Section 663.120  Allowable Uses of Grant Funds and Reimbursement Procedures and Requirements

a)         All grant funds shall be used for the purpose of prevention, care, and treatment of sickle cell disease or for educational programs concerning the disease. (Section 131-5 of the Act)

b)         The Department shall determine the maximum amount available for each grant awarded based upon the funds available in the Sickle Cell Chronic Disease Fund;

c)         The Department shall determine policies for the expiration and renewal of grants which follow federal, State, and Departmental rules and guidelines;

d)         Grant funds shall be used only for administering, operating and maintaining a project or service in accordance with the requirements of the grant agreement, including but not limited to one or more of the following purposes (Section 131-15 of the Act):

1)         Assisting in the development and expansion of care for the treatment of people affected with sickle cell disease, particularly adults, including, but not limited to:

A)        Self-administered care;

B)        Preventive care;

C)        Home care, or

D)        Other evidence-based medical procedures and techniques designed to provide maximum control over sickling episodes typical in a person with sickle cell disease.

2)         Increasing access to health care for people with sickle cell disease;

3)         Establishing additional sickle cell disease infusion centers;

4)         Increasing access to mental health resources and pain management therapies for people with sickle cell disease;

5)         Providing counseling about sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, and the characteristics, symptoms, and treatment of sickle cell disease, free of charge, to any person. Counseling may consist of any of the following:

A)        Genetic counseling for a person who tests positive for sickle cell trait;

B)        Psychosocial counseling for a person who tests positive for sickle cell disease, including any of the following:

i)          Social service counseling;

ii)         Psychological counseling; and

iii)        Psychiatric counseling.

C)        Sickle cell medical and behavioral health services and counseling must be administered by persons who have completed training programs approved by the Department.

6)         To develop a sickle cell disease educational and outreach grants program (Section 131-15 of the Act)

A)        Grant funds will support educational programs that strengthen and enhance the access to health services for people with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait described in this Part.

B)        Grant funds will further support the development of educational programs that include the dissemination of educational materials, tools, and resources, concerning sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait, to (Section 131-15 of the Act):

i)          Medical residents;

ii)         Immigrants;

iii)        Schools and universities;

iv)        Community health workers; and

v)         Other audiences and entities, as needed to promote enhanced access to health care and services for people with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait and their families.

C)        The Department may contract with external entities to implement the sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait education and outreach grants programs in Illinois. (Section 131-15 of the Act) Such entities must be:

i)          a unit of local government or an organization that is in good standing with the State of Illinois;

ii)         established as having provided sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait services for a period of two years to individuals or families in Illinois who are or have been impacted by these conditions; and

iii)        physically located in Illinois.

e)         Indirect costs may be allowable when eligible under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. (See Section 7000.420 of 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000)

f)         Grantee shall comply with reimbursement procedures and requirements as outlined in the grant agreement. The standard grant agreement template can be found at https://gata.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gata/documents/resource-library/uga/GATA%20UGA%20FY24%20FINAL_accessible.pdf.