305 ILCS 5/ Illinois Public Aid Code.

(305 ILCS 5/Art. I heading) ARTICLE I. PUBLIC PURPOSE - SHORT TITLE - PRIOR STATUTE - CONSTRUCTION

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

Sec. 1-1. Public purpose-Aims in providing financial aid and services. The purpose of this Code is to assist in the alleviation and prevention of poverty and thereby to protect and promote the health and welfare of all the people of this State.

To accomplish this purpose, this Code authorizes financial aid and social welfare services for persons in need thereof by reason of unemployment, illness, or other cause depriving them of the means of a livelihood compatible with health and well-being, and provides for the development, use and coordination of all resources in this State, governmental and private.

The Illinois Department shall establish such standards of financial aid and services as will encourage and assist applicants and recipients to maintain a livelihood compatible with health and well being and to develop their self-reliance and realize their capacities for self-care, self-support, and responsible citizenship.

The maintenance and strengthening of the family unit shall be a principal consideration in the administration of this Code. All public aid policies shall be formulated and administered to achieve this end.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-2)

Sec. 1-2. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-3)

Sec. 1-3. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-4)

Sec. 1-4. Reference to article.

Whenever reference is made in this Code to an Article or Articles, the reference applies to an Article or Articles of this Code, unless the context otherwise requires.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

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

Sec. 1-5. Construction. The provisions of this Code shall be liberally construed to effect its objects and purposes.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-6)

Sec. 1-6. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Code to the contrary, a person, if eligible, shall be required to file for unemployment compensation benefits as a condition for qualifying for public assistance benefits under programs of aid to the aged, blind, or disabled, aid to families with dependent children, and aid to families with dependent children-- unemployed, which are administered by the Illinois Department, or general assistance programs administered by some other public agency.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-7)

Sec. 1-7. (a) For purposes of determining eligibility for assistance under this Code, the Illinois Department, County Departments, and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration restitution payments, including all income and resources derived therefrom, made to persons of Japanese or Aleutian ancestry pursuant to the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island Restitution Act, P.L. 100-383.

(b) For purposes of any program or form of assistance where a person's income or assets are considered in determining eligibility or level of assistance, whether under this Code or another authority, neither the State of Illinois nor any entity or person administering a program wholly or partially financed by the State of Illinois or any of its political subdivisions shall include restitution payments, including all income and resources derived therefrom, made pursuant to the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island Restitution Act, P.L. 100-383, in the calculation of income or assets for determining eligibility or level of assistance.

(c) For purposes of determining eligibility for or the amount of assistance under this Code, except for the determination of eligibility for payments or programs under the TANF employment, education, and training programs and the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, the Illinois Department, County Departments, and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration any financial assistance received under any student aid program administered by an agency of this State or the federal government, by a person who is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student of any public or private university, college, or community college in this State.

(d) For purposes of determining eligibility for or the amount of assistance under this Code, except for the determination of eligibility for payments or programs under the TANF employment, education, and training programs and the SNAP Employment and Training Program, the Illinois Department, County Departments, and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration, for a period of 36 months, any financial assistance, including wages, that is provided to a person who is enrolled in a demonstration project that is not funded with general revenue funds and that is intended as a bridge to self-sufficiency by offering (i) intensive workforce support and training and (ii) support services for new and expectant parents that are intended to foster multi-generational healthy families as described in Section 12-4.51.

(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, and to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, for purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of assistance under this Code, the Illinois Department and local governmental units shall exclude from consideration any financial assistance, including cash transfers or gifts, that is provided to a person through a guaranteed income program. As used in this subsection, "guaranteed income program" means a publicly or privately funded program that provides one-time or recurring unconditional cash transfers or payments, or gifts to individuals or households, for a defined number of months or years for the purposes of reducing poverty, promoting economic mobility, or increasing the financial stability of Illinois residents.

(2) The Department shall choose State options and seek all necessary federal approvals or waivers to implement this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 103-492, eff. 1-1-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-8)

Sec. 1-8. Fugitives ineligible.

(a) The following persons are not eligible for aid under this Code, or federal food stamps or federal food stamp benefits:

(1) A person who has fled from the jurisdiction of any court of record of this or any other state or of the United States to avoid prosecution for a felony or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding involving the alleged commission of a felony.

(2) A person who has fled to avoid imprisonment in a correctional facility of this or any other state or the United States for having committed a felony.

(3) A person who has escaped from a correctional facility of this or any other state or the United States if the person was incarcerated for having committed a felony.

(4) A person who is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under federal or State law.

In this Section, "felony" means a violation of a penal statute of this or any other state or the United States for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided or in which the death penalty may be imposed in another state.

To implement this Section, the Illinois Department may exchange necessary information with an appropriate law enforcement agency of this or any other state, a political subdivision of this or any other state, or the United States.

(b) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 103-51, eff. 1-1-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-8.5)

Sec. 1-8.5. Eligibility for medical assistance during periods of incarceration or detention.

(a) To the extent permitted by federal law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall not cancel a person's eligibility for medical assistance, nor shall the Department deny a person's application for medical assistance, solely because that person has become or is an inmate of a public institution, including, but not limited to, a county jail, juvenile detention center, or State correctional facility. The person may be and remain enrolled for medical assistance as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.

(b) The Department may adopt rules to permit a person to apply for medical assistance while he or she is an inmate of a public institution as described in subsection (a). The rules may limit applications to persons who would be likely to qualify for medical assistance if they resided in the community. Any such person who is not already enrolled for medical assistance may apply for medical assistance prior to the date of scheduled release or discharge from a penal institution or county jail or similar status.

(c) Except as provided under Section 17 of the County Jail Act, the Department shall not be responsible to provide medical assistance under this Code for any medical care, services, or supplies provided to a person while he or she is an inmate of a public institution as described in subsection (a). The responsibility for providing medical care shall remain as otherwise provided by law with the Department of Corrections, county, or other arresting authority. The Department may seek federal financial participation, to the extent that it is available and with the cooperation of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, or the relevant county, for the costs of those services.

(d) To the extent permitted under State and federal law, the Department shall develop procedures to expedite required periodic reviews of continued eligibility for persons described in subsection (a).

(e) Counties, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Corrections shall cooperate with the Department in administering this Section. That cooperation shall include managing eligibility processing and sharing information sufficient to inform the Department, in a manner established by the Department, that a person enrolled in the medical assistance program has been detained or incarcerated.

(f) The Department shall resume responsibility for providing medical assistance upon release of the person to the community as long as all of the following apply:

(1) The person is enrolled for medical assistance at the time of release.

(2) Neither a county, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, nor any other criminal justice authority continues to bear responsibility for the person's medical care.

(3) The county, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Department of Corrections provides timely notice of the date of release in a manner established by the Department.

(g) This Section applies on and after December 31, 2011.

(Source: P.A. 98-139, eff. 1-1-14; 99-415, eff. 8-20-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-9)

Sec. 1-9. Misrepresentation of residence. A person who has been convicted in federal or State court of having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to residence in order to receive assistance simultaneously from 2 or more states shall be ineligible for cash assistance under this Code for 10 years beginning on the date of conviction.

(Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-10)

Sec. 1-10. Drug convictions.

(a) Persons convicted of an offense under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act which is a Class X felony, or a Class 1 felony, or comparable federal criminal law which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)), shall not be eligible for cash assistance provided under this Code.

(b) Persons convicted of any other felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act which is not a Class X or Class 1 felony, or comparable federal criminal law which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)), shall not be eligible for cash assistance provided under this Code for 2 years from the date of conviction. This prohibition shall not apply if the person is in a drug treatment program, aftercare program, or similar program as defined by rule.

(c) Persons shall not be determined ineligible for food stamps provided under this Code based upon a conviction of any felony or comparable federal or State criminal law which has an element the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in Section 102(6) of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(c)).

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, persons shall not be determined ineligible for cash assistance provided under Article IV or Article VI of this Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law.

(Source: P.A. 102-178, eff. 10-30-21; 103-192, eff. 1-1-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/1-11)

Sec. 1-11. Citizenship. To the extent not otherwise provided in this Code or federal law, all clients who receive cash or medical assistance under Article III, IV, V, or VI of this Code must meet the citizenship requirements as established in this Section. To be eligible for assistance an individual, who is otherwise eligible, must be either a United States citizen or included in one of the following categories of non-citizens:

(1) United States veterans honorably discharged and persons on active military duty, and the spouse and unmarried dependent children of these persons;

(2) Refugees under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(3) Asylees under Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(4) Persons for whom deportation has been withheld under Section 243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(5) Persons granted conditional entry under Section 203(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as in effect prior to April 1, 1980;

(6) Persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(7) Parolees, for at least one year, under Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(8) Nationals of Cuba or Haiti admitted on or after April 21, 1980;

(9) Amerasians from Vietnam, and their close family members, admitted through the Orderly Departure Program beginning on March 20, 1988;

(10) Persons identified by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as victims of trafficking;

(11) Persons legally residing in the United States who were members of a Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe when the tribe helped United States personnel by taking part in a military or rescue operation during the Vietnam era (between August 5, 1965 and May 7, 1975); this also includes the person's spouse, a widow or widower who has not remarried, and unmarried dependent children;

(12) American Indians born in Canada under Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and members of an Indian tribe as defined in Section 4e of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act;

(13) Persons who are a spouse, widow, or child of a U.S. citizen or a spouse or child of a legal permanent resident (LPR) who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or LPR or a member of that relative's family who lived with them, who no longer live with the abuser or plan to live separately within one month of receipt of assistance and whose need for assistance is due, at least in part, to the abuse; and

(14) Persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes as defined in Section 2-19 of this Code.

Those persons who are in the categories set forth in subdivisions 6 and 7 of this Section, who enter the United States on or after August 22, 1996, shall not be eligible for 5 years beginning on the date the person entered the United States.

The Illinois Department may, by rule, cover prenatal care or emergency medical care for non-citizens who are not otherwise eligible under this Section. Local governmental units which do not receive State funds may impose their own citizenship requirements and are authorized to provide any benefits and impose any citizenship requirements as are allowed under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193).

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

(305 ILCS 5/1-12)

Sec. 1-12. Providing information to the State Board of Elections. The Secretary of the Department of Human Services and the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall make information available, except where prohibited by federal law or regulation, to the State Board of Elections as may be required by an agreement the State Board of Elections has entered into with a multi-state voter registration list maintenance system.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. II heading) ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

(305 ILCS 5/2-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-1)

Sec. 2-1. Definitions.

The terms defined in this Article shall have the meanings ascribed to them, except when the context otherwise requires.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

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

Sec. 2-2. "Public aid".

Financial aid and all rehabilitative and other services provided under this Code for basic maintenance support; medical, surgical, dental, pharmaceutical, optometric, or nursing services, or other remedial care recognized under State law; rehabilitative services; education, training or retraining for employment or self-support work; funeral and burial expenses; and such other care and services as are determined to be necessary in each case.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-3)

Sec. 2-3. "Money payment" or "grant". A payment made direct to the recipient, his legal representative, or other substitute payee by warrant, check, direct deposit transmittal or other instrument for basic maintenance support or other purpose.

(Source: P.A. 82-391.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-4)

Sec. 2-4. "Grantee" or "payee".

The person to whom a money payment is made.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

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

Sec. 2-5. "Vendor payment".

A payment made directly to the person, firm, corporation, association, agency, institution or other legal entity supplying goods or services to a recipient.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-6)

Sec. 2-6. "Financial aid". A money or vendor payment to or in behalf of a recipient for basic maintenance support or medical assistance provided under Articles III, IV, V, and VI.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-7)

Sec. 2-7. "Social services": assistance, other than financial aid, provided under Article IX.

(Source: P.A. 82-440.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-8)

Sec. 2-8. "Applicant": A person who has applied for financial aid under any of the provisions of this Code.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-9)

Sec. 2-9. "Recipient": A person who is receiving financial aid under any of the provisions of this Code.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-10)

Sec. 2-10. "Residence": The establishment of a permanent home within this State.

A person is deemed to have established his permanent home within this State if he has acquired by purchase, rental, or other arrangement housing facilities which he uses as his home; has located his household equipment, furnishings and personal belongings therein; and is or has been employed, is seeking employment, or is engaged in other self-support activity, in the community in which he lives or within a distance reasonably proximate thereto, within or without the State, which is accessible to his home by public or private transportation facilities and to which he regularly commutes, or, if he cannot engage in employment or other self-support activity, is maintained in such home by relatives responsible for his support or by other sources or means of maintenance and support. A person shall not be required to occupy a permanent dwelling or have a fixed home or mailing address in order to establish a permanent home within this State. However, a recipient who moves from this State for the purpose of obtaining employment or other means of support or care shall retain his residence eligibility for a period of 12 months, provided he has not acquired residence eligibility for public aid under the laws of any State to which he has moved.

The residence of a married woman shall be that of her husband unless they are living separate and apart, in which case she may acquire a separate residence.

Minor children shall have the residence of their father if they reside with him; if they reside with their mother they shall have her residence.

A minor, neither of whose parents has acquired a residence, may acquire a residence as if he or she were a person of full age.

Every minor upon marriage may acquire a residence as if he or she were a person of full age.

Applicants for or recipients of public aid shall meet such durational requirements as to residence as may be specified in the Article governing the category under which they are applying for or receiving aid.

Temporary absence from the State, absence while in the service of the State or Nation, or entry into a hospital or other medical care institution outside the State for medical treatment, shall not affect a person's residence.

A recipient of aid under Article III, IV or VI who, for any reason, has remained outside the State for a continuous period of more than 12 months shall prima facie be presumed to have lost his residence and shall receive no further aid unless and until he submits evidence sufficient to prove he has retained his residence. If the evidence proves that the absence was without intention to change his residence, the recipient shall be deemed to have maintained his residence eligibility and the grant of aid shall be continued or resumed.

(Source: P.A. 85-1231.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-11)

Sec. 2-11. "Family Unit": Husband and wife and a child or children under age 21. Spouses and parents of children under age 21 constitute "legally responsible relatives" or "responsible relatives" wherever those terms may be used in this Code in respect to their support obligation enforceable by court action or an administrative order of the Illinois Department, as provided in Article X, or enforceable through other State or Federal laws.

The support obligation of other persons defined as "legally responsible relatives" in this Section prior to October 6, 1969 for aid extended to their dependents prior to that date shall remain unimpaired.

(Source: P.A. 79-474.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-12)

Sec. 2-12. "Illinois Department"; "Department". In this Code, "Illinois Department" or "Department", when a particular entity is not specified, means the following:

(1) In the case of a function performed before July 1, 1997 (the effective date of the Department of Human Services Act), the term means the Department of Public Aid.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (2.5), in the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article III, IV, VI, IX, or IXA, the term means the Department of Human Services as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid.

(2.5) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 2026 under Sections 9A-11 and 9A-11-5, the term means the Department of Early Childhood.

(3) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article V, V-A, V-B, V-C, V-D, V-E, X, XIV, or XV, the term means the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid).

