Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2929

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a patient discharged to a skilled nursing facility who is not assessed prior to discharge or whose pre-screening information does not accompany the patient to the skilled nursing facility shall (i) be admitted to the skilled nursing facility pending the case coordination unit completing a post-screening evaluation or the delivery of the pre-screening information to the skilled nursing facility and (ii) be eligible for Medicaid funded care from the date of admission if the patient meets all eligibility criteria for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a nursing home resident determined to be eligible for medical assistance for long term care services shall be entitled to have his or her care paid retroactive to the date of admission to a nursing home or the date the resident converted from Medicare or private funds as a payer source if it is determined that the resident met the financial eligibility standards for medical assistance on the date of admission or conversion and the admission or conversion date is within the retroactive window established under the Code. Provides that an outstanding application for medical assistance for long term care services shall not be closed or denied based solely on the applicant's death or the absence of certain documentation if services authorized under the Code were provided pending a determination of eligibility. Provides that a nursing home resident who is unable to comply in securing financial documents requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to prove financial eligibility shall be assigned a long term care ombudsman to assist the resident in securing medical assistance.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions requiring case coordination units to prescreen certain individuals for home and community based services, requires the units to also: (i) inquire if the individual is in need of assistance with the cost of nursing home care and (ii) provide assistance if the individual is unable to secure financial documents to prove financial eligibility. Provides that the units shall be reimbursed for such services on a per client basis at a rate established by the Department on Aging. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In a provision requiring hospitals to notify a case coordination unit prior to discharging patients to a nursing home, requires the case coordination unit to notify the Department on Aging when the unit is unable to complete an assessment prior to a patient's hospital discharge; and requires the Departments of Healthcare and Family Services and Aging to adopt rules to ensure patients in similar circumstances are able to access nursing home care. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Permits payment under the medical assistance program for obligations incurred by an individual whose application for benefits is pending.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In provisions concerning the pending discharge of an aged patient or patient with a disability from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility, requires the case coordination unit to provide a copy of the required assessment documentation directly to the nursing home to which the patient is being discharged prior to discharge (rather than requiring the case coordination unit to provide the discharge planner with prescreening information and accompanying materials, which the discharge planner shall transmit when the patient is discharged to a skilled nursing facility). Requires the Department on Aging to provide notice of this requirement to case coordination units. Provides that when a case coordination unit is unable to complete an assessment in a hospital prior to the discharge of a patient, 60 years of age or older, to a nursing home, the case coordination unit shall notify the Department on Aging which shall notify the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Requires both Departments to adopt rules to address these instances to ensure that the patient is able to access nursing home care, the nursing home is not penalized for accepting the admission, and the patient's timely discharge from the hospital is not delayed, to the extent permitted under federal law or regulation. Provides that nothing shall preclude federal requirements for a pre-admission screening/mental health (PAS/MH) as required under the Nursing Home Care Act or State or federal law or regulation.

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