305 ILCS 5/ Illinois Public Aid Code.

(305 ILCS 5/Art. XV heading) ARTICLE XV. COUNTY PROVIDER TRUST FUND (Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-1)

Sec. 15-1. Definitions. As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) (Blank).

(a-5) "County provider" means a health care provider that is, or is operated by, a county with a population greater than 3,000,000.

(b) "Fund" means the County Provider Trust Fund.

(c) "Hospital" or "County hospital" means a hospital, as defined in Section 14-1 of this Code, which is a county hospital located in a county of over 3,000,000 population.

(Source: P.A. 97-687, eff. 6-14-12; 97-689, eff. 6-14-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-2)

Sec. 15-2. County Provider Trust Fund.

(a) There is created in the State Treasury the County Provider Trust Fund. Interest earned by the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. The Fund shall not be used to replace any funds appropriated to the Medicaid program by the General Assembly.

(b) The Fund is created solely for the purposes of receiving, investing, and distributing monies in accordance with this Article XV. The Fund shall consist of:

(1) All monies collected or received by the Illinois Department under Section 15-3 of this Code;

(2) All federal financial participation monies received by the Illinois Department pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396b, attributable to eligible expenditures made by the Illinois Department pursuant to Section 15-5 of this Code;

(3) All federal moneys received by the Illinois Department pursuant to Title XXI of the Social Security Act attributable to eligible expenditures made by the Illinois Department pursuant to Section 15-5 of this Code; and

(4) All other monies received by the Fund from any source, including interest thereon.

(c) Disbursements from the Fund shall be by warrants drawn by the State Comptroller upon receipt of vouchers duly executed and certified by the Illinois Department and shall be made only:

(1) For hospital inpatient care, hospital outpatient care, care provided by other outpatient facilities operated by a county, and disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments made under Title XIX of the Social Security Act and Article V of this Code as required by Section 15-5 of this Code;

(1.5) For services provided or purchased by county providers pursuant to Section 5-11 of this Code;

(2) For the reimbursement of administrative expenses incurred by county providers on behalf of the Illinois Department as permitted by Section 15-4 of this Code;

(3) For the reimbursement of monies received by the Fund through error or mistake;

(4) For the payment of administrative expenses necessarily incurred by the Illinois Department or its agent in performing the activities required by this Article XV;

(5) For the payment of any amounts that are reimbursable to the federal government, attributable solely to the Fund, and required to be paid by State warrant;

(6) For hospital inpatient care, hospital outpatient care, care provided by other outpatient facilities operated by a county, and disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments made under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, pursuant to Section 15-5 of this Code; and

(7) For medical care and related services provided pursuant to a contract with a county.

(Source: P.A. 97-687, eff. 6-14-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-3)

Sec. 15-3. Intergovernmental Transfers.

(a) Each qualifying county shall make an annual intergovernmental transfer to the Illinois Department in an amount equal to the difference between the total payments made by the Illinois Department pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 15-5 of this Code and the total federal financial participation monies received by the fund in each fiscal year ending June 30.

(b) The payment schedule for the intergovernmental transfer made hereunder shall be established by intergovernmental agreement between the Illinois Department and the applicable county, which agreement shall at a minimum provide:

(1) For periodic payments no less frequently than monthly to the county provider for inpatient and outpatient approved or adjudicated claims and for disproportionate share adjustment payments as may be specified in the Illinois Title XIX State plan.

(2) (Blank.)

(3) For calculation of the intergovernmental transfer payment to be made by the county equal to the difference between the amount of the periodic payments to county providers and any amount of federal financial participation due the Illinois Department under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act as a result of such payments to county providers.

(4) For an intergovernmental transfer methodology which obligates the Illinois Department to notify the county in writing of each impending periodic payment and the intergovernmental transfer payment attributable thereto and which obligates the Comptroller to release the periodic payment to the county provider within one working day of receipt of the intergovernmental transfer payment from the county.