(4) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article I, II, VIIIA, XI, XII, or XIII, the term means the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid) or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid) or both, according to whether that function, in the specific context, has been allocated to the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) or both of those departments.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-12.5)

Sec. 2-12.5. "Director of the Illinois Department"; "Director of the Department"; "Director". In this Code, "Director of the Illinois Department", "Director of the Department", or "Director", when a particular official is not specified, means the following:

(1) In the case of a function performed before July 1, 1997 (the effective date of the Department of Human Services Act), the term means the Director of Public Aid.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (2.5), in the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article III, IV, VI, IX, or IXA, the term means the Secretary of Human Services.

(2.5) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 2026 under Sections 9A-11 and 9A-11-5, the term means the Secretary of Early Childhood.

(3) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article V, V-A, V-B, V-C, V-D, V-E, X, XIV, or XV, the term means the Director of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Director of Public Aid).

(4) In the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1997 under Article I, II, VIIIA, XI, XII, or XIII, the term means the Secretary of Human Services or the Director of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Director of Public Aid) or both, according to whether that function, in the specific context, has been allocated to the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) or both of those departments.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-13) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-13)

Sec. 2-13. "County department". The Department of Human Services local office or offices in each county in this State.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-14) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-14)

Sec. 2-14. "Local governmental unit". Every county, city, village, incorporated town or township charged with the duty of providing public aid under Article VI; and County Veterans Assistance Commissions providing general assistance to veterans and their families under Section 12-21.13 of Article XII.

However, should any Section of this Code impose the obligation of providing medical assistance to persons who are non-residents of the State of Illinois upon a local governmental unit, the term "local governmental unit" shall not include townships. In such case the obligation for providing medical assistance to non-residents which would otherwise be the duty of a township shall become the obligation of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23.)

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

Sec. 2-15. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-16) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-16)

Sec. 2-16. "Service provider": A person or corporation who furnishes medical, educational, psychiatric, vocational or rehabilitative services to a recipient under this Code, but excluding an employee of the Illinois Department or a County Department.

(Source: P.A. 82-555.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-17) (from Ch. 23, par. 2-17)

Sec. 2-17. "Unable to purchase care and maintenance": For the purposes of this Code and Division 5-21 of the Counties Code, a person receiving Medical Assistance under this Code shall not be deemed "unable to purchase care and maintenance".

(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-18)

Sec. 2-18. Domestic or sexual violence. "Domestic or sexual violence" means domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Domestic or sexual violence may occur through electronic communication.

"Domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 by a "family or household member" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Sexual assault" means any conduct proscribed by Sections 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, and 12-16 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

"Stalking" means any conduct proscribed by Sections 12-7.3, 12-7.4, and 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

"Electronic communication" includes communications via telephone, mobile phone, computer, e-mail, video recorder, fax machine, telex, or pager, or any other "electronic communication" as defined in Section 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/2-19)

Sec. 2-19. Foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes. "Foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes" means a person who is:

(1) a non-citizen victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons who has been subjected to an act or practice described in Section 7102 of Title 22 of the United States Code or Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012;

(2) a non-citizen victim of an act or practice described in Section 1101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of Title 8 of the United States Code; or

(3) a non-citizen who has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion as set forth in Section 1101(a)(42)(A) of Title 8 of the United States Code.

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

(305 ILCS 5/Art. III heading) ARTICLE III. AID TO THE AGED, BLIND OR DISABLED

(305 ILCS 5/3-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1)

Sec. 3-1. Eligibility Requirements. Financial aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements for a livelihood compatible with health and well-being shall be given under this Article to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons who meet the eligibility conditions of Sections 3-1.1 through 3-1.7. Financial aid under this Article shall be available only for persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who have been found ineligible for SSI (i) on the basis of income or (ii) due to expiration of the period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2).

"Aged person" means a person who has attained age 65, as demonstrated by such evidence of age as the Illinois Department may by rule prescribe.

"Blind person" means a person who has no vision or whose vision with corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent the performance of ordinary duties or tasks for which eyesight is essential. The Illinois Department shall define blindness in terms of ophthalmic measurements or ocular conditions. For purposes of this Act, an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card issued pursuant to the Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon named has a Type 3 disability shall be evidence that such person is a blind person within the meaning of this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a blind person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a blind person shall be determined as provided in this Act.

"Disabled person" means a person age 18 or over who has a physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss which is of a permanent nature and which substantially impairs his ability to perform labor or services or to engage in useful occupations for which he is qualified, as determined by rule and regulation of the Illinois Department. For purposes of this Act, an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card issued pursuant to the Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon named has a Type 1 or 2, Class 2 disability shall be evidence that such person is a disabled person under this Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a disabled person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a disabled person shall be determined as provided in this Act. If federal law or regulation permit or require the inclusion of blind or disabled persons whose blindness or disability is not of the degree specified in the foregoing definitions, or permit or require the inclusion of disabled persons under age 18 or aged persons under age 65, the Illinois Department, upon written approval of the Governor, may provide by rule that all aged, blind or disabled persons toward whose aid federal funds are available be eligible for assistance under this Article as is given to those who meet the foregoing definitions of blind person and disabled person or aged person.

(Source: P.A. 96-22, eff. 6-30-09; 97-1064, eff. 1-1-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1a)

Sec. 3-1a. Interim Assistance.

(a) (Blank).

(b) The Illinois Department may establish, by rule, an advocacy program to help clients pursue Supplemental Security Income applications and, if the client is found ineligible for Supplemental Security Income initially, to help the client pursue the Supplemental Security Income reconsideration and appeal process. This program may be limited to specific geographic areas.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.2)

Sec. 3-1.2. Need.

(a) Income available to the person, when added to contributions in money, substance, or services from other sources, including contributions from legally responsible relatives, must be insufficient to equal the grant amount established by Department regulation for such person. In determining earned income to be taken into account, consideration shall be given to any expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of such income. If federal law or regulations permit or require exemption of earned or other income and resources, the Illinois Department shall provide by rule and regulation that the amount of income to be disregarded be increased (1) to the maximum extent so required and (2) to the maximum extent permitted by federal law or regulation in effect as of the date this amendatory Act becomes law. The Illinois Department may also provide by rule and regulation that the amount of resources to be disregarded be increased to the maximum extent so permitted or required.

(b) Subject to federal approval, resources (for example, land, buildings, equipment, supplies, or tools), including farmland property and personal property used in the income-producing operations related to the farmland (for example, equipment and supplies, motor vehicles, or tools), necessary for self-support, up to $6,000 of the person's equity in the income-producing property, provided that the property produces a net annual income of at least 6% of the excluded equity value of the property, are exempt. Equity value in excess of $6,000 shall not be excluded. If the activity produces income that is less than 6% of the exempt equity due to reasons beyond the person's control (for example, the person's illness or crop failure) and there is a reasonable expectation that the property will again produce income equal to or greater than 6% of the equity value (for example, a medical prognosis that the person is expected to respond to treatment or that drought-resistant corn will be planted), the equity value in the property up to $6,000 is exempt. If the person owns more than one piece of property and each produces income, each piece of property shall be looked at to determine whether the 6% rule is met, and then the amounts of the person's equity in all of those properties shall be totaled to determine whether the total equity is $6,000 or less. The total equity value of all properties that is exempt shall be limited to $6,000.

(c) In determining the resources of an individual or any dependents, the Department shall exclude from consideration the value of funeral and burial spaces, funeral and burial insurance the proceeds of which can only be used to pay the funeral and burial expenses of the insured and funds specifically set aside for the funeral and burial arrangements of the individual or his or her dependents, including prepaid funeral and burial plans, to the same extent that such items are excluded from consideration under the federal Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). At any time prior to or after submitting an application for medical assistance and before a final determination of eligibility has been made by the Department, an applicant may use available resources to purchase one of the prepaid funeral or burial contracts exempted under this Section.

Prepaid funeral or burial contracts are exempt to the following extent:

(1) Funds in a revocable prepaid funeral or burial contract are exempt up to $1,500, except that any portion of a contract that clearly represents the purchase of burial space, as that term is defined for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program, is exempt regardless of value.

(2) Funds in an irrevocable prepaid funeral or burial contract are exempt up to $7,248, except that any portion of a contract that clearly represents the purchase of burial space, as that term is defined for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program, is exempt regardless of value. This amount shall be adjusted annually for any increase in the Consumer Price Index. The amount exempted shall be limited to the price of the funeral goods and services to be provided upon death. The contract must provide a complete description of the funeral goods and services to be provided and the price thereof. Any amount in the contract not so specified shall be treated as a transfer of assets for less than fair market value.

(3) A prepaid, guaranteed-price funeral or burial contract, funded by an irrevocable assignment of a person's life insurance policy to a trust or a funeral home, is exempt. The amount exempted shall be limited to the amount of the insurance benefit designated for the cost of the funeral goods and services to be provided upon the person's death. The contract must provide a complete description of the funeral goods and services to be provided and the price thereof. Any amount in the contract not so specified shall be treated as a transfer of assets for less than fair market value. The trust must include a statement that, upon the death of the person, the State will receive all amounts remaining in the trust, including any remaining payable proceeds under the insurance policy up to an amount equal to the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the person. The trust is responsible for ensuring that the provider of funeral services under the contract receives the proceeds of the policy when it provides the funeral goods and services specified under the contract. The irrevocable assignment of ownership of the insurance policy must be acknowledged by the insurance company.

(4) Existing life insurance policies are exempt if there has been an irrevocable assignment in compliance with Section 2b of the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. A person shall sign a contract with a funeral home, which is licensed under the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act, that describes the cost of the funeral goods and services to be provided upon the person's death, up to $7,248, except that any portion of a contract that clearly represents the purchase of burial space, as that term is defined for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program, is exempt regardless of value. This amount shall be adjusted annually for any increase in the Consumer Price Index. The contract must provide a complete description of the goods and services and any cash advances to be provided and the price thereof. The person shall sign an irrevocable designation of beneficiary form declaring that any amounts payable from the policies not used for goods and services and any cash advances as set forth in the contract shall be received by the State, up to an amount equal to the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the person; any funds remaining after payment to the State shall be paid to a secondary beneficiary (if any) listed on the policy, or to the estate of the purchaser if no secondary beneficiary is named on the policy in the event the proceeds exceed the prearranged costs of merchandise and services and any cash advances and the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the insured. More than one policy may be subject to this subsection if the total face value of the policies is necessary to pay the amount described in the contract with the funeral home; policies that are not necessary to pay the amount described in the contract are not exempt. The licensed funeral home to which the life insurance policy benefits have been irrevocably assigned shall retain copies for inspection by the Comptroller and shall report annually to the Comptroller the following: the name of the insured, the name of the insurance company and policy number, an itemized account of the amount of the contract for goods and services and any cash advances provided, and the current value of the policy of benefits designated with a record of all amounts paid back to the State or other beneficiary. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adopt rules and forms to implement this Section.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, an irrevocable trust containing the resources of a person who is determined to have a disability shall be considered exempt from consideration. A pooled trust must be established and managed by a non-profit association that pools funds but maintains a separate account for each beneficiary. The trust may be established by the person, a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or court. It must be established for the sole benefit of the person and language contained in the trust shall stipulate that any amount remaining in the trust (up to the amount expended by the Department on medical assistance) that is not retained by the trust for reasonable administrative costs related to wrapping up the affairs of the subaccount shall be paid to the Department upon the death of the person. After a person reaches age 65, any funding by or on behalf of the person to the trust shall be treated as a transfer of assets for less than fair market value unless the person is a ward of a county public guardian or the State Guardian pursuant to Section 13-5 of the Probate Act of 1975 or Section 30 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act and lives in the community, or the person is a ward of a county public guardian or the State Guardian pursuant to Section 13-5 of the Probate Act of 1975 or Section 30 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act and a court has found that any expenditures from the trust will maintain or enhance the person's quality of life. If the trust contains proceeds from a personal injury settlement, any Department charge must be satisfied in order for the transfer to the trust to be treated as a transfer for fair market value.

(e) The homestead shall be exempt from consideration except to the extent that it meets the income and shelter needs of the person. "Homestead" means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate owned and occupied by the person, regardless of its value. Subject to federal approval, a person shall not be eligible for long-term care services, however, if the person's equity interest in his or her homestead exceeds the minimum home equity as allowed and increased annually under federal law. Subject to federal approval, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, homestead property transferred to a trust shall no longer be considered homestead property.

(f) Occasional or irregular gifts in cash, goods or services from persons who are not legally responsible relatives which are of nominal value or which do not have significant effect in meeting essential requirements shall be disregarded.

(g) The eligibility of any applicant for or recipient of public aid under this Article is not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act" or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

(h) The Illinois Department may, after appropriate investigation, establish and implement a consolidated standard to determine need and eligibility for and amount of benefits under this Article or a uniform cash supplement to the federal Supplemental Security Income program for all or any part of the then current recipients under this Article; provided, however, that the establishment or implementation of such a standard or supplement shall not result in reductions in benefits under this Article for the then current recipients of such benefits.

(i) The provisions under paragraph (4) of subsection (c) are subject to federal approval. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall apply for any necessary federal waivers or approvals to implement by January 1, 2023 the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 102-959, eff. 5-27-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.3)

Sec. 3-1.3. Property transfers. To the extent required under federal law, a person shall not make or have made a voluntary or involuntary assignment or transfer of any legal or equitable interests in real or personal property, whether vested, contingent or inchoate, for less than fair market value.

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

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.4)

Sec. 3-1.4. Residents of public institutions. Residents of municipal, county, state or national institutions for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability or for the tuberculous, or residents of a home or other institution maintained by such governmental bodies when not in need of institutional care because of sickness, convalescence, infirmity, or chronic illness, and inmates of penal or correctional institutions maintained by such governmental bodies, may qualify for aid under this Article only after they have ceased to be residents or inmates, but they may apply in advance of their discharge. Applications received from residents scheduled for discharge from such institutions shall be processed by the Department in an expeditious manner. For persons whose applications are approved, the date of eligibility shall be the date of release from the institution.

A person shall not be deemed a resident of a State institution for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability within the meaning of this Section if he or she has been conditionally discharged by the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) and is no longer residing in the institution.

Recipients of benefits under this Article who become residents of such institutions shall be permitted a period of up to 30 days in such institutions without suspension or termination of eligibility; if residency in an institution extends beyond 30 days the eligibility for all benefits except Aid to Families with Dependent Children shall be suspended. Benefits shall be restored, effective on the date of discharge or release, for persons who are residents of institutions. Within a reasonable time after the discharge of a person who was a resident of an institution, the Department shall redetermine the eligibility of such person.

The Department shall provide for procedures to expedite the determination of disability of persons scheduled to be discharged from facilities operated by the Department.

If federal law or regulations governing grants under this Article permit the inclusion of persons who are residents of institutions designated in this Section beyond the period authorized herein, the Illinois Department, upon a determination that the appropriations for public aid are sufficient for such purpose, and upon approval of the Governor, may provide by general and uniform rule for the waiver of the provisions of this Section which would otherwise disqualify such person for aid under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 88-380; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.5)

Sec. 3-1.5. Residents of private institutions.

Persons who are residents of or who are being maintained by a private institution may qualify only if they have not purchased care and maintenance in the institution by cash or by transfer of property, or having purchased care and maintenance, only after the amount of the cash or property has been wholly consumed for care and maintenance.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.6)

Sec. 3-1.6. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 77-1802. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-1.7) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1.7)

Sec. 3-1.7. Multiple convictions for violations of this Code. Any person found guilty of a second violation of Article VIIIA shall be ineligible for financial aid under this Article, as provided in Section 8A-8.

