HR0360 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0360 LRB098 12132 GRL 46024 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' Medicaid program includes coverage for durable medical equipment; and

WHEREAS, Durable medical equipment covered under Illinois' Medicaid program includes augmentative and alternative communication devices; and

WHEREAS, Augmentative and alternative communication devices are used by children and adults with disabilities with severely limited or no speech due to various disorders, including cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, aphasia, verbal apraxia, and stroke; and

WHEREAS, An evaluation, diagnosis, and recommendation by a licensed speech and language pathologist, including use of a device on a trial basis and documentation of the results, is required before the acquisition of an augmentative and alternative communication device may be authorized for an individual under Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, A tablet device with appropriate applications is the augmentative and alternative communication device recommended by licensed speech and language pathologists for some individuals with communication disabilities, based upon their individual needs and circumstances following an evaluation; and

WHEREAS, A tablet device and applications may be an appropriate and less expensive augmentative and alternative communication device for individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Several other states' Medicaid programs allow for the acquisition of tablet devices and applications for individuals in need of augmentative and alternative communication; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' Medicaid program does not currently approve the acquisition of tablet devices and applications as augmentative and alternative communication devices; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created the Augmentative and Alternative Communications Task Force within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to study whether it would be in the best interests of the State of Illinois and its residents with communications disabilities to include tablet devices with appropriate applications as durable medical equipment covered under the Medicaid program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the membership of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, shall not receive compensation for serving on the Task Force, and must include appropriate staff from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, including at least one licensed speech and language pathologist, other experts in the field of augmentative and alternative communication, and a representative of Illinois' federally-funded assistive technology program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall facilitate and convene the Task Force and provide administrative support to the Task Force; the Task Force shall meet at least three times, the first meeting to be held no later than September 3, 2013, and fully review and assess the potential benefits, including cost savings, of covering tablet devices and applications as durable medical equipment for individuals with communications disabilities, and shall issue a report to the General Assembly and to the Governor of its findings and recommendations not later than March 1, 2014; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of Healthcare and Family Services.