(Source: P.A. 95-859, eff. 8-19-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-4)

Sec. 15-4. Contractual assumption of certain expenses. Hospitals may, at their election, by written agreement between the counties owning and operating the hospitals and the Illinois Department, assume specified expenses of the operation of the Illinois Department associated with the determination of eligibility, direct payment of which expenses by the Illinois Department would qualify as public funds expended by the Illinois Department for the Illinois Medical Assistance Program or other health care programs administered by the Illinois Department. The Illinois Department shall open an adequately staffed special on-site office or offices at facilities designated by the county for the purpose of assisting the county in ensuring that all eligible individuals are enrolled in the Illinois Medical Assistance Program. Each such agreement, executed in accordance with Section 3 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, shall describe the operational expenses to be assumed in sufficient detail to permit the Illinois Department to certify upon such written obligation or performance thereunder that the hospital's compliance with the terms of the agreement will amount to the commitment of public funds eligible for the federal financial participation or other federal funding called for in Title XIX or Title XXI of the Social Security Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-24, eff. 7-1-99; 92-370, eff. 8-15-01.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-5)

Sec. 15-5. Disbursements from the Fund.

(a) The monies in the Fund shall be disbursed only as provided in Section 15-2 of this Code and as follows:

(1) To the extent that such costs are reimbursable under federal law, to pay the county hospitals' inpatient reimbursement rates based on actual costs incurred, trended forward annually by an inflation index.

(2) To the extent that such costs are reimbursable under federal law, to pay county hospitals and county operated outpatient facilities for outpatient services based on a federally approved methodology to cover the maximum allowable costs.

(3) To pay the county hospitals disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments as may be specified in the Illinois Title XIX State plan.

(3.5) To pay county providers for services provided or purchased pursuant to Section 5-11 of this Code.

(4) To reimburse the county providers for expenses contractually assumed pursuant to Section 15-4 of this Code.

(5) To pay the Illinois Department its necessary administrative expenses relative to the Fund and other amounts agreed to, if any, by the county providers in the agreement provided for in subsection (c).

(6) To pay the county providers any other amount due according to a federally approved State plan, including but not limited to payments made under the provisions of Section 701(d)(3)(B) of the federal Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000. Intergovernmental transfers supporting payments under this paragraph (6) shall not be subject to the computation described in subsection (a) of Section 15-3 of this Code, but shall be computed as the difference between the total of such payments made by the Illinois Department to county providers less any amount of federal financial participation due the Illinois Department under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act as a result of such payments to county providers.

(b) The Illinois Department shall promptly seek all appropriate amendments to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan to maximize reimbursement, including disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments, to the county providers.

(c) (Blank).

(d) The payments provided for herein are intended to cover services rendered on and after July 1, 1991, and any agreement executed between a qualifying county and the Illinois Department pursuant to this Section may relate back to that date, provided the Illinois Department obtains federal approval. Any changes in payment rates resulting from the provisions of Article 3 of this amendatory Act of 1992 are intended to apply to services rendered on or after October 1, 1992, and any agreement executed between a qualifying county and the Illinois Department pursuant to this Section may be effective as of that date.

(e) If one or more hospitals file suit in any court challenging any part of this Article XV, payments to hospitals from the Fund under this Article XV shall be made only to the extent that sufficient monies are available in the Fund and only to the extent that any monies in the Fund are not prohibited from disbursement and may be disbursed under any order of the court.

(f) All payments under this Section are contingent upon federal approval of changes to the Title XIX State plan, if that approval is required.

(Source: P.A. 97-687, eff. 6-14-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-6)

Sec. 15-6. Annual audit.

(a) Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of each county hospital, the Illinois Department shall conduct an annual audit of the Fund to determine that amounts received from or paid to county providers were correct. If such an audit identifies amounts that a county provider should not have been required to pay but did pay, a county provider should have been required to pay but did not pay, a county provider should not have received but did receive, or a county provider should have received but did not receive, the Illinois Department shall:

(1) Make required payments to any such county provider, or

(2) Take action to recover required amounts from any such county provider, including recoupment from future payments.

(b) Amounts recovered from a county provider shall be credited to the Fund. A county provider is entitled to recover amounts paid to the Illinois Department into the Fund and to receive refunds and payment from the Illinois Department for payments that should have been paid from the Fund only to the extent that monies are available in the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 87-13; 88-554, eff. 7-26-94.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-7)

Sec. 15-7. Applicability. The requirements of this Article XV shall apply only as long as federal funds under Title XIX of the Social Security Act are available to match the intergovernmental transfer payments made and disbursed under this Article and only as long as reimbursable expenditures are matched by the federal government at a rate of at least 50%. Whenever the Illinois Department is informed that federal funds are not available for these purposes, or shall be available at a lower percentage, this Article XV shall no longer apply and the Illinois Department shall promptly refund to each county provider the amount of money currently in the Fund that has been paid by the county provider, plus any investment earnings on that amount.