(Source: P.A. 82-440.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-2)

Sec. 3-2. Conditions for basic maintenance grants to persons receiving institutional care. A resident of a public or private home or institution maintained for the care of persons who are sick, convalescent, infirm or chronically ill, may, if otherwise qualified, be granted financial aid for basic maintenance, subject to the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, if the facilities of the home or institution are in conformity with standards prescribed by the Department of Public Health for safeguarding the health, safety, and comfort of the residents thereof, and provide such services as may be prescribed by the Illinois Department for enhancing their rehabilitation or increasing their capacity for self-care.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-2.5)

Sec. 3-2.5. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 93-774, eff. 7-21-04. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-2.6)

Sec. 3-2.6. Sheltered care rates. The Department of Human Services shall increase the sheltered care rates in effect on June 30, 2022, by 10%.

(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)

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

Sec. 3-3. Examination as to blindness. For all purposes, the Illinois Department may accept determinations as to blindness performed under the auspices of the Federal Social Security Administration and properly certified to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-4)

Sec. 3-4. Examination as to disability. For all purposes, the Illinois Department may accept determinations as to disability performed under the auspices of the Federal Social Security Administration and properly certified to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)

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

Sec. 3-5. Amount of aid. The amount and nature of financial aid granted to or in behalf of aged, blind, or disabled persons shall be determined in accordance with the standards, grant amounts, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department. Due regard shall be given to the requirements and conditions existing in each case, and to the amount of property owned and the income, money contributions, and other support, and resources received or obtainable by the person, from whatever source. However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act" or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The aid shall be sufficient, when added to all other income, money contributions and support, to provide the person with a grant in the amount established by Department regulation for such a person, based upon standards providing a livelihood compatible with health and well-being. Financial aid under this Article granted to persons who have been found ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to expiration of the period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2) shall equal 90% of the current maximum SSI payment amount per month.

(Source: P.A. 97-689, eff. 6-14-12; 98-674, eff. 6-30-14.)

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

Sec. 3-5a. Protective payments to substitute payee. If the person, by reason of his physical or mental condition, is unable to manage funds, or if, for any reason, he persistently mismanages the grant to the detriment of his best interests, the County Department, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, may make a protective payment by designating a person who is interested in or concerned with the person's welfare to receive the grant in his behalf.

The substitute payee shall serve without compensation and assume the obligation of seeing that the grant is expended for the recipient's benefit. He may spend the grant for the recipient, or supervise the recipient in its use, depending upon the circumstances in the case, and shall make such monthly reports to the County Department as the County Department and the Illinois Department may require.

The County Department shall terminate the protective payment when it has made a determination that the grant will be used for the recipient's welfare.

A substitute payee may be removed, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, for unsatisfactory service. Such removal may be effected without hearing. The decision shall not be appealable to the Illinois Department nor shall it be reviewable in the courts.

The County Department shall conduct such periodic reviews as may be required by the Illinois Department to determine whether there is a continuing need for a protective payment. If it appears that the need for such payment is likely to continue beyond a reasonable period, the County Department shall take action for appointment by the circuit court of a guardian or legal representative for the purpose of receiving and managing the public aid grant.

The person shall be advised, in advance of a determination to make a protective payment, that he may appeal the decision to the Illinois Department under the provisions of Section 11-8 of Article XI.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2324.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-6)

Sec. 3-6. Entitlement to medical assistance.

Persons qualified for financial aid for basic maintenance shall be entitled to receive, under Article V, all necessary medical assistance.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-7)

Sec. 3-7. Entitlement to Social Services. Persons qualified for financial aid for basic maintenance shall be entitled to receive, under Article IX, such rehabilitative, training or other social services as are appropriate.

(Source: P.A. 82-440.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-8)

Sec. 3-8. Funeral and burial. If the estate of a deceased recipient is insufficient to pay for funeral and burial expenses, and if no other resources, including assistance from legally responsible relatives, are available for such purposes, there shall be paid, in accordance with the standards, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, such reasonable amounts as may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral, burial space, and cemetery charges, or to reimburse any person not financially responsible for the deceased who has voluntarily made expenditures for such costs.

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-9)

Sec. 3-9. Claim against the estate of a deceased recipient. On the death of a person who has been a recipient, the total amount paid under this Article shall be filed and allowed as a claim against that person's estate or as a claim against the estate of that person's surviving spouse. No claim of the State, however, shall be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the recipient's surviving spouse, or a relative of the recipient as defined by the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. "Homestead", as used in this Section, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse, or defined relative of the recipient, regardless of the value of the property.

The transfer of money, personal property or other personal assets, or any interest therein, by a present or former recipient into a joint tenancy account in a bank or other institution or depository shall be prima facie evidence of an intent to defeat the claim against his estate. The transfer may be voided in an appropriate legal action, or the Illinois Department may consider the recipient's interest in the joint tenancy account as an asset of his estate for the purpose of the claim provided by this Section.

The Illinois Department may, by rule, defer or waive the enforcement of its claim hereunder if the deceased recipient is survived by a dependent spouse and minor child or children, or if rehabilitative training for employment or other means of self-support for the surviving spouse or children is feasible and the deferment or waiver of the claim would facilitate achievement of self-support status and prevent or reduce the likelihood of return to dependency upon public aid.

The estate claim herein provided is in addition to the lien claim established in Section 3-10.

(Source: P.A. 88-85.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10)

Sec. 3-10. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-85. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.1)

Sec. 3-10.1. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.2)

Sec. 3-10.2. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 83-358. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.3)

Sec. 3-10.3. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 83-358. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.4)

Sec. 3-10.4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 83-889. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.5)

Sec. 3-10.5. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.6)

Sec. 3-10.6. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.7)

Sec. 3-10.7. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.8)

Sec. 3-10.8. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 79-1365. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.9)

Sec. 3-10.9. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-10.10)

Sec. 3-10.10. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-11)

Sec. 3-11. Fraudulent transfer of real property. A transfer of any legal or equitable interest in real property, whether vested, contingent, or inchoate, by a person who is or has been a recipient, including any such transfers prior to application which would have initially disqualified the person as provided in Section 3-1.3, shall, under any of the following conditions, be deemed prima facie fraudulent as to the Illinois Department.

(1.) Where the deed or assignment has not been recorded or registered by the grantee, trustee, or assignee

(2.) When the deed or assignment, even though recorded or registered, fails to state the consideration

(3.) When the consideration for the deed or assignment, even though recorded or registered, is not paid

(4.) When the consideration for the deed or assignment, even though recorded or registered, does not approximate the fair, cash market value.

The Attorney General, upon request of the Illinois Department, shall file suit to rescind any such transfer or assignment of real property. Any aid furnished under this Article shall be recoverable in any such proceeding from such person or from his estate.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-12)

Sec. 3-12. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-412.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-13) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-13)

Sec. 3-13. Federal program - Declaration of responsibilities: It is the position of this State that the Federal Government should meet its obligation to provide financial aid to those aged, blind or disabled persons eligible under Article III hereof so as to assure those persons a standard of living compatible with health and well-being, including any supplementary aid program provided to meet special or emergency needs, and it is the position of this State that the Federal Government should meet its obligation to provide continuing supplemental nutritional aid for such persons through the Federal Food Stamp Program or through full reimbursement for expenditures made in lieu of such Food Stamp Program.

(a) The Illinois Department may, from federal reimbursements received under this Section, make disbursements to any attorney, or advocate working under the supervision of an attorney, who represents a recipient of assistance under Article VI of this Code in a program administered by the Illinois Department, in an appeal of any claim for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits before an administrative law judge which is decided in favor of such recipient. The amount of such disbursement shall be equal to 25% of the maximum federal Supplemental Security Income grant payable to an individual for a period of one year. No such disbursement shall be made unless a petition and a copy of the favorable decision is submitted by such attorney or advocate to the Illinois Department within 60 days of the date of such decision. The disbursement shall be made within 30 days after the petition is received. The Illinois Department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this subsection.

(b) The Illinois Department shall institute a State program to fully supplement the federal Supplemental Security Income grants of all persons in the aged, blind, or disabled categories who meet the eligibility and need requirements of this Code. The amount or amounts of such supplementary payments shall be established by the Director of the Illinois Department in a manner consistent with the other provisions of this Article III.

(c) The Illinois Department, the Comptroller and the Treasurer, are authorized to disburse to the Federal Government amounts appropriated to the Illinois Department for use in furnishing aid to persons eligible under Article III of this Code, to receive reimbursements from the Federal Government therefor, and to establish administrative procedures necessary for the accomplishment of such a payment system.

(Source: P.A. 93-632, eff. 2-1-04.)

(305 ILCS 5/3-14) (from Ch. 23, par. 3-14)

Sec. 3-14. Authorization for Federal administration of supplement: The Illinois Department is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for the Secretary to administer, as provided in Section 1616 of the Social Security Act, any or all portions of a State program to supplement grants.

(Source: P.A. 78-3rd S.S.-22.)

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

Sec. 3-15. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 78-3rd S.S.-22. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. IV heading) ARTICLE IV. TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

(305 ILCS 5/4-0.5)

Sec. 4-0.5. Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program inoperative after June 30, 1997. The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program shall be inoperative after June 30, 1997. Under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Children Program the Illinois Department shall develop an alternative program of mutual responsibility between the Illinois Department and the client to allow the family to become self-sufficient or employed as quickly as possible through (i) the provision of transitional assistance to families in the form of emergency one-time payments to prevent job loss, temporary assistance while searching for or being trained for work, or paternity establishment and child support enforcement or (ii) the provision for continued work.

(Source: P.A. 89-6, eff. 3-6-95; 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-0.6)

Sec. 4-0.6. Reference to AFDC considered a reference to TANF. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, any reference to Aid to Families with Dependent Children or AFDC shall be considered to be a reference to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF.

(Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1)

Sec. 4-1. Eligibility requirements. Financial aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements for a livelihood compatible with health and well-being shall be given under this Article to or in behalf of families with dependent children who meet the eligibility conditions of Sections 4-1.1 through 4-1.12. It shall be the policy of the Illinois Department to provide aid under this Article to all qualified persons who seek assistance and to conduct outreach efforts to educate the public about the program. The Department shall provide timely, accurate, and fair service to all applicants for assistance. Persons who meet the eligibility criteria authorized under this Article shall be treated equally, provided that nothing in this Article shall be construed to create an entitlement to a particular grant or service level or to aid in amounts not authorized under this Code, nor construed to limit the authority of the General Assembly to change the eligibility requirements or provisions respecting assistance amounts. The General Assembly recognizes that the need for aid will fluctuate with the economic situation in Illinois and that at times the number of people receiving aid under this Article will increase.

The Illinois Department shall advise every applicant for and recipient of aid under this Article of (i) the requirement that all recipients move toward self-sufficiency and (ii) the value and benefits of employment. As a condition of eligibility for that aid, every person who applies for aid under this Article on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995 shall prepare and submit, as part of the application or subsequent redetermination, a personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency. The plan shall incorporate the individualized assessment and employability plan set out in subsections (d), (f), and (g) of Section 9A-8. The plan may be amended as the recipient's needs change. The assessment process to develop the plan shall include questions that screen for domestic violence issues and steps needed to address these issues may be part of the plan. If the individual indicates that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, he or she may also be referred to an available domestic violence program. Failure of the client to follow through on the personal plan for employment and self-sufficiency may be a basis for sanction under Section 4-21.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.1)

Sec. 4-1.1. Child age eligibility.

(a) Every assistance unit must include a child, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c). The child or children must have already been born and be under age 18, or, if age 18, must be a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training.

(b) Grants shall be provided for assistance units consisting exclusively of a pregnant woman with no dependent child, and may include her husband if living with her, if the pregnancy has been determined by medical diagnosis.

(c) Grants may be provided for assistance units consisting of only adults if all the children living with those adults are children with disabilities and receive Supplemental Security Income.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2)

Sec. 4-1.2. Living Arrangements - Parents - Relatives - Foster Care.

(a) The child or children must (1) be living with his or their father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle or aunt, or other relative approved by the Illinois Department, in a place of residence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home, or (2) have been (a) removed from the home of the parents or other relatives by judicial order under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as amended, (b) placed under the guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services, and (c) under such guardianship, placed in a foster family home, group home or child care institution licensed pursuant to the "Child Care Act of 1969", approved May 15, 1969, as amended, or approved by that Department as meeting standards established for licensing under that Act, or (3) have been relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. A child so placed in foster care who was not receiving aid under this Article in or for the month in which the court proceedings leading to that placement were initiated may qualify only if he lived in the home of his parents or other relatives at the time the proceedings were initiated, or within 6 months prior to the month of initiation, and would have received aid in and for that month if application had been made therefor.

(b) The Illinois Department may, by rule, establish those persons who are living together who must be included in the same assistance unit in order to receive cash assistance under this Article and the income and assets of those persons in an assistance unit which must be considered in determining eligibility.

(c) The conditions of qualification herein specified shall not prejudice aid granted under this Code for foster care prior to the effective date of this 1969 Amendatory Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-408, eff. 8-17-01; 92-432, eff. 8-17-01.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2a) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2a)

Sec. 4-1.2a. Residents of public institutions. Residents of municipal, county, state or national institutions for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability or for the tuberculous, or residents of a home or other institution maintained by such governmental bodies when not in need of institutional care because of sickness, convalescence, infirmity, or chronic illness, and inmates of penal or correctional institutions maintained by such governmental bodies, may qualify for aid under this Article only after they have ceased to be residents or inmates.

A person shall not be deemed a resident of a State institution for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability within the meaning of this Section if he or she has been conditionally discharged by the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) and is no longer residing in the institution.

Recipients of benefits under this Article who become residents of such institutions shall be permitted a period of up to 30 days in such institutions without suspension or termination of eligibility. Benefits for which such person is eligible shall be restored, effective on the date of discharge or release, for persons who are residents of institutions. Within a reasonable time after the discharge of a person who was a resident of an institution, the Department shall redetermine the eligibility of such person.

The Department shall provide for procedures to expedite the determination of incapacity or ability to engage in employment of persons scheduled to be discharged from facilities operated by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2b) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2b)

Sec. 4-1.2b. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-1056. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2c)

Sec. 4-1.2c. Residence of child who is pregnant or a parent.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, no aid shall be paid under this Article on behalf of a person under age 18 who has never married and who has a child or is pregnant, unless that person resides with a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in a foster home, maternity home, or other adult-supervised living arrangement.

(b) The Illinois Department may make an exception to the requirement of subsection (a) in any of the following circumstances:

(1) The person has no living parent or legal guardian, or the parent's or legal guardian's whereabouts are unknown.

(2) The Illinois Department determines that the physical health or safety of the person or the person's child would be jeopardized.

(3) The person has lived apart from the parent or legal guardian for a period of at least one year before the child's birth or before applying for aid under this Article.

