The Arc of Illinois Call To Action: HCBS Settings Webinar & In Person Meetings!

Speak Up for Community Living! Turnout for Townhalls, Webinar and Comments Needed!

You have several opportunities this week and next to speak up to ensure that HCBS waiver dollars are spent on community like settings.  Remember HCBS waiver dollars are limited, unlike institutional spending and there is a significant wait list for services.  Therefore, it is really important that the state stand strong on spending those dollars on services and supports that help people live in community like everyone else.  The arc will release some summary statements tomorrow to support people who want to comment.

1) 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

2) March 3, 2020, 10am to 11:30am

Illinois State Capitol, 501 S. Second Street, Room 122B, Springfield, IL  62756

RSVP not required

3) 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 that it 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)

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.  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. 

Register for the webinar here.

3) DON’T FORGET! 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.

From DDD:

Some additional information:

Public notice link is on HFS Public Notices page  https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/info/legal/PublicNotices/Pages/default.aspx Link for the revised draft STP document

https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/RevisedStatewideTransitionPlanFebruary52020.pdf

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 STP posted does have a “Summary of Revisions to Illinois’ HCBS Waiver Statewide Transition Plan” on page 3 for reference.   Below for easy reference is the info from page 3, with several clarifiers added since, highlighted in yellow. 

New

Table of Contents

Summary of Revisions to Illinois’ HCBS Waiver Statewide Transition Plan

Appendix A         Major Rule, Policy and Form Changes Relating to Federal Person-Centered Planning and

Settings Requirements

Appendix CLocations of Illinois HCBS Waiver Sites Receiving On-Site Assessment Visits in 2016    

                                 Sorted Alphabetically by Agency, County and City

Appendix DLocations of Illinois HCBS Waiver Sites Receiving On-Site Assessment Visits in 2016       

   Sorted Alphabetically by County, City and Agency

Appendix F         Heightened Scrutiny Sites                                                                                                              

Appendix N        Provider Notice  – 12/31/2015                                                                            

Updates

Throughout the Statewide Transition Plan to re-letter Appendices as necessary and update the federal Settings compliance deadline from March 17, 2019 to March 17, 2022

Executive Summary – Updates to language appearing on pages 8  through 17

Appendix B-1     System Remediation Grid – Department on Aging Waiver                                           

Appendix B-2     System Remediation Grid – Division of Specialized Care for Children MFTD Waiver       

Appendix B-3     System Remediation Grid – DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Waivers              

Appendix B-4     System Remediation Grid – DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services Waivers                

Appendix B-5     System Remediation Grid – HFS Supportive Living Program Waiver

Appendix G         Action Steps to Bring Illinois into Compliance 

Appendix O-3     Summary of Public Comment on Revised Plan – updated language at bottom of page 287 re: CMS guidance issued on 3/22/2019

Background Info

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!

  1.  
    1. https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/hcbsrule/
    1. https://c-q-l.org/HCBS-ACT/hcbs-act-video-clips

THE HCBS ADVOCACY COALITION 3-PART TOOLKIT:

  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