I encourage you to make comments about concerns or recommendations for the 1115
Waiver.
They do not have to be formal testimony rather simple statements or opinion such as
“Direct Support Professionals deserve a living wage because they provide valuable
supports so people can continue to live in the community.”
Comments are extremely important because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)
will be reviewing those comments as they discuss priorities for this 1115 Waiver with the
Governor’s team.
Any interested party may direct comments, data, views, or arguments concerning these
proposed changes. All comments not provided at the hearing must be made in writing by
March 10, 2014, and should be addressed to:
Theresa Eagleson, Administrator
Division of Medical Programs
Department of Healthcare and Family Services
201 South Grand Avenue East, 3rd Floor
Springfield IL 62794
Email address: hfs.bpra@illinois.gov
About 200 people showed up for the final open hearing on the 1115 Medicaid
Transformation Waiver meeting in Chicago.
Deputy Governor Crystal Thomas was joined by Margie Schaps, Executive Director of Health
& Medicine Policy Research Group. Throughout this entire process, I have been very pleased
with the high level of the Governor’s team that has been present at all of these meetings. The
level openness and the opportunity for advocates to present testimony is very much
appreciated by The Arc. We hope the transparency continues throughout the process.
The Arc’s Testimony
Deputy Governor Thomas, thank you for the opportunity to present testimony on the 1115
Medicaid Transformation Waiver.
The Arc was pleased to review the Expenditure Plan for the 1115 Waiver. It included:
Resources to reduce the waiting list – $60,000,000
Increase in service costs to bring parity to waivers – $150,000,000
Children’s Mental Health Services – $30,000,000
Increased rates for residential providers – $38,400,000
We recommend the following priorities for the Expenditure Plan:
Elimination of the PUNS Waiting List
Increasing Direct Support Professionals wages & benefits
Increased funding for Employment First Initiatives
Creating and downsizing CILA and other community living options
Because the outcomes in the grant are medically orientated, we recommend that National
Core Indicators be used for outcomes for developmental disability services/supports. The
State has already adopted the National Core Indicators.
Replace the ICAP with the Supports Intensity Scale as a best practice validated evaluation
tool for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Incorporate within the 1115 Waiver a “stay put” policy for individuals in the appeal process.
The Arc was also surprised by the omission of two important grants to the University of
Illinois at Chicago:
UIC Assistive Technology Unit
UIC Developmental Disabilities Family Clinics
We recommend that full funding be restored.
I will share with you a more complete list of our recommendations when we submit our final
comments on March 10, 2014.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