(c) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.3)

Sec. 4-1.3. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.4)

Sec. 4-1.4. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.5a) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.5a)

Sec. 4-1.5a. Multiple convictions for violations of this Code. To the extent permitted under federal law, any person found guilty of a second violation of Article VIIIA or under any law of the United States or of any State which is substantially similar to Sections 8A-2 through 8A-5 shall be ineligible for financial aid under this Article, as provided in Section 8A-8.

(Source: P.A. 85-286.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.6)

Sec. 4-1.6. Need. Income available to the family as defined by the Illinois Department by rule, or to the child in the case of a child removed from his or her home, when added to contributions in money, substance or services from other sources, including income available from parents absent from the home or from a stepparent, contributions made for the benefit of the parent or other persons necessary to provide care and supervision to the child, and contributions from legally responsible relatives, must be equal to or less than the grant amount established by Department regulation for such a person. For purposes of eligibility for aid under this Article, the Department shall (a) disregard all earned income between the grant amount and 50% of the Federal Poverty Level and (b) disregard the value of all assets held by the family.

In considering income to be taken into account, consideration shall be given to any expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of such income. Three-fourths of the earned income of a household eligible for aid under this Article shall be disregarded when determining the level of assistance for which a household is eligible. All child support, whether it be current support, past support owed, or future support, that is collected on or after January 1, 2023 on behalf of a family shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family under this Article. Any amount of child support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for cash assistance provided under this Article. The Illinois Department may also permit all or any portion of earned or other income to be set aside for the future identifiable needs of a child. The Illinois Department may provide by rule and regulation for the exemptions thus permitted or required. The eligibility of any applicant for or recipient of public aid under this Article is not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act" or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

The Illinois Department may, by rule, set forth criteria under which an assistance unit is ineligible for cash assistance under this Article for a specified number of months due to the receipt of a lump sum payment.

(Source: P.A. 102-1115, eff. 7-1-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6a)

Sec. 4-1.6a. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-205. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6b)

Sec. 4-1.6b. Date for providing aid; employability assessment.

(a) The Department shall provide financial aid no more than 45 days after the date of application.

(b) During the first 45 days after the date of application, the applicant shall undergo a thorough employability assessment, in accordance with subsection (d) of Section 9A-8 of this Code, and shall prepare a personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency in accordance with Section 4-1 of this Code. The requirement to engage in work-related activity may commence 30 days after the date of application.

(c) Financial aid under this Article shall be authorized effective 30 days after the date of application, provided that the applicant is eligible on that date.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10; 97-683, eff. 7-1-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.7) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.7)

Sec. 4-1.7. Enforcement of parental child support obligation. If the parent or parents of the child are failing to meet or are delinquent in their legal obligation to support the child, the parent or other person having custody of the child or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may request the law enforcement officer authorized or directed by law to so act to file an action for the enforcement of such remedies as the law provides for the fulfillment of the child support obligation.

If a parent has a judicial remedy against the other parent to compel child support, or if, as the result of an action initiated by or in behalf of one parent against the other, a child support order has been entered in respect to which there is noncompliance or delinquency, or where the order so entered may be changed upon petition to the court to provide additional support, the parent or other person having custody of the child or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may request the appropriate law enforcement officer to seek enforcement of the remedy, or of the support order, or a change therein to provide additional support. If the law enforcement officer is not authorized by law to so act in these instances, the parent, or if so authorized by law the other person having custody of the child, or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may initiate an action to enforce these remedies.

A parent or other person having custody of the child must comply with the requirements of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act, and the regulations duly promulgated thereunder, and any rules promulgated by the Illinois Department regarding enforcement of the child support obligation. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services may provide by rule for the grant or continuation of aid to the person for a temporary period if he or she accepts counseling or other services designed to increase his or her motivation to seek enforcement of the child support obligation.

In addition to any other definition of failure or refusal to comply with the requirements of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act, or Illinois Department rule, in the case of failure to attend court hearings, the parent or other person can show cooperation by attending a court hearing or, if a court hearing cannot be scheduled within 14 days following the court hearing that was missed, by signing a statement that the parent or other person is now willing to cooperate in the child support enforcement process and will appear at any later scheduled court date. The parent or other person can show cooperation by signing such a statement only once. If failure to attend the court hearing or other failure to cooperate results in the case being dismissed, such a statement may be signed after 2 months.

No denial or termination of medical assistance pursuant to this Section shall commence during pregnancy of the parent or other person having custody of the child or for 30 days after the termination of such pregnancy. The termination of medical assistance may commence thereafter if the Department of Healthcare and Family Services determines that the failure or refusal to comply with this Section persists. Postponement of denial or termination of medical assistance during pregnancy under this paragraph shall be effective only to the extent it does not conflict with federal law or regulation.

Any evidence a parent or other person having custody of the child gives in order to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not render him or her liable to prosecution under Section 11-35 or 11-40 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

When so requested, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services shall provide such services and assistance as the law enforcement officer may require in connection with the filing of any action hereunder.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services, as an expense of administration, may also provide applicants for and recipients of aid with such services and assistance, including assumption of the reasonable costs of prosecuting any action or proceeding, as may be necessary to enable them to enforce the child support liability required hereunder.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as a requirement that an applicant or recipient file an action for dissolution of marriage against his or her spouse.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.8) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.8)

Sec. 4-1.8. Registration for and Acceptance of Employment. Individuals who are unemployed, or employed for less than the full working time for the occupation in which they are engaged, and dependent members of the family age 16 or over who are not in regular attendance in school as defined in Section 4-1.1, must comply with and are subject to all the requirements of Article IXA.

(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.9) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.9)

Sec. 4-1.9. Participation in Educational and Vocational Training Programs.

(a) A parent or parents and a child age 16 or over not in regular attendance in school, as defined in Section 4-1.1 as that Section existed on August 26, 1969 (the effective date of Public Act 76-1047), for whom education and training is suitable, must participate in the educational and vocational training programs provided pursuant to Article IXA.

(b) A parent who is less than 20 years of age and who has not received a high school diploma or State of Illinois High School Diploma is required to be enrolled in school or in an educational program that is expected to result in the receipt of a high school diploma or State of Illinois High School Diploma, except 18 and 19 year old parents may be assigned to work activities or training if it is determined based on an individualized assessment that secondary school is inappropriate.

(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.10) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.10)

Sec. 4-1.10. Acceptance of Assignment to Job Search, Training and Work Programs. An individual for whom the job search, training and work programs established under Article IXA are applicable must accept assignment to such programs. The Illinois Department and the local governmental unit shall determine, pursuant to rules and regulations, sanctions for persons failing to comply with the requirements under this Section. However, no participant shall be sanctioned for failure to satisfy job search requirements before a full assessment of the participant's job readiness and employability, except that for those persons subject to the job search program operated under this Section an assessment as defined by rule at the time of intake will meet the assessment requirement. No participant shall be sanctioned for failure to satisfy the minimum number of employer contacts if the participant made a good faith effort.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.11)

Sec. 4-1.11. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-554, eff. 7-26-94. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-1.12)

Sec. 4-1.12. Five year limitation. No assistance unit shall be eligible for a cash grant under this Article if it includes an adult who has received cash assistance as an adult for 60 months, whether or not consecutive, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997. The Illinois Department may exempt individual assistance units from the 60-month limitation or determine circumstances under which a month or months would not count towards the 60-month limitation even though the assistance unit did receive cash assistance under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-2)

Sec. 4-2. Amount of aid.

(a) The amount and nature of financial aid shall be determined in accordance with the grant amounts, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department. Due regard shall be given to the self-sufficiency requirements of the family and to the income, money contributions and other support and resources available, from whatever source. However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act" or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The aid shall be sufficient, when added to all other income, money contributions and support to provide the family with a grant in the amount established by Department regulation.

(a-5) For the purposes of this subsection, TANF grant amounts shall consist of the following portions:

(1) 75% shall be designated for the child or children of the assistance unit; and

(2) 25% shall be designated for the adult member or members of the assistance unit.

(b) The Illinois Department may conduct special projects, which may be known as Grant Diversion Projects, under which recipients of financial aid under this Article are placed in jobs and their grants are diverted to the employer who in turn makes payments to the recipients in the form of salary or other employment benefits. The Illinois Department shall by rule specify the terms and conditions of such Grant Diversion Projects. Such projects shall take into consideration and be coordinated with the programs administered under the Illinois Emergency Employment Development Act.

(c) The amount and nature of the financial aid for a child requiring care outside his own home shall be determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, with due regard to the needs and requirements of the child in the foster home or institution in which he has been placed.

(d) If the Department establishes grants for family units consisting exclusively of a pregnant woman with no dependent child or including her husband if living with her, the grant amount for such a unit shall be equal to the grant amount for an assistance unit consisting of one adult, or 2 persons if the husband is included. Other than as herein described, an unborn child shall not be counted in determining the size of an assistance unit or for calculating grants.

Payments for basic maintenance requirements of a child or children and the relative with whom the child or children are living shall be prescribed, by rule, by the Illinois Department.

Grants under this Article shall not be supplemented by General Assistance provided under Article VI.

(e) Grants shall be paid to the parent or other person with whom the child or children are living, except for such amount as is paid in behalf of the child or his parent or other relative to other persons or agencies pursuant to this Code or the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department.

(f) Subject to subsection (f-5), an assistance unit, receiving financial aid under this Article or temporarily ineligible to receive aid under this Article under a penalty imposed by the Illinois Department for failure to comply with the eligibility requirements or that voluntarily requests termination of financial assistance under this Article and becomes subsequently eligible for assistance within 9 months, shall not receive any increase in the amount of aid solely on account of the birth of a child; except that an increase is not prohibited when the birth is (i) of a child of a pregnant woman who became eligible for aid under this Article during the pregnancy, or (ii) of a child born within 10 months after the date of implementation of this subsection, or (iii) of a child conceived after a family became ineligible for assistance due to income or marriage and at least 3 months of ineligibility expired before any reapplication for assistance. This subsection does not, however, prevent a unit from receiving a general increase in the amount of aid that is provided to all recipients of aid under this Article.

The Illinois Department is authorized to transfer funds, and shall use any budgetary savings attributable to not increasing the grants due to the births of additional children, to supplement existing funding for employment and training services for recipients of aid under this Article IV. The Illinois Department shall target, to the extent the supplemental funding allows, employment and training services to the families who do not receive a grant increase after the birth of a child. In addition, the Illinois Department shall provide, to the extent the supplemental funding allows, such families with up to 24 months of transitional child care pursuant to Illinois Department rules. All remaining supplemental funds shall be used for employment and training services or transitional child care support.

In making the transfers authorized by this subsection, the Illinois Department shall first determine, pursuant to regulations adopted by the Illinois Department for this purpose, the amount of savings attributable to not increasing the grants due to the births of additional children. Transfers may be made from General Revenue Fund appropriations for distributive purposes authorized by Article IV of this Code only to General Revenue Fund appropriations for employability development services including operating and administrative costs and related distributive purposes under Article IXA of this Code. The Director, with the approval of the Governor, shall certify the amount and affected line item appropriations to the State Comptroller.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois Department from using funds under this Article IV to provide assistance in the form of vouchers that may be used to pay for goods and services deemed by the Illinois Department, by rule, as suitable for the care of the child such as diapers, clothing, school supplies, and cribs.

(f-5) Subsection (f) shall not apply to affect the monthly assistance amount of any family as a result of the birth of a child on or after January 1, 2004. As resources permit after January 1, 2004, the Department may cease applying subsection (f) to limit assistance to families receiving assistance under this Article on January 1, 2004, with respect to children born prior to that date. In any event, subsection (f) shall be completely inoperative on and after July 1, 2007.

(g) (Blank).

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department is authorized to reduce payment levels used to determine cash grants under this Article after December 31 of any fiscal year if the Illinois Department determines that the caseload upon which the appropriations for the current fiscal year are based have increased by more than 5% and the appropriation is not sufficient to ensure that cash benefits under this Article do not exceed the amounts appropriated for those cash benefits. Reductions in payment levels may be accomplished by emergency rule under Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, except that the limitation on the number of emergency rules that may be adopted in a 24-month period shall not apply and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply. Increases in payment levels shall be accomplished only in accordance with Section 5-40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Before any rule to increase payment levels promulgated under this Section shall become effective, a joint resolution approving the rule must be adopted by a roll call vote by a majority of the members elected to each chamber of the General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 101-103, eff. 7-19-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-3)

Sec. 4-3. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-3a) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-3a)

Sec. 4-3a. No otherwise qualified child with a disability receiving special education and related services under Article 14 of The School Code shall solely by reason of his or her disability be excluded from the participation in or be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

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

Sec. 4-4. Entitlement to medical assistance.

Children and adults qualified for aid shall be entitled to receive, under Article V, all necessary medical assistance.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-4.1)

Sec. 4-4.1. Immunizations.

(a) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid) shall develop and implement and that Department and the Department of Human Services shall jointly continue by rule a program to ensure that children under 5 years of age living in assistance units that receive benefits under this Code are immunized. The Illinois Department of Public Aid shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress of the program on April 1, 1994 and 1995.

(b) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require immunization of any child in contravention of the stated objections of a parent, guardian, or relative with custody of a child that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with his or her religious tenets and practices.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

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

Sec. 4-5. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-6)

Sec. 4-6. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-195. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-7)

Sec. 4-7. Home Visits, Interviews or Communications. Each family receiving aid shall be interviewed in person or communicated with in investigations of applications for aid and at least once in each subsequent 12 month period to ascertain continuing need for such aid and to provide the child and his parents or relatives with such service and guidance as will strengthen family life and aid them in utilizing to the maximum their capacities for self-care, self-support, and responsible citizenship. However, the Department shall determine those assistance units where the possibility for public assistance fraud or abuse is greatest, or where there is the possibility of frequent changes in need or circumstances, or where any child in the home may be an abused or neglected child as determined by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, as now or hereafter amended, and shall by rule provide for more frequent interviews of or communications with those assistance units and for the implementation of necessary remedies under Sections 4-8 and 4-9 for those assistance units. Written reports of such interviews or communications and any related remedies shall become a part of the record in every case.

(Source: P.A. 85-1209.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-8)

Sec. 4-8. Mismanagement of assistance grant.

(a) If the County Department has reason to believe that the money payment for basic maintenance is not being used, or may not be used, in the best interests of the child and the family and that there is present or potential damage to the standards of health and well-being that the grant is intended to assure, the County Department shall provide the parent or other relative with the counseling and guidance services with respect to the use of the grant and the management of other funds available to the family as may be required to assure use of the grant in the best interests of the child and family. The Illinois Department shall by rule prescribe criteria which shall constitute evidence of grant mismanagement. The criteria shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) A determination that a child in the assistance unit is not receiving proper and necessary support or other care for which assistance is being provided under this Code.

(2) A record establishing that the parent or relative has been found guilty of public assistance fraud under Article VIIIA.

(3) A determination by an appropriate person, entity, or agency that the parent or other relative requires treatment for substance use disorders, mental health services, or other special care or treatment.

The Department shall at least consider non-payment of rent for two consecutive months as evidence of grant mismanagement by a parent or relative of a recipient who is responsible for making rental payments for the housing or shelter of the child or family, unless the Department determines that the non-payment is necessary for the protection of the health and well-being of the recipient. The County Department shall advise the parent or other relative grantee that continued mismanagement will result in the application of one of the sanctions specified in this Section.