(Source: P.A. 87-13; 87-861; 88-554, eff. 7-26-94.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-8)

Sec. 15-8. Federal disallowances. In the event of any federal deferral or disallowance of any federal matching funds obtained through this Article which have been disbursed by the Illinois Department under this Article based upon challenges to reimbursement methodologies, the full faith and credit of the county is pledged for repayment by the county of those amounts deferred or disallowed to the Illinois Department.

(Source: P.A. 95-859, eff. 8-19-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 15-9)

Sec. 15-9. Waiver of appropriation procedures. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6-24001 and 6-24008 of the Counties Code, or any comparable provision relating to appropriations, the board of commissioners of qualifying counties may, during each fiscal year, adopt a supplemental appropriation bill or resolution for expenditures by qualifying counties on behalf of or by qualifying county hospitals of any funds received hereunder and the payment of fees to be collected under this Article in an amount not in excess of any such additional revenue available to that county, or estimated to be received by that county, subsequent to the adoption of the annual appropriation bill or resolution for that fiscal year. The supplemental appropriation bill or resolution shall only affect revenue that was not available for appropriation when the annual appropriation bill or resolution was adopted, and the provisions of Section 6-24004 of the Counties Code or any other comparable provision relating to publication, notice, and public hearing shall not be applicable to such supplemental appropriation bill or resolution or to the budget document forming the basis thereof.

(Source: P.A. 87-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-10)

Sec. 15-10. Disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments.

(a) The provisions of this Section become operative if:

(1) The federal government approves State Plan Amendment transmittal number 08-06 or a State Plan Amendment that permits disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments to be made to county hospitals.

(2) Proposed federal regulations, or other regulations or limitations driven by the federal government, negatively impact the net revenues realized by county providers from the Fund during a State fiscal year by more than 15%, as measured by the aggregate average net monthly payment received by the county providers from the Fund from July 2007 through May 2008.

(3) The county providers have in good faith submitted timely, complete, and accurate cost reports and supplemental documents as required by the Illinois Department.

(4) the county providers maintain and bill for service volumes to individuals eligible for medical assistance under this Code that are no lower than 85% of the volumes provided by and billed to the Illinois Department by the county providers associated with payments received by the county providers from July 2007 through May 2008. Given the substantial financial burdens of the county associated with uncompensated care, the Illinois Department shall make good faith efforts to work with the county to maintain Medicaid volumes to the extent that the county has the adequate capacity to meet the obligations of patient volumes.

The Illinois Department and the county shall include in an intergovernmental agreement the process by which these conditions are assessed. The parties may, if necessary, contract with a large, nationally recognized public accounting firm to carry out this function.

(b) If the conditions of subsection (a) are met, and subject to appropriation or other available funding for such purpose, the Illinois Department shall make a payment or otherwise make funds available to the county hospitals, during the lapse period, that provides for total payments to be at least at a level that is equivalent to the total fee-for-service payments received by the county providers that are enrolled with the Illinois Department to provide services during the fiscal year of the payment from the Fund from July 2007 through May 2008 multiplied by twelve-elevenths.

(c) In addition, notwithstanding any provision in subsection (a), the Illinois Department shall maximize disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments to the county hospitals that, at a minimum, are 42% of the State's federal fiscal year 2007 disproportionate share allocation.

(d) For the purposes of this Section, "net revenues" means the difference between the total fee-for-service payments made by the Illinois Department to county providers less the intergovernmental transfer made by the county in support of those payments.

(e) If (i) the disproportionate share hospital adjustment State Plan Amendment referenced in subdivision (a)(1) is not approved, or (ii) any reconciliation of payments to costs incurred would require repayment to the federal government of at least $2,500,000, or (iii) there is no funding available for the Illinois Department's obligations under subsection (b), the Illinois Department, the county, and the leadership of the General Assembly shall designate individuals to convene, within 30 days, to discuss how mutual funding goals for the county providers are to be achieved.

(Source: P.A. 95-859, eff. 8-19-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/15-11)

Sec. 15-11. Uses of State funds.

(a) At any point, if State revenues referenced in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 15-10 or additional State grants are disbursed to the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, all funds may be used only for the following:

(1) medical services provided at hospitals or clinics owned and operated by the Cook County Health and Hospitals System;

(2) information technology to enhance billing capabilities for medical claiming and reimbursement; or

(3) services purchased by county providers pursuant to Section 5-11 of this Code.

