State Budget Released and HCBS Settings Webinar & In Person Meetings!

This week, I have been in Springfield for the Governor’s Budget address and department summaries, visits with legislators and participation today in the first listening session about the HCBS settings statewide transition plan at the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Governor’s FY21 Proposed Budget

The Arc of Illinois is very pleased that the Governor put forward a budget that invests in community living and prioritizes building capacity in state agencies staff and community organizations to respond to people’s needs.  We appreciate the effort to take steps to address the staffing crisis and the Medicaid backlog.  We look forward to working with the administration and legislators through this session to ensure expanded funding for community living.

Here is the Governor’s speech, and a budget proposal for state government in Fiscal Year 2021 (July 2020-June 2021).  Here is the budget details.

Select IDHS FY21 Budget Highlights Investment in Community-Based Services – improving wages for 100,000+ front line staff

  • Child Care Assistance Program funding of $69 million to support increase in provider rates
  • $96 million for front line staff serving persons with developmental disabilities
  • $46 million to support wage increase for individual providers serving customers of the Home Services Program

Continued progress on Olmstead Consent Decrees

  • $28.5 million for Ligas annualizations and new placements
  • $8 million additional funding for Comprehensive Services Pilot for Williams and Colbert class members
  • Funding for an additional 100 IDHS caseworkers to ensure residents who need services can get them in a timely manner.

Here is the slide show summary of the IDHS budget plan on our website.

Pritzker’s budget places about $1.4 billion in “reserve,” which would not be released unless voters decide in November they want to replace the state’s flat income tax rate with a graduated income tax.

HCBS Settings Statewide Transition Plan Webinar 

Please note that this webinar had to change dates in order that people could also attend a listening session at CAU on Feb 27.  We understand tha tit is in conflict with some other events including another Arc event.  We apologize but were limited due to the schedules of the presenters.  We will be recording the webinar and sharing the recording so even if you can not attend it live, you will be able to listen to the webinar and contact the Arc with questions. 

Keeping the Community in HCBS Funded Services:  

Understanding and Commenting on the Statewide Transition Plan

Tuesday, Feb 25 (PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE)

2-3:30 pm

Register here!

*Due to the scheduling of a DHS townhall on Feb 27 (see below for details), we moved our webinar to Feb 25 in order to ensure people feel prepared to give in person testimony. 

Join US!  Here are the DDD events to hear from people with disabilities, families and community organizations:

  • February 27, 2020, 10am to 11:30am, Community Alternatives Unlimited, 8765 W. Higgins Rd. Ste. Suite 300, Chicago, Ill. 60631,  RSVP preferred, but not required, to Elizabeth at eramossosa@cau.org
  • March 3, 2020, 10am to 11:30am, Springfield – Location TBD, No RSVP necessary

Register for the webinar here.  

Illinois released on Feb 5 an updated DRAFT statewide transition plan and is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to gather comments from community members.  We NEED YOUR HELP to ensure that the settings rule is implemented fully and the state puts FUNDING to support transition of HCBS services to meet the settings rules.  Comments are due March 5, 2020.

The revised Statewide Transition Plan is accessible through the HFS website: https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalClients/HCBS/Transition/Pages/TransitionPlan.aspx#Subhead6

Comments may be submitted online HFS.SWTransitionPlan@illinois.gov or written comments may be mailed to:

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Attn: Waiver Management

201 South Grand Ave East, FL 2 Springfield, IL 62763

Persons who are unable to access the Internet may request a hard copy of the revised draft plan by calling HFS at (217) 524-4148.

The great news is that ICDD has previously funded a lot of training about the settings rule.  Here are some important background information if you want to learn more or share this!

https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/hcbsrule/

https://c-q-l.org/HCBS-ACT/hcbs-act-video-clips

THE HCBS ADVOCACY COALITION 3-PART TOOLKIT:

The HCBS Settings Rules: What You Should Know!

  1. The HCBS Settings Rules: What You Should Know!
     
  2. The HCBS Settings Rules: Settings Presumed to be Institutional & the Heightened Scrutiny Process
     
  3. The HCBS Settings Rules: How to Advocate for Truly Integrated Community Settings | Download Abridged Version

Check out the HCBA-ACT website: https://c-q-l.org/HCBS-ACT