The Illinois Department shall consider irregular school attendance by children of school age grades 1 through 8, as evidence of lack of proper and necessary support or care. The Department may extend this consideration to children in grades higher than 8.

The Illinois Department shall develop preventive programs in collaboration with school and social service networks to encourage school attendance of children receiving assistance under Article IV. To the extent that Illinois Department and community resources are available, the programs shall serve families whose children in grades 1 through 8 are not attending school regularly, as defined by the school. The Department may extend these programs to families whose children are in grades higher than 8. The programs shall include referrals from the school to a social service network, assessment and development of a service plan by one or more network representatives, and the Illinois Department's encouragement of the family to follow through with the service plan. Families that fail to follow the service plan as determined by the service provider, shall be subject to the protective payment provisions of this Section and Section 4-9 of this Code.

Families for whom a protective payment plan has been in effect for at least 3 months and whose school children continue to regularly miss school shall be subject to sanction under Section 4-21. The sanction shall continue until the children demonstrate satisfactory attendance, as defined by the school. To the extent necessary to implement this Section, the Illinois Department shall seek appropriate waivers of federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) In areas of the State where clinically appropriate substance use disorder treatment capacity is available, if the local office has reason to believe that a caretaker relative is experiencing a substance use disorder, the local office shall refer the caretaker relative to a licensed treatment provider for assessment. If the assessment indicates that the caretaker relative is experiencing a substance use disorder, the local office shall require the caretaker relative to comply with all treatment recommended by the assessment. If the caretaker relative refuses without good cause, as determined by rules of the Illinois Department, to submit to the assessment or treatment, the caretaker relative shall be ineligible for assistance, and the local office shall take one or more of the following actions:

(i) If there is another family member or friend who is ensuring that the family's needs are being met, that person, if willing, shall be assigned as protective payee.

(ii) If there is no family member or close friend to serve as protective payee, the local office shall provide for a protective payment to a substitute payee as provided in Section 4-9. The Department also shall determine whether a referral to the Department of Children and Family Services is warranted and, if appropriate, shall make the referral.

(iii) The Department shall contact the individual who is thought to be experiencing a substance use disorder and explain why the protective payee has been assigned and refer the individual to treatment.

(c) This subsection (c) applies to cases other than those described in subsection (b). If the efforts to correct the mismanagement of the grant have failed, the County Department, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, shall initiate one or more of the following actions:

1. Provide for a protective payment to a substitute payee, as provided in Section 4-9. This action may be initiated for any assistance unit containing a child determined to be neglected by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and in any case involving a record of public assistance fraud.

2. Provide for issuance of all or part of the grant in the form of disbursing orders. This action may be initiated in any case involving a record of public assistance fraud, or upon the request of a substitute payee designated under Section 4-9.

3. File a petition under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for an Order of Protection under Section 2-25, 2-26, 3-26, 3-27, 4-23, 4-24, 5-730, or 5-735 of that Act.

4. Institute a proceeding under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for the appointment of a guardian or legal representative for the purpose of receiving and managing the public aid grant.

5. If the mismanagement of the grant, together with other factors, has rendered the home unsuitable for the best welfare of the child, file a neglect petition under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, requesting the removal of the child or children.

(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-9)

Sec. 4-9. Protective payment to substitute payee. If the parent or other grantee relative persistently mismanages the grant to the detriment of the child and the family but there is reason to believe that, with specialized counseling and guidance services, the parent or relative may develop ability to manage the funds properly, the County Department, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, may designate a person who is interested in or concerned with the welfare of the child and its family to receive the aid payment on behalf of the family. The County Department may designate private welfare or social service agencies to serve as substitute payees in appropriate cases.

The substitute payee shall serve without compensation and assume the obligation of seeing that the aid payment is expended for the benefit of the child and the family. He may spend the grant for the family, or supervise the parent or other relative in the use of the grant, depending upon the circumstances in each case, and shall make monthly reports to the County Department as the County Department and the Illinois Department may require.

The County Department shall terminate the protective payment when it is no longer necessary to assure that the grant is being used for the welfare of the child and family, or when the parent or other relative is no longer receiving and no longer requires treatment for substance use disorders, mental health services, or other special care or treatment.

A substitute payee may be removed, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, for unsatisfactory service. The removal may be effected without hearing. The decision shall not be appealable to the Illinois Department nor shall it be reviewable in the courts.

The County Department shall conduct periodic reviews as may be required by the Illinois Department to determine whether there is a continuing need for a protective payment. If it appears that the need for the payment is likely to continue beyond a reasonable period, the County Department shall take one of the other actions set out in Section 4-8.

The parent or other relative shall be advised, in advance of a determination to make a protective payment, that he may appeal the decision to the Illinois Department under the provisions of Section 11-8 of Article XI.

(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-10)

Sec. 4-10. Funeral and burial. If the estate of a deceased recipient is insufficient to pay for funeral and burial expenses, and if no other resources, including assistance from legally responsible relatives, are available for such purposes, there shall be paid, in accordance with the standards, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, such reasonable amounts as may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral, burial space, and cemetery charges or to reimburse any person not financially responsible for the deceased who has voluntarily made expenditures for such costs.

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-11)

Sec. 4-11. Charge of child.

Public officials, agents, or representatives, in carrying out any of the provisions of this Article, shall not take charge of any child over the objection of either of the child's parents, or of the persons standing in loco parentis to the child, except pursuant to court order.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-12)

Sec. 4-12. Crisis assistance. Where a family has been (1) rendered homeless or threatened with homelessness by fire, flood, other natural disaster, eviction or court order to vacate the premises for reasons other than nonpayment of rent, or where a family has become homeless because they have left their residence due to domestic or sexual violence; (1.5) deprived of the household's income as a result of domestic or sexual violence; (2) deprived of essential items of furniture or essential clothing by fire or flood or other natural disaster; (3) deprived of food as a result of actions other than loss or theft of cash and where the deprivation cannot be promptly alleviated through the federal food stamp program; (4) as a result of a documented theft or documented loss of cash, deprived of food or essential clothing or deprived of shelter or immediately threatened with deprivation of shelter as evidenced by a court order requiring immediate eviction due to nonpayment of rent; or (5) rendered the victim of such other hardships as the Illinois Department shall by rule define, the Illinois Department may provide assistance to alleviate such needs. The Illinois Department shall verify need and determine eligibility for crisis assistance for families already receiving grants from the Illinois Department within 5 working days following application for such assistance and shall determine eligibility for all other families and afford such assistance for families found eligible within such time limits as the Illinois Department shall by rule provide. The Illinois Department may, by rule, limit crisis assistance to an eligible family to once in any 12 consecutive months. This limitation may be made for some or all items of crisis assistance.

The Illinois Department by regulation shall specify the criteria for determining eligibility and the amount and nature of assistance to be provided. Where deprivation of shelter exists or is threatened, the Illinois Department may provide reasonable moving expenses, short term rental costs, including one month's rent and a security deposit where such expenses are needed for relocation, and, where the Department determines appropriate, provide assistance to prevent an imminent eviction or foreclosure. These amounts may be described in established amounts or maximums. The Illinois Department may also describe, for each form of assistance authorized, the method by which the assistance shall be delivered, including but not limited to warrants or disbursing orders.

Annual expenditures under this Section shall not exceed $2,000,000. The Illinois Department shall review such expenditures quarterly and shall, if necessary, reduce the amounts or nature of assistance authorized in order to assure that the limit is not exceeded.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-13) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-13)

Sec. 4-13. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 83-1273. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-14) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-14)

Sec. 4-14. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-98.)

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

Sec. 4-15. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-131, eff. 7-14-95.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-16) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-16)

Sec. 4-16. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-412. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-17)

Sec. 4-17. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-18)

Sec. 4-18. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-626, eff. 8-9-96. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-19)

Sec. 4-19. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-538, eff. 12-1-97. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-21)

Sec. 4-21. Sanctions.

(a) The Illinois Department shall, by rule, establish a system of sanctions for persons who fail to cooperate, without good cause, with employment and training programs or other programs under this Article or Article IXA or who fail to cooperate with child support programs under this Article, Article X, or Title IV of the federal Social Security Act. The sanctions may be time limited or continue until the person cooperates in the program. The sanctions may be progressive in that a second, third, or further sanction may be progressively more severe or last longer.

(a-1) The Illinois Department shall, by rule, impose a 30% reduction of the portion of the grant amount designated for the adult member or members of the assistance unit when an adult member is found to be in noncompliance without good cause.

(a-2) No sanction shall reduce the portion of the grant amount that is designated for the child or children of the assistance unit.

(a-3) The full grant amount must be restored on the first day of the month following a determination that the adult member or members of the assistance unit are in compliance with program requirements and are otherwise eligible for assistance.

(b) The Illinois Department shall, by rule, define what constitutes failure to cooperate and what constitutes good cause which would excuse that failure.

(Source: P.A. 101-103, eff. 7-19-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-22)

Sec. 4-22. Domestic and sexual violence.

(a) The assessment process to develop the personal plan for achieving self-sufficiency shall include questions that screen for domestic and sexual violence issues. If the individual indicates that he or she is the victim of domestic or sexual violence and indicates a need to address domestic or sexual violence issues in order to reach self-sufficiency, the plan shall take this factor into account in determining the work, education, and training activities suitable to the client for achieving self-sufficiency. In addition, in such a case, specific steps needed to directly address the domestic or sexual violence issues may also be made part of the plan, including referral to an available domestic or sexual violence program. The Department shall conduct an individualized assessment and grant waivers of program requirements and other required activities for victims of domestic violence to the fullest extent allowed by 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(A), and shall apply the same laws, regulations, and policies to victims of sexual violence. The duration of such waivers shall be initially determined and subsequently redetermined on a case-by-case basis. There shall be no limitation on the total number of months for which waivers under this Section may be granted, but continuing eligibility for a waiver shall be redetermined no less often than every 6 months.

(b) The Illinois Department shall develop and monitor compliance procedures for its employees, contractors, and subcontractors to ensure that any information pertaining to any client who claims to be a past or present victim of domestic violence or an individual at risk of further domestic violence, whether provided by the victim or by a third party, will remain confidential.

(c) The Illinois Department shall develop and implement a domestic violence training curriculum for Illinois Department employees who serve applicants for and recipients of aid under this Article. The curriculum shall be designed to better equip those employees to identify and serve domestic violence victims. The Illinois Department may enter into a contract for the development of the curriculum with one or more organizations providing services to domestic violence victims. The Illinois Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)

(305 ILCS 5/4-23)

Sec. 4-23. Civil rights impact statement.

(a) The Department of Human Services must submit to the Governor and the General Assembly on January 1 of each even-numbered year a written report that details the disparate impact of various provisions of the TANF program on people of different racial or ethnic groups who identify themselves in an application for benefits as any of the following:

(1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).

(2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).

(3) Black or African American (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).

(4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).

(5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).

(6) White (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa).

(b) The report must at least compare the number of persons in each group:

(1) who are receiving TANF assistance;

(2) whose 60-month lifetime limit on receiving assistance has expired;

(3) who have left TANF due to earned income;

(4) who have left TANF due to non-compliance with program rules;

(5) whose TANF grants have been reduced by sanctions for non-compliance with program rules;

(6) who have returned to TANF 6 months after leaving due to earned income;

(7) who have returned to TANF 12 months after leaving due to earned income;

(8) who have one or more children excluded from receiving TANF cash assistance due to the child exclusion rule;

(9) who have been granted an exemption from work requirements; and

(10) who are participating in post-secondary education activities.

(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/Art. V heading) ARTICLE V. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

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

Sec. 5-1. Declaration of purpose. It is the purpose of this Article to provide a program of essential medical care and rehabilitative services for persons receiving basic maintenance grants under this Code and for other persons who are unable, because of inadequate resources, to meet their essential medical needs.

Preservation of health, alleviation of sickness, and correction of disabling conditions for persons requiring maintenance support are essential if they are to have an opportunity to become self-supporting or to attain a greater capacity for self-care. For persons who are medically indigent but otherwise able to provide themselves with a livelihood, it is of special importance to maintain their incentives for continued independence and preserve their limited resources for ordinary maintenance needs to prevent their total or substantial dependency.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-1.1)

Sec. 5-1.1. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section shall have the meanings ascribed to them, except when the context otherwise requires.

(a) "Nursing facility" means a facility, licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act, that provides nursing facility services within the meaning of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

(b) "Intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities" or "ICF/DD" means a facility, licensed by the Department of Public Health under the ID/DD Community Care Act, that is an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded within the meaning of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

(c) "Standard services" means those services required for the care of all patients in the facility and shall, as a minimum, include the following: (1) administration; (2) dietary (standard); (3) housekeeping; (4) laundry and linen; (5) maintenance of property and equipment, including utilities; (6) medical records; (7) training of employees; (8) utilization review; (9) activities services; (10) social services; (11) disability services; and all other similar services required by either the laws of the State of Illinois or one of its political subdivisions or municipalities or by Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(d) "Patient services" means those which vary with the number of personnel; professional and para-professional skills of the personnel; specialized equipment, and reflect the intensity of the medical and psycho-social needs of the patients. Patient services shall as a minimum include: (1) physical services; (2) nursing services, including restorative nursing; (3) medical direction and patient care planning; (4) health related supportive and habilitative services and all similar services required by either the laws of the State of Illinois or one of its political subdivisions or municipalities or by Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(e) "Ancillary services" means those services which require a specific physician's order and defined as under the medical assistance program as not being routine in nature for skilled nursing facilities and ICF/DDs. Such services generally must be authorized prior to delivery and payment as provided for under the rules of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(f) "Capital" means the investment in a facility's assets for both debt and non-debt funds. Non-debt capital is the difference between an adjusted replacement value of the assets and the actual amount of debt capital.

(g) "Profit" means the amount which shall accrue to a facility as a result of its revenues exceeding its expenses as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(h) "Non-institutional services" means those services provided under paragraph (f) of Section 3 of the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act and those services provided under Section 4.02 of the Illinois Act on the Aging.

(i) (Blank).

(j) "Institutionalized person" means an individual who is an inpatient in an ICF/DD or nursing facility, or who is an inpatient in a medical institution receiving a level of care equivalent to that of an ICF/DD or nursing facility, or who is receiving services under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act.

(k) "Institutionalized spouse" means an institutionalized person who is expected to receive services at the same level of care for at least 30 days and is married to a spouse who is not an institutionalized person.

(l) "Community spouse" is the spouse of an institutionalized spouse.

(m) "Health Benefits Service Package" means, subject to federal approval, benefits covered by the medical assistance program as determined by the Department by rule for individuals eligible for medical assistance under paragraph 18 of Section 5-2 of this Code.

(n) "Federal poverty level" means the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines set poverty levels by family size.

(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.2)

Sec. 5-1.2. Recipient eligibility verification.