(b) State funds may not be used for the following:

(1) non-clinical services, except services that may be required by accreditation bodies or State or federal regulatory or licensing authorities;

(2) non-clinical support staff, except as pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

(3) capital improvements, other than investments in medical technology, except for capital improvements that may be required by accreditation bodies or State or federal regulatory or licensing authorities.

(Source: P.A. 97-687, eff. 6-14-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. XVI heading) ARTICLE XVI. SURVIVOR SUPPORT AND TRAFFICKING PREVENTION (Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-1)

Sec. 16-1. Benefits for foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes. In order to protect persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and to reduce the risk of further harm, exploitation, and re-trafficking, beginning January 1, 2018, cash assistance provided under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program established under Article IV of this Code and benefits provided under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shall be provided to such persons and their derivative family members to the same extent cash assistance and SNAP benefits are provided to individuals who are admitted to the United States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code. To the extent that federal funding is not available, any cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article shall be paid from State funds. If changes made in this Section require federal approval, they shall not take effect until such approval has been received.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-2)

Sec. 16-2. Eligibility. A foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative family members are eligible for cash assistance or SNAP benefits under this Article if:

(a) he or she:

(1) has filed or is preparing to file an application for T Nonimmigrant status with the appropriate federal agency pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T) of Title 8 of the United States Code, or is otherwise taking steps to meet the conditions for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of Title 22 of the United States Code;

(2) has filed or is preparing to file a formal application with the appropriate federal agency for status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(U) of Title 8 of the United States Code; or

(3) has filed or is preparing to file a formal application with the appropriate federal agency for status under Section 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code; and

(b) he or she is otherwise eligible for cash assistance or SNAP benefits, as applicable.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-3)

Sec. 16-3. Determination of eligibility.

(a) The Department shall determine that an applicant for cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article is eligible for such benefits if the applicant meets the income guidelines and is otherwise eligible and either:

(1) the applicant has filed:

(A) an application for T Nonimmigrant status with the appropriate federal agency pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T) of Title 8 of the United States Code, or is otherwise taking steps to meet the conditions for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of Title 22 of the United States Code;

(B) a formal application with the appropriate federal agency for status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(U) of Title 8 of the United States Code; or

(C) a formal application with the appropriate federal agency for status under Section 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code; or

(2) the applicant, or a representative of the applicant if the applicant is not competent, has provided to the Department:

(A) a sworn statement that he or she is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes; and

(B) at least one item of additional credible evidence, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i) police, government agency, or court records or files;

(ii) news articles;

(iii) documentation from a social services, trafficking, domestic violence program or rape crisis center, or a legal, clinical, medical, or other professional from whom the applicant or recipient has sought assistance in dealing with the crime;

(iv) a statement from any other individual with knowledge of the circumstances that provided the basis for the claim;

(v) physical evidence;

(vi) a copy of a completed visa application; or

(vii) written notice from the federal agency of receipt of the visa application.

(b) The Department may, in its discretion, provide cash assistance or SNAP benefits pursuant to this Article to an applicant who cannot provide additional evidence as set forth in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) if:

(1) the applicant, or a representative of the applicant if the applicant is not competent, has provided a sworn statement that he or she is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes; and

(2) the Department determines that the applicant is credible.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-4)

Sec. 16-4. Work requirements and exemptions.

(a) Persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and who are receiving cash assistance or SNAP benefits under this Article shall be subject to the same work requirements and work requirement exemptions as other recipients of cash assistance or SNAP benefits, provided that compliance with these requirements is authorized by law.

(b) A person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes shall be exempted from any work requirements if physical or psychological trauma related to or arising from the trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes impedes his or her ability to comply.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-5)

Sec. 16-5. Termination of benefits.

(a) Any cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article to a person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated if there is a final denial of that person's visa or asylum application under Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(b) A person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative family members shall be ineligible for continued State-funded cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article if that person has not filed a formal application for status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of Title 8 of the United States Code within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article. The Department of Human Services may extend the person's and his or her derivative family members' eligibility for medical assistance, cash assistance, or SNAP benefits beyond one year if the Department determines that the person, during the year of initial eligibility (i) experienced a health crisis, (ii) has been unable, after reasonable attempts, to obtain necessary information from a third party, or (iii) has other extenuating circumstances that prevented the person from completing his or her application for status.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-6)

Sec. 16-6. Rulemaking authority. The Department of Human Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Article on or before January 1, 2018.

(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)

(305 ILCS 5/16-7)

Sec. 16-7. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 101-246, eff. 8-9-19. Repealed by P.A. 102-31, eff. 6-25-21.)