outstanding supports and tenacious advocates for positive change. They have played a critical part in advancing the rights of people with developmental disabilities and deserve recognition for their tireless efforts to this end.
NAQ is the proud founder of Developmental Disability Professionals Day. As the leading national association representing such professionals, we encourage provider organizations, parents, and people with disabilities to formally recognize the important role that these professionals play in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now, more than ever, we need to thank Development Disability Professionals for their dedication and commitment – often in the face of great personal sacrifice.
How you choose to recognize your favorite Developmental Disability Professional is entirely up to you. Maybe you’d like to send a heartfelt thank-you card. Perhaps they would appreciate a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or a candy bouquet delivered to their office. Maybe they’d like to attend an event or training opportunity. Now, get out there and celebrate! (Contact: Maggie Henley)
FOOTHOLD TECHNOLOGY’S PROJECT EXPRESSION OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
Foothold Technology invites individuals supported by provider organizations to participate in an art contest series that will commemorate their company’s core values. A winner will be selected for each value, and Foothold Technology will purchase the artwork from the winning artist for $200. The winning artwork will be displayed prominently in Foothold's office, and the winning individual will also be highlighted on Foothold's website and in its client newsletter, Footnotes.
Submissions for the third core value, Balance, are being accepted until July 17th. To view full contest details, click here or download the submission form here. Please reach out with any questions and submissions to elliot@footholdtechnology.com. (Contact: Maggie Henley)
VOTE YES FOR FAIR TAX ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN-ON
As you all know, IARF last December unanimously passed a resolution to support the Illinois Fair Tax initiative. As a part of that initiative, IARF has been participating in the Vote Yes for Fair Tax and Vote Yes for Fairness committees.
Vote Yes for Fair Tax has requested that organizations who support the passage of the Fair Tax constitutional amendment in November sign on to formally list their support. You can do so by clicking here. IARF has signed on as a supportive organization as well and will be hosting a webinar on June 10th for those who are interested in learning more about Vote Yes for Fair Tax; click here to register. (Contact Dan Frey)
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING AS AN INTEGRATED HEALTH HOME?
With the launch of the Integrated Health Home (IHH) now pushed back to January 1, 2021, there are ways to begin the process of becoming an IHH ahead of more specific information or criteria becoming available. If you are interested in serving as an IHH, please let the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP) know and they will send that information on to the Medicaid health plans.
Complete the IHH Submission Form and IAMHP will send at least a weekly report to the plans with your information. (Contact Dan Frey)
DDD INFORMATION BULLETINS
DHS DDD recently sent out the following email on DRAFT information bulletins:
Dear Providers:
Please be advised that the DDD has attached to this email three DRAFT Information Bulletins for your review and comment. Please send any communication to DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov.
A link to each of the three DRAFT Information Bulletins is here:
Please reach out if you have any additional comments or concerns. Thank you! (Contact: Luis Andrade)
INVITATION TO PROVIDE INPUT ON EQUIP FOR EQUALITY’S PRIORITIES – VIRTUAL MEETING ON 6/24
Equip for Equality Needs Your Input!
E4E are always looking for suggestions on how we can best meet the legal advocacy needs of people with disabilities in Illinois. They have an annual priorities planning process, and we ask the public to offer ideas that will help us implement priorities that are valued most in the disability community. You can read their
current priorities and provide your input in two ways:
Participate in their virtual public meeting.
Wednesday June 24, 20202:00 pm - 4:00 pm Via Zoom Webinar
All participants must register prior to the meeting. Once you register, info on how to access the Zoom meeting will be e-mailed to you. People can participate via computer or by phone.
Register online here. The meeting will have captioning and ASL interpretation. If you need additional accommodations to participate, please contact Barry Taylor at barryt@equipforequality.org by June 17.
OR
If you can’t attend the meeting, complete their
Disability Legal Needs Survey online or download a
printer-friendly survey and email it to
contactus@equipforequality.org by July 3, 2020. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
IARF WEBINAR: WC-102 COMMUNICATION & RESTRICTED DUTY
On June 30
th IARF will host our second webinar in the Workers’ Compensation Webinar Series with Lori Beers. In course 102, we will dig a bit deeper into working with modified duty restrictions. This section will include how to facilitate communication between you, the employee, and the doctor, regarding modified duty work. We’ll discuss how to track and monitor modified duty, to ensure employee safety and compliance. Lastly, we’ll go over the rules regarding time away from work for injury related medical treatment.
At the end of this course, attendees will:
- Understand the rules for communicating with the doctor and injured employee with regards to work restrictions.
- Understand how to track and monitor work restrictions.
- Understand how to handle time away from work for injury related medical treatment.
Click here to learn more and register today. This webinar is free for IARF members and member login is required for registration. If you have any questions, please contact mhenley@iarf.org. (Contact: Maggie Henley)