(a) The Illinois Department shall initiate a statewide system by which providers and sites of medical care can electronically verify recipient eligibility for aid under this Article. High-volume providers and sites of medical care, as defined by the Illinois Department by rule, shall be required to participate in the eligibility verification system. Every non-high-volume provider and site of medical care shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in the eligibility verification system. The Illinois Department shall provide by rule for implementation of the system, which may be accomplished in phases over time and by geographic region, recipient classification, and provider type. The system shall initially be implemented in, but not limited to, the following zip codes in Cook County: 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60608, 60609, 60612, and 60616. The system shall be implemented within 6 months after approval by the federal government. The Illinois Department shall report to the General Assembly by December 31, 1994 on the status of the Illinois Department's application to the federal government for approval of this system. The recipient eligibility verification system may be coordinated with the Electronic Benefits Transfer system established by Section 11-3.1 of this Code and compatible with any of the methods for the delivery of medical care and services authorized by this Article. The system shall make available to providers the history of claims for medical services submitted to the Illinois Department for those services provided to the recipient. The Illinois Department shall develop safeguards to protect each recipient's health information from misuse or unauthorized disclosure.

(b) The Illinois Department shall conduct a demonstration project in at least 2 geographic locations for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of a recipient photo identification card in reducing abuses in the provision of services under this Article. In order to receive medical care, recipients included in this demonstration project must present a Medicaid card and photo identification card. The Illinois Department shall apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to conduct this demonstration project. The demonstration project shall become operational (i) 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1994 or (ii) after the Illinois Department's receipt of all necessary federal waivers and approvals, whichever occurs later, and shall operate for 12 months.

(c) Effective October 1, 2007, all changes in status of Medicaid recipients residing in Illinois nursing facilities after initial eligibility for Medicaid has been established shall be reported to the Department, using an Internet-based electronic data interchange system, by the nursing facilities, except for those changes made by personnel of the Department. Changes reported using the Internet-based electronic data interchange system shall be deemed valid and shall be used as the basis for future Medicaid payments unless Department approval of the transaction is required, or until such time as any review or audit conducted by the State establishes that the information is incorrect.

(Source: P.A. 95-458, eff. 8-27-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.3)

Sec. 5-1.3. Payer of last resort. To the extent permissible under federal law, the State may pay for medical services only after payment from all other sources of payment have been exhausted, or after the Department has determined that pursuit of such payment is economically unfeasible. Applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance under this Code shall disclose to the State all insurance coverage they have. To the extent permissible under federal law, the State shall require vendors of medical services to bill third-party payers for services that may be covered by those third-party payers prior to submission of a request for payment to the State. The Department shall, to the extent permissible under federal law, reject a request for payment of a medical service that should first have been submitted to a third-party payer.

(Source: P.A. 96-1501, eff. 1-25-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.4)

Sec. 5-1.4. Moratorium on eligibility expansions. Beginning on January 25, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-1501), there shall be a 4-year moratorium on the expansion of eligibility through increasing financial eligibility standards, or through increasing income disregards, or through the creation of new programs which would add new categories of eligible individuals under the medical assistance program in addition to those categories covered on January 1, 2011 or above the level of any subsequent reduction in eligibility. This moratorium shall not apply to expansions required as a federal condition of State participation in the medical assistance program or to expansions approved by the federal government that are financed entirely by units of local government and federal matching funds. If the State of Illinois finds that the State has borne a cost related to such an expansion, the unit of local government shall reimburse the State. All federal funds associated with an expansion funded by a unit of local government shall be returned to the local government entity funding the expansion, pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement between the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the local government entity. Within 10 calendar days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall formally advise the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the passage of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. The State is prohibited from submitting additional waiver requests that expand or allow for an increase in the classes of persons eligible for medical assistance under this Article to the federal government for its consideration beginning on the 20th calendar day following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly until January 25, 2015. This moratorium shall not apply to those persons eligible for medical assistance pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) and 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX).

(Source: P.A. 97-687, eff. 6-14-12; 98-104, eff. 7-22-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.5)

Sec. 5-1.5. COVID-19 public health emergency. Notwithstanding any other provision of Articles V, XI, and XII of this Code, the Department may take necessary actions to address the COVID-19 public health emergency to the extent such actions are required, approved, or authorized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Such actions may continue throughout the public health emergency and for up to 12 months after the period ends, and may include, but are not limited to: accepting an applicant's or recipient's attestation of income, incurred medical expenses, residency, and insured status when electronic verification is not available; eliminating resource tests for some eligibility determinations; suspending redeterminations; suspending changes that would adversely affect an applicant's or recipient's eligibility; phone or verbal approval by an applicant to submit an application in lieu of applicant signature; allowing adult presumptive eligibility; allowing presumptive eligibility for children, pregnant women, and adults as often as twice per calendar year; paying for additional services delivered by telehealth; and suspending premium and co-payment requirements.

The Department's authority under this Section shall extend to encompass, incorporate, or effectuate the terms, items, conditions, and other provisions approved, authorized, or required by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and shall not extend beyond the time of the COVID-19 public health emergency and up to 12 months after the period expires.

Any individual determined eligible for medical assistance under this Code as of or during the COVID-19 public health emergency may be treated as eligible for such medical assistance benefits during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and up to 12 months after the period expires, regardless of whether federally required or whether the individual's eligibility may be State or federally funded, unless the individual requests a voluntary termination of eligibility or ceases to be a resident. This paragraph shall not restrict any determination of medical need or appropriateness for any particular service and shall not require continued coverage of any particular service that may be no longer necessary, appropriate, or otherwise authorized for an individual. Nothing shall prevent the Department from determining and properly establishing an individual's eligibility under a different category of eligibility.

(Source: P.A. 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 102-43, eff. 7-6-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-1.6)

Sec. 5-1.6. Continuous eligibility; ex parte redeterminations.

(a) By July 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall seek a State Plan amendment or any federal waivers necessary to make changes to the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for federal approval to implement 12 months of continuous eligibility for adults participating in the medical assistance program. The Department shall secure federal financial participation in accordance with this Section for expenditures made by the Department in State Fiscal Year 2023 and every State fiscal year thereafter.

(b) By July 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall seek a State Plan amendment or any federal waivers or approvals necessary to make changes to the medical assistance redetermination process for people without any income at the time of redetermination. These changes shall seek to allow all people without income to be considered for ex parte redetermination. If there is no non-income related disqualifying information for medical assistance recipients without any income, then a person without any income shall be redetermined ex parte. Within 60 days after receiving federal approval or guidance, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services shall make necessary technical and rule changes to implement changes to the redetermination process. The percentage of medical assistance recipients whose eligibility is renewed through the ex parte redetermination process shall be reported monthly by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on its website in accordance with subsection (d) of Section 11-5.1 of this Code as well as shared in all Medicaid Advisory Committee meetings and Medicaid Advisory Committee Public Education Subcommittee meetings.

(Source: P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

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

Sec. 5-2. Classes of persons eligible. Medical assistance under this Article shall be available to any of the following classes of persons in respect to whom a plan for coverage has been submitted to the Governor by the Illinois Department and approved by him. If changes made in this Section 5-2 require federal approval, they shall not take effect until such approval has been received:

1. Recipients of basic maintenance grants under Articles III and IV.

2. Beginning January 1, 2014, persons otherwise eligible for basic maintenance under Article III, excluding any eligibility requirements that are inconsistent with any federal law or federal regulation, as interpreted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but who fail to qualify thereunder on the basis of need, and who have insufficient income and resources to meet the costs of necessary medical care, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) All persons otherwise eligible for basic maintenance under Article III but who fail to qualify under that Article on the basis of need and who meet either of the following requirements:

(i) their income, as determined by the Illinois Department in accordance with any federal requirements, is equal to or less than 100% of the federal poverty level; or

(ii) their income, after the deduction of costs incurred for medical care and for other types of remedial care, is equal to or less than 100% of the federal poverty level.

(b) (Blank).

3. (Blank).

4. Persons not eligible under any of the preceding paragraphs who fall sick, are injured, or die, not having sufficient money, property or other resources to meet the costs of necessary medical care or funeral and burial expenses.

5.(a) Beginning January 1, 2020, individuals during pregnancy and during the 12-month period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy, together with their infants, whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Until September 30, 2019, or sooner if the maintenance of effort requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are eliminated or may be waived before then, individuals during pregnancy and during the 12-month period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy, whose countable monthly income, after the deduction of costs incurred for medical care and for other types of remedial care as specified in administrative rule, is equal to or less than the Medical Assistance-No Grant(C) (MANG(C)) Income Standard in effect on April 1, 2013 as set forth in administrative rule.

(b) The plan for coverage shall provide ambulatory prenatal care to pregnant individuals during a presumptive eligibility period and establish an income eligibility standard that is equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, provided that costs incurred for medical care are not taken into account in determining such income eligibility.

(c) The Illinois Department may conduct a demonstration in at least one county that will provide medical assistance to pregnant individuals together with their infants and children up to one year of age, where the income eligibility standard is set up to 185% of the nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget. The Illinois Department shall seek and obtain necessary authorization provided under federal law to implement such a demonstration. Such demonstration may establish resource standards that are not more restrictive than those established under Article IV of this Code.

6. (a) Subject to federal approval, children younger than age 19 when countable income is at or below 313% of the federal poverty level, as determined by the Department and in accordance with all applicable federal requirements. The Department is authorized to adopt emergency rules to implement the changes made to this paragraph by Public Act 102-43. Until September 30, 2019, or sooner if the maintenance of effort requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are eliminated or may be waived before then, children younger than age 19 whose countable monthly income, after the deduction of costs incurred for medical care and for other types of remedial care as specified in administrative rule, is equal to or less than the Medical Assistance-No Grant(C) (MANG(C)) Income Standard in effect on April 1, 2013 as set forth in administrative rule.

(b) Children and youth who are under temporary custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services or who receive financial assistance in support of an adoption or guardianship placement from the Department of Children and Family Services.

7. (Blank).

8. As required under federal law, persons who are eligible for Transitional Medical Assistance as a result of an increase in earnings or child or spousal support received. The plan for coverage for this class of persons shall:

(a) extend the medical assistance coverage to the extent required by federal law; and

(b) offer persons who have initially received 6 months of the coverage provided in paragraph (a) above, the option of receiving an additional 6 months of coverage, subject to the following:

(i) such coverage shall be pursuant to provisions of the federal Social Security Act;

(ii) such coverage shall include all services covered under Illinois' State Medicaid Plan;

(iii) no premium shall be charged for such coverage; and

(iv) such coverage shall be suspended in the event of a person's failure without good cause to file in a timely fashion reports required for this coverage under the Social Security Act and coverage shall be reinstated upon the filing of such reports if the person remains otherwise eligible.

9. Persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or with AIDS-related conditions with respect to whom there has been a determination that but for home or community-based services such individuals would require the level of care provided in an inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility the cost of which is reimbursed under this Article. Assistance shall be provided to such persons to the maximum extent permitted under Title XIX of the Federal Social Security Act.

10. Participants in the long-term care insurance partnership program established under the Illinois Long-Term Care Partnership Program Act who meet the qualifications for protection of resources described in Section 15 of that Act.

11. Persons with disabilities who are employed and eligible for Medicaid, pursuant to Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(xv) of the Social Security Act, and, subject to federal approval, persons with a medically improved disability who are employed and eligible for Medicaid pursuant to Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(xvi) of the Social Security Act, as provided by the Illinois Department by rule. In establishing eligibility standards under this paragraph 11, the Department shall, subject to federal approval:

(a) set the income eligibility standard at not lower than 350% of the federal poverty level;

(b) exempt retirement accounts that the person cannot access without penalty before the age of 59 1/2, and medical savings accounts established pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 220;

(c) allow non-exempt assets up to $25,000 as to those assets accumulated during periods of eligibility under this paragraph 11; and

(d) continue to apply subparagraphs (b) and (c) in determining the eligibility of the person under this Article even if the person loses eligibility under this paragraph 11.

12. Subject to federal approval, persons who are eligible for medical assistance coverage under applicable provisions of the federal Social Security Act and the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000. Those eligible persons are defined to include, but not be limited to, the following persons:

(1) persons who have been screened for breast or cervical cancer under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breast and Cervical Cancer Program established under Title XV of the federal Public Health Service Act in accordance with the requirements of Section 1504 of that Act as administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health; and

(2) persons whose screenings under the above program were funded in whole or in part by funds appropriated to the Illinois Department of Public Health for breast or cervical cancer screening.

"Medical assistance" under this paragraph 12 shall be identical to the benefits provided under the State's approved plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. The Department must request federal approval of the coverage under this paragraph 12 within 30 days after July 3, 2001 (the effective date of Public Act 92-47).

In addition to the persons who are eligible for medical assistance pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph 12, and to be paid from funds appropriated to the Department for its medical programs, any uninsured person as defined by the Department in rules residing in Illinois who is younger than 65 years of age, who has been screened for breast and cervical cancer in accordance with standards and procedures adopted by the Department of Public Health for screening, and who is referred to the Department by the Department of Public Health as being in need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer is eligible for medical assistance benefits that are consistent with the benefits provided to those persons described in subparagraphs (1) and (2). Medical assistance coverage for the persons who are eligible under the preceding sentence is not dependent on federal approval, but federal moneys may be used to pay for services provided under that coverage upon federal approval.

13. Subject to appropriation and to federal approval, persons living with HIV/AIDS who are not otherwise eligible under this Article and who qualify for services covered under Section 5-5.04 as provided by the Illinois Department by rule.

14. Subject to the availability of funds for this purpose, the Department may provide coverage under this Article to persons who reside in Illinois who are not eligible under any of the preceding paragraphs and who meet the income guidelines of paragraph 2(a) of this Section and (i) have an application for asylum pending before the federal Department of Homeland Security or on appeal before a court of competent jurisdiction and are represented either by counsel or by an advocate accredited by the federal Department of Homeland Security and employed by a not-for-profit organization in regard to that application or appeal, or (ii) are receiving services through a federally funded torture treatment center. Medical coverage under this paragraph 14 may be provided for up to 24 continuous months from the initial eligibility date so long as an individual continues to satisfy the criteria of this paragraph 14. If an individual has an appeal pending regarding an application for asylum before the Department of Homeland Security, eligibility under this paragraph 14 may be extended until a final decision is rendered on the appeal. The Department may adopt rules governing the implementation of this paragraph 14.

15. Family Care Eligibility.

(a) On and after July 1, 2012, a parent or other caretaker relative who is 19 years of age or older when countable income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. A person may not spend down to become eligible under this paragraph 15.

(b) Eligibility shall be reviewed annually.

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) (Blank).

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(i) Following termination of an individual's coverage under this paragraph 15, the individual must be determined eligible before the person can be re-enrolled.

16. Subject to appropriation, uninsured persons who are not otherwise eligible under this Section who have been certified and referred by the Department of Public Health as having been screened and found to need diagnostic evaluation or treatment, or both diagnostic evaluation and treatment, for prostate or testicular cancer. For the purposes of this paragraph 16, uninsured persons are those who do not have creditable coverage, as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or have otherwise exhausted any insurance benefits they may have had, for prostate or testicular cancer diagnostic evaluation or treatment, or both diagnostic evaluation and treatment. To be eligible, a person must furnish a Social Security number. A person's assets are exempt from consideration in determining eligibility under this paragraph 16. Such persons shall be eligible for medical assistance under this paragraph 16 for so long as they need treatment for the cancer. A person shall be considered to need treatment if, in the opinion of the person's treating physician, the person requires therapy directed toward cure or palliation of prostate or testicular cancer, including recurrent metastatic cancer that is a known or presumed complication of prostate or testicular cancer and complications resulting from the treatment modalities themselves. Persons who require only routine monitoring services are not considered to need treatment. "Medical assistance" under this paragraph 16 shall be identical to the benefits provided under the State's approved plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department (i) does not have a claim against the estate of a deceased recipient of services under this paragraph 16 and (ii) does not have a lien against any homestead property or other legal or equitable real property interest owned by a recipient of services under this paragraph 16.

17. Persons who, pursuant to a waiver approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are eligible for medical assistance under Title XIX or XXI of the federal Social Security Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and consistent with the terms of the approved waiver, the Illinois Department, may by rule:

(a) Limit the geographic areas in which the waiver program operates.

(b) Determine the scope, quantity, duration, and quality, and the rate and method of reimbursement, of the medical services to be provided, which may differ from those for other classes of persons eligible for assistance under this Article.

(c) Restrict the persons' freedom in choice of providers.

18. Beginning January 1, 2014, persons aged 19 or older, but younger than 65, who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Section 5-2, who qualify for medical assistance pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) and applicable federal regulations, and who have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level plus 5% for the applicable family size as determined pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14) and applicable federal regulations. Persons eligible for medical assistance under this paragraph 18 shall receive coverage for the Health Benefits Service Package as that term is defined in subsection (m) of Section 5-1.1 of this Code. If Illinois' federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) is reduced below 90% for persons eligible for medical assistance under this paragraph 18, eligibility under this paragraph 18 shall cease no later than the end of the third month following the month in which the reduction in FMAP takes effect.

19. Beginning January 1, 2014, as required under 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), persons older than age 18 and younger than age 26 who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under paragraphs (1) through (17) of this Section who (i) were in foster care under the responsibility of the State on the date of attaining age 18 or on the date of attaining age 21 when a court has continued wardship for good cause as provided in Section 2-31 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and (ii) received medical assistance under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or waiver of such plan while in foster care.

20. Beginning January 1, 2018, persons who are foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes as defined in Section 2-19 of this Code and their derivative family members if such persons: (i) reside in Illinois; (ii) are not eligible under any of the preceding paragraphs; (iii) meet the income guidelines of subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2; and (iv) meet the nonfinancial eligibility requirements of Sections 16-2, 16-3, and 16-5 of this Code. The Department may extend medical assistance for persons who are foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes whose medical assistance would be terminated pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 16-5 if the Department determines that the person, during the year of initial eligibility (1) experienced a health crisis, (2) has been unable, after reasonable attempts, to obtain necessary information from a third party, or (3) has other extenuating circumstances that prevented the person from completing his or her application for status. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph.

21. Persons who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Section who may qualify for medical assistance pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XXIII) and 42 U.S.C. 1396(ss) for the duration of any federal or State declared emergency due to COVID-19. Medical assistance to persons eligible for medical assistance solely pursuant to this paragraph 21 shall be limited to any in vitro diagnostic product (and the administration of such product) described in 42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(3)(B) on or after March 18, 2020, any visit described in 42 U.S.C. 1396o(a)(2)(G), or any other medical assistance that may be federally authorized for this class of persons. The Department may also cover treatment of COVID-19 for this class of persons, or any similar category of uninsured individuals, to the extent authorized under a federally approved 1115 Waiver or other federal authority. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, due to the nature of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Department may cover and provide the medical assistance described in this paragraph 21 to noncitizens who would otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for the class of persons described in this paragraph 21 for the duration of the State emergency period.

In implementing the provisions of Public Act 96-20, the Department is authorized to adopt only those rules necessary, including emergency rules. Nothing in Public Act 96-20 permits the Department to adopt rules or issue a decision that expands eligibility for the FamilyCare Program to a person whose income exceeds 185% of the Federal Poverty Level as determined from time to time by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, unless the Department is provided with express statutory authority.

The eligibility of any such person for medical assistance under this Article is not affected by the payment of any grant under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

The Department shall by rule establish the amounts of assets to be disregarded in determining eligibility for medical assistance, which shall at a minimum equal the amounts to be disregarded under the Federal Supplemental Security Income Program. The amount of assets of a single person to be disregarded shall not be less than $2,000, and the amount of assets of a married couple to be disregarded shall not be less than $3,000.

To the extent permitted under federal law, any person found guilty of a second violation of Article VIIIA shall be ineligible for medical assistance under this Article, as provided in Section 8A-8.

The eligibility of any person for medical assistance under this Article shall not be affected by the receipt by the person of donations or benefits from fundraisers held for the person in cases of serious illness, as long as neither the person nor members of the person's family have actual control over the donations or benefits or the disbursement of the donations or benefits.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, if the United States Supreme Court holds Title II, Subtitle A, Section 2001(a) of Public Law 111-148 to be unconstitutional, or if a holding of Public Law 111-148 makes Medicaid eligibility allowed under Section 2001(a) inoperable, the State or a unit of local government shall be prohibited from enrolling individuals in the Medical Assistance Program as the result of federal approval of a State Medicaid waiver on or after June 14, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-687), and any individuals enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program pursuant to eligibility permitted as a result of such a State Medicaid waiver shall become immediately ineligible.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, if an Act of Congress that becomes a Public Law eliminates Section 2001(a) of Public Law 111-148, the State or a unit of local government shall be prohibited from enrolling individuals in the Medical Assistance Program as the result of federal approval of a State Medicaid waiver on or after June 14, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-687), and any individuals enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program pursuant to eligibility permitted as a result of such a State Medicaid waiver shall become immediately ineligible.

Effective October 1, 2013, the determination of eligibility of persons who qualify under paragraphs 5, 6, 8, 15, 17, and 18 of this Section shall comply with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14) and applicable federal regulations.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, and the Illinois health insurance marketplace shall work cooperatively to assist persons who would otherwise lose health benefits as a result of changes made under Public Act 98-104 to transition to other health insurance coverage.

(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19; 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.06a)

Sec. 5-2.06a. Medically fragile children; reimbursement for legally responsible family caregivers. By January 1, 2025, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall apply for a Home and Community-Based Services State Plan amendment and any federal waiver necessary to reimburse legally responsible family caregivers as providers of personal care or home health aide services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan Home and Community-Based Services benefit and the home and community-based services waiver program authorized under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act for persons who are medically fragile and technology dependent. To be eligible for reimbursement under this Section, a legally responsible family caregiver must be a certified nursing assistant or certified nurse aide and must provide services to a medically fragile relative who is receiving in-home shift nursing services coordinated by the University of Illinois at Chicago, Division of Specialized Care for Children. Upon federal approval of the State Plan amendment and waiver, the Department shall promulgate rules that define who qualifies for reimbursement as a legally responsible family caregiver, specify which personal care and home health aide services are eligible for reimbursement if the provider is a legally responsible family caregiver, establish oversight policies to ensure legally responsible family caregivers meet and comply with licensing and program requirements, and adopt any other policies or procedures necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-593, eff. 6-7-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2a)

Sec. 5-2a. Medicaid State Plan; eligibility determination status. The Department shall conduct an analysis and deliver a report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2012 to evaluate the feasibility of changing Illinois' Medicaid State Plan from 209(b) status to the federal 1634 eligibility determination status for applicable individuals as provided in the Social Security Act. The report shall include a review of the current standard used by the Department, anticipated fiscal implications of converting to 1634 status, anticipated changes in caseloads resulting from a change to 1634 status, and any additional information deemed relevant by the Department to evaluate the feasibility of converting to 1634 status.

(Source: P.A. 97-173, eff. 7-22-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2b)

Sec. 5-2b. Medically fragile and technology dependent children eligibility and program; provider reimbursement rates.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except as provided in Section 5-30a, on and after September 1, 2012, subject to federal approval, medical assistance under this Article shall be available to children who qualify as persons with a disability, as defined under the federal Supplemental Security Income program and who are medically fragile and technology dependent. The program shall allow eligible children to receive the medical assistance provided under this Article in the community and must maximize, to the fullest extent permissible under federal law, federal reimbursement and family cost-sharing, including co-pays, premiums, or any other family contributions, except that the Department shall be permitted to incentivize the utilization of selected services through the use of cost-sharing adjustments. The Department shall establish the policies, procedures, standards, services, and criteria for this program by rule.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2024, the reimbursement rates for nursing paid through Nursing and Personal Care Services for non-waiver customers and to providers of private duty nursing services for children eligible for medical assistance under this Section shall be 20% higher than the reimbursement rates in effect for nursing services on December 31, 2023.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, the reimbursement rates for nursing paid through Nursing and Personal Care Services for non-waiver customers and to providers of private duty nursing services for children eligible for medical assistance under this Section shall be 7% higher than the reimbursement rates in effect for nursing services on December 31, 2024.

(Source: P.A. 103-102, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, eff. 6-7-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.01)

Sec. 5-2.01. Medicaid accountability through transparency program.

(a) Internet-based transparency program. The Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be authorized to implement a program under which the Director shall make available through the Department's public Internet website information on medical claims reimbursed under the State's medical assistance program insofar as such information has been de-identified in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In implementing the program, the Director shall ensure the following:

(1) The information made so available shall be in a format that is easily accessible, useable, and understandable to the public, including individuals interested in improving the quality of care provided to individuals eligible for items and services under this Article, researchers, health care providers, and individuals interested in reducing the prevalence of waste and fraud under this Article.

(2) The information made so available shall be as current as deemed practical by the Director and shall be updated at least once per calendar quarter.

(3) The information made so available shall be aggregated to a level to ensure patient confidentiality, but shall, to the extent feasible, allow for posting of information by provider or vendor name and county, number of individuals served, total patient visits, payment for bills submitted, average cost for bills submitted, adjustments to payments, and total amounts paid.

(4) The Director periodically solicits comments from a sampling of individuals who access the information through the program on how to best improve the utility of the program.

(b) Use of contractor. For purposes of implementing the program under subsection (a) of this Section and ensuring the information made available through the program is periodically updated, the Director may select and enter into a contract with a public or private entity meeting the criteria and qualifications the Director determines appropriate.

(c) Annual Reports. Not later than 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to the General Assembly a report on the status of the program authorized under subsection (a). The report shall include details including, but not limited to, the estimated or actual costs of developing and maintaining the reporting system, the actual or potential benefit or adverse consequences associated with the system, and, if applicable, the extent to which information made available through the program is accessed and the extent to which comments received under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section were used to improve the utility of the program.

(Source: P.A. 96-941, eff. 6-25-10.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.03)

Sec. 5-2.03. Presumptive eligibility. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and except where federal law requires presumptive eligibility, no adult may be presumed eligible for medical assistance under this Code and the Department may not cover any service rendered to an adult unless the adult has completed an application for benefits, all required verifications have been received, and the Department or its designee has found the adult eligible for the date on which that service was provided. Nothing in this Section shall apply to pregnant women or to persons enrolled under the medical assistance program due to expansions approved by the federal government that are financed entirely by units of local government and federal matching funds.

(Source: P.A. 96-1501, eff. 1-25-11; 97-687, eff. 6-14-12.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.05)

Sec. 5-2.05. Children with disabilities.

(a) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, may offer, to children with developmental disabilities or children with severe mental illness or severe emotional disorders who otherwise would not qualify for medical assistance under this Article due to family income, home-based and community-based services instead of institutional placement, as allowed under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2.

(b) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the Division of Specialized Care for Children, University of Illinois-Chicago, shall submit a bi-annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1 of every even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, regarding the status of existing services offered under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2. This report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1) The number of persons who currently receive these services.

(2) The nature, scope, and cost of services.

(3) The comparative cost of providing those services in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility.

(4) The funding sources for the provision of services, including federal financial participation.

(5) The qualifications, skills, and availability of caregivers for children receiving services.

(6) The number of children who have aged out of the services offered under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2 during the 2 years immediately preceding the report.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-622, eff. 9-17-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.06)

Sec. 5-2.06. Payment rates; Children's Community-Based Health Care Centers. Beginning January 1, 2025 and subject to federal approval, the Department shall, for eligible individuals, reimburse Children's Community-Based Health Care Centers established in the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act and providing nursing care for the purpose of transitioning children from a hospital to home placement or other appropriate setting and reuniting families for a maximum of up to 120 days on a per diem basis at the lower of the Children's Community-Based Health Care Center's usual and customary charge to the public or at the Department rate of $1,300. Payments at the rate set forth in this Section are exempt from the 2.7% rate reduction required under Section 5-5e.

(Source: P.A. 103-593, eff. 6-7-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.07)

Sec. 5-2.07. Use of Medicaid spend-down. No later than July 1, 2007, subject to federal approval of a State Medicaid Plan amendment, which shall be sought by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or its successor agency, persons described in item 2(a) of Section 5-2, who fail to qualify for basic maintenance under Article III of this Code on the basis of need because of excess income or assets, or both, may establish eligibility for medical assistance by paying the amount of their monthly spend-down under this Article (as described in 42 CFR 435.831) to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or its successor agency or by having a third party pay that amount to the Department on their behalf. A person who uses Medicaid spend-down to qualify for medical assistance shall be provided up to 6 consecutive months to submit and have medical receipts and bills processed by the Department as evidence of payment of the person's monthly spend-down amount before becoming ineligible for medical assistance under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-74, eff. 7-9-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.08)

Sec. 5-2.08. Spousal caregiver demonstration.

(a) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall develop a demonstration project within the Home Services Program under which a spouse may be reimbursed for providing care to his or her spouse, who is eligible for services through the Home Services Program and who meets the criteria for this demonstration project. The demonstration project shall operate in selected counties and be limited to serving no more than 100 unduplicated persons in a State fiscal year.

The components of the demonstration project shall include the following:

(1) Authorization for a spouse to be reimbursed for care provided to his or her otherwise eligible spouse through the Home Services Program.

(2) The development of specific criteria for the provision of services under the demonstration project. Criteria applicable to a spousal caregiver shall include, but need not be limited to, (i) a limitation on the total hours of a spousal caregiver's outside employment plus hours of providing care to his or her eligible spouse to ensure that the complete plan of care is delivered to the eligible spouse and (ii) limitations on a spousal caregiver's participation in the demonstration project if the caregiver has a known history of spousal abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(3) The determination of the personal care or similar services for which payment may be made. Spousal caregivers shall be paid at the Personal Assistant level of care and pay rate. In those instances in which the eligible spouse requires specialized services (for example, services provided by a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered nurse (RN)) and the spousal caregiver has the corresponding certification or licensure, the spousal caregiver shall be paid the higher rate for the specialized services only. The specialized services the eligible spouse is authorized to receive shall be defined and approved in the services plan.

(4) The method for determining that the amount of personal care or similar services provided by the spouse is "extraordinary care" that exceeds the ordinary care that would be provided to a spouse without a disability.

(5) Limitations on the number of hours of personal services that will be reimbursed.

(6) Utilization of the Determination of Need evaluation and other comprehensive assessment tools as criteria for determining eligibility and developing service plans under the demonstration project.

(7) Determination of how or whether the provision of personal care by the spouse is in the best interest of his or her spouse, who is an eligible participant in the demonstration project.

(8) Use of procedures that ensure that payments are made for services rendered.

(9) Assurances that all other criteria of the demonstration project are met.

(10) Measurement of participant experiences.

(11) Monthly in-home monitoring of the health and safety of the eligible spouse.

(12) Documentation of the marital relationship for participation in the demonstration project.

(13) Assurances that the eligible spouse is capable of communicating his or her needs.

(14) Enrollment of an alternative care provider to ensure that there is no disruption of care to the eligible spouse.

(15) Assurances that the spousal caregiver is emotionally, physically, and cognitively able to provide the necessary care to the eligible spouse.

(b) By July 1, 2009, the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall begin development of the demonstration project. The Department of Human Services shall provide an interim report on or before March 1, 2010 to the Governor and the General Assembly that includes the progress on the development of the demonstration project and implementation timelines of the demonstration project and the criteria for the demonstration project.

(c) The Department of Human Services shall report findings and recommendations by March 1, 2011 to the Governor and the General Assembly. The report shall include an explanation of the manner in which each demonstration project component listed in paragraphs (1) through (10) of subsection (a) is addressed. In addition, the report shall include (i) the estimated number of clients statewide who could utilize services and (ii) an analysis of the fiscal impact per client on the Department's new and existing costs under the Home Services Program.

(Source: P.A. 96-351, eff. 8-13-09.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.09)

Sec. 5-2.09. Enhanced federal medical assistance percentage. In accordance with Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) and corresponding federal guidance, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall take appropriate actions to claim an enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) provided by Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 with respect to expenditures under the State medical assistance program for home and community-based services from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department is authorized to use State funds equivalent to the amount of federal funds attributable to the increased federal medical assistance percentage under Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to implement or supplement the implementation of activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen home and community based services under the State's medical assistance program to the extent permitted by and aligned with the goals of Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through March 31, 2024 or any revised deadline established by the federal government. The use of such funds is subject to compliance with applicable federal requirements and federal approval, including the approval of any necessary State Plan Amendments, Waiver Amendments, or other federally required documents or assurances.

The Department may adopt rules as necessary, including emergency rules as authorized by Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.10)

Sec. 5-2.10. Increased accountability for nursing facilities. The Department shall develop a plan for the revitalization of nursing homes licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act and shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on a recommended course of action, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) significantly increasing federal funds by streamlining and raising the nursing home provider assessment on occupied beds;

(2)improving payments through increased funding and providing additional incentives for staffing, quality metrics and infection control measures; and

(3)transitioning the methodologies for reimbursement of nursing services as provided under this Article to the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) developed by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

No later than September 30, 2021, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly, which outlines the steps taken by the Department, including discussions with interested stakeholders and industry representatives, and recommendations for further action by the General Assembly to provide for accountability and to achieve the program objectives outlined in this Section, which shall require action by the General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-2.1)

Sec. 5-2.1. Property transfers.

(a) To the extent required under federal law, a person shall not make or have made a voluntary or involuntary assignment or transfer of any legal or equitable interests in real property or in personal property, whether vested, contingent or inchoate, for less than fair market value. A person's interest in real or personal property includes all income and assets to which the person is entitled or to which the person would be entitled if the person had not taken action to avoid receiving the interest.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 92-84, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.1a)

Sec. 5-2.1a. Treatment of trust amounts. To the extent required by federal law, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide by rule for the consideration of trusts and similar legal instruments or devices established by a person in the Illinois Department's determination of the person's eligibility for and the amount of assistance provided under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 98-651, eff. 6-16-14.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.1d)

Sec. 5-2.1d. Retroactive eligibility. An applicant for medical assistance may be eligible for up to 3 months prior to the date of application if the person would have been eligible for medical assistance at the time he or she received the services if he or she had applied, regardless of whether the individual is alive when the application for medical assistance is made. In determining financial eligibility for medical assistance for retroactive months, the Department shall consider the amount of income and resources and exemptions available to a person as of the first day of each of the backdated months for which eligibility is sought.

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

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-2.2)

Sec. 5-2.2. Cooperation in establishing support obligation. A parent or other person having custody of the child or a spouse who fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, and the regulations duly promulgated thereunder, regarding establishment and enforcement of the child or spousal support obligation shall be ineligible for medical assistance and shall remain ineligible for medical assistance for as long as the failure or refusal persists.

In addition to any other definition of failure or refusal to comply with the requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, in the case of failure to attend court hearings, the parent or other person can show cooperation by attending a court hearing or, if a court hearing cannot be scheduled within 30 days following the court hearing that was missed, by signing a statement that the parent or other person is now willing to cooperate in the child support enforcement process and will appear at any later scheduled court date. The parent or other person can show cooperation by signing such a statement only once. If failure to attend the court hearing or other failure to cooperate results in the case being dismissed, such a statement may be signed after 2 months.

No denial or termination of medical assistance pursuant to this Section shall commence during pregnancy of the parent or other person having custody of the child or for 30 days after the termination of such pregnancy. The termination of medical assistance may commence thereafter if the Illinois Department determines that the failure or refusal to comply with this Section persists. Postponement of denial or termination of medical assistance during pregnancy under this paragraph shall be effective only to the extent it does not conflict with federal law or regulation.

(Source: P.A. 85-1155.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.3)

Sec. 5-2.3. Notice of rights concerning institutionalization. The Illinois Department shall prepare a notice to be given to every applicant for and recipient of medical assistance under this Article when the applicant or recipient, or the spouse of the applicant or recipient, or a person for whom the applicant or recipient is the primary caretaker, becomes an institutionalized person. The notice shall fully and completely inform the institutionalized person (and that person's spouse or primary caretaker, if applicable) of each individual's rights and obligations under this Code with respect to that institutionalization.

(Source: P.A. 88-162.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-2.4)

Sec. 5-2.4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 95-248, eff. 8-17-07. Repealed by P.A. 97-48, eff. 6-28-11.)

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

Sec. 5-3. Residence. Any person who has established his residence in this State and lives therein, including any person who is a migrant worker, may qualify for medical assistance. A person who, while temporarily in this State, suffers injury or illness endangering his life and health and necessitating emergency care, may also qualify.

Temporary absence from the State shall not disqualify a person from maintaining his eligibility under this Article.

As used in this Section, "migrant worker" means any person residing temporarily and employed in Illinois who moves seasonally from one place to another for the purpose of employment in agricultural activities, including the planting, raising, or harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural commodities and the handling, packing, or processing of such commodities on the farm where produced or at the point of first processing, in animal husbandry, or in other activities connected with the care of animals. Dependents of such person shall be considered eligible if they are living with the person during his or her temporary residence and employment in Illinois.

In order to be eligible for medical assistance under this section, each migrant worker shall show proof of citizenship or legal immigration status.

(Source: P.A. 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

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

Sec. 5-4. Amount and nature of medical assistance.

(a) The amount and nature of medical assistance shall be determined in accordance with the standards, rules, and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, with due regard to the requirements and conditions in each case, including contributions available from legally responsible relatives. However, the amount and nature of such medical assistance shall not be affected by the payment of any grant under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The amount and nature of medical assistance shall not be affected by the receipt of donations or benefits from fundraisers in cases of serious illness, as long as neither the person nor members of the person's family have actual control over the donations or benefits or the disbursement of the donations or benefits.

In determining the income and resources available to the institutionalized spouse and to the community spouse, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall follow the procedures established by federal law. If an institutionalized spouse or community spouse refuses to comply with the requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and the regulations duly promulgated thereunder by failing to provide the total value of assets, including income and resources, to the extent either the institutionalized spouse or community spouse has an ownership interest in them pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396r-5, such refusal may result in the institutionalized spouse being denied eligibility and continuing to remain ineligible for the medical assistance program based on failure to cooperate.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2023, the community spouse resource allowance shall be established and maintained as follows: a base amount of $109,560 plus an additional amount of $2,784 added to the base amount each year for a period of 10 years commencing with calendar year 2024 through calendar year 2034. In addition to the base amount and the additional amount shall be any increase each year from the prior year to the maximum resource allowance permitted under Section 1924(f)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of the Social Security Act. Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2034 the community spouse resource allowance shall be established and maintained at the maximum amount permitted under Section 1924(f)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of the Social Security Act, as now or hereafter amended, or an amount set after a fair hearing. Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2023 the monthly maintenance allowance for the community spouse shall be established and maintained at the maximum amount permitted pursuant to Section 1924(d)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act, as now or hereafter amended, or an amount set after a fair hearing, whichever is greater. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the provisions of this Section shall be extended to persons who but for the provision of home or community-based services under Section 4.02 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, would require the level of care provided in an institution, as is provided for in federal law.

(b) Spousal support for institutionalized spouses receiving medical assistance.

(i) The Department may seek support for an institutionalized spouse, who has assigned his or her right of support from his or her spouse to the State, from the resources and income available to the community spouse.

(ii) The Department may bring an action in the circuit court to establish support orders or itself establish administrative support orders by any means and procedures authorized in this Code, as applicable, except that the standard and regulations for determining ability to support in Section 10-3 shall not limit the amount of support that may be ordered.

(iii) Proceedings may be initiated to obtain support, or for the recovery of aid granted during the period such support was not provided, or both, for the obtainment of support and the recovery of the aid provided. Proceedings for the recovery of aid may be taken separately or they may be consolidated with actions to obtain support. Such proceedings may be brought in the name of the person or persons requiring support or may be brought in the name of the Department, as the case requires.

(iv) The orders for the payment of moneys for the support of the person shall be just and equitable and may direct payment thereof for such period or periods of time as the circumstances require, including support for a period before the date the order for support is entered. In no event shall the orders reduce the community spouse resource allowance below the level established in subsection (a) of this Section or an amount set after a fair hearing, whichever is greater, or reduce the monthly maintenance allowance for the community spouse below the level permitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-4.1)

Sec. 5-4.1. Co-payments. The Department may by rule provide that recipients under any Article of this Code shall pay a federally approved fee as a co-payment for services. No co-payment requirement can exist for renal dialysis, radiation therapy, cancer chemotherapy, or insulin, and other products necessary on a recurring basis, the absence of which would be life threatening, or where co-payment expenditures for required services and/or medications for chronic diseases that the Illinois Department shall by rule designate shall cause an extensive financial burden on the recipient, and provided no co-payment shall exist for emergency room encounters which are for medical emergencies. The Department shall seek approval of a State plan amendment that allows pharmacies to refuse to dispense drugs in circumstances where the recipient does not pay the required co-payment. Co-payments may not exceed $10 for emergency room use for a non-emergency situation as defined by the Department by rule and subject to federal approval.

(Source: P.A. 101-209, eff. 8-5-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.2)

Sec. 5-4.2. Ambulance services payments.

(a) For ambulance services provided to a recipient of aid under this Article on or after January 1, 1993, the Illinois Department shall reimburse ambulance service providers at rates calculated in accordance with this Section. It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide adequate reimbursement for ambulance services so as to ensure adequate access to services for recipients of aid under this Article and to provide appropriate incentives to ambulance service providers to provide services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Thus, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Illinois Department implement a reimbursement system for ambulance services that, to the extent practicable and subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose, is consistent with the payment principles of Medicare. To ensure uniformity between the payment principles of Medicare and Medicaid, the Illinois Department shall follow, to the extent necessary and practicable and subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose, the statutes, laws, regulations, policies, procedures, principles, definitions, guidelines, and manuals used to determine the amounts paid to ambulance service providers under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare).

(b) For ambulance services provided to a recipient of aid under this Article on or after January 1, 1996, the Illinois Department shall reimburse ambulance service providers based upon the actual distance traveled if a natural disaster, weather conditions, road repairs, or traffic congestion necessitates the use of a route other than the most direct route.

(c) For purposes of this Section, "ambulance services" includes medical transportation services provided by means of an ambulance, air ambulance, medi-car, service car, or taxi.

(c-1) For purposes of this Section, "ground ambulance service" means medical transportation services that are described as ground ambulance services by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and provided in a vehicle that is licensed as an ambulance by the Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

(c-2) For purposes of this Section, "ground ambulance service provider" means a vehicle service provider as described in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act that operates licensed ambulances for the purpose of providing emergency ambulance services, or non-emergency ambulance services, or both. For purposes of this Section, this includes both ambulance providers and ambulance suppliers as described by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(c-3) For purposes of this Section, "medi-car" means transportation services provided to a patient who is confined to a wheelchair and requires the use of a hydraulic or electric lift or ramp and wheelchair lockdown when the patient's condition does not require medical observation, medical supervision, medical equipment, the administration of medications, or the administration of oxygen.

(c-4) For purposes of this Section, "service car" means transportation services provided to a patient by a passenger vehicle where that patient does not require the specialized modes described in subsection (c-1) or (c-3).

(c-5) For purposes of this Section, "air ambulance service" means medical transport by helicopter or airplane for patients, as defined in 29 U.S.C. 1185f(c)(1), and any service that is described as an air ambulance service by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(d) This Section does not prohibit separate billing by ambulance service providers for oxygen furnished while providing advanced life support services.

(e) Beginning with services rendered on or after July 1, 2008, all providers of non-emergency medi-car and service car transportation must certify that the driver and employee attendant, as applicable, have completed a safety program approved by the Department to protect both the patient and the driver, prior to transporting a patient. The provider must maintain this certification in its records. The provider shall produce such documentation upon demand by the Department or its representative. Failure to produce documentation of such training shall result in recovery of any payments made by the Department for services rendered by a non-certified driver or employee attendant. Medi-car and service car providers must maintain legible documentation in their records of the driver and, as applicable, employee attendant that actually transported the patient. Providers must recertify all drivers and employee attendants every 3 years. If they meet the established training components set forth by the Department, providers of non-emergency medi-car and service car transportation that are either directly or through an affiliated company licensed by the Department of Public Health shall be approved by the Department to have in-house safety programs for training their own staff.

Notwithstanding the requirements above, any public transportation provider of medi-car and service car transportation that receives federal funding under 49 U.S.C. 5307 and 5311 need not certify its drivers and employee attendants under this Section, since safety training is already federally mandated.

(f) With respect to any policy or program administered by the Department or its agent regarding approval of non-emergency medical transportation by ground ambulance service providers, including, but not limited to, the Non-Emergency Transportation Services Prior Approval Program (NETSPAP), the Department shall establish by rule a process by which ground ambulance service providers of non-emergency medical transportation may appeal any decision by the Department or its agent for which no denial was received prior to the time of transport that either (i) denies a request for approval for payment of non-emergency transportation by means of ground ambulance service or (ii) grants a request for approval of non-emergency transportation by means of ground ambulance service at a level of service that entitles the ground ambulance service provider to a lower level of compensation from the Department than the ground ambulance service provider would have received as compensation for the level of service requested. The rule shall be filed by December 15, 2012 and shall provide that, for any decision rendered by the Department or its agent on or after the date the rule takes effect, the ground ambulance service provider shall have 60 days from the date the decision is received to file an appeal. The rule established by the Department shall be, insofar as is practical, consistent with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The Director's decision on an appeal under this Section shall be a final administrative decision subject to review under the Administrative Review Law.

(f-5) Beginning 90 days after July 20, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-842), (i) no denial of a request for approval for payment of non-emergency transportation by means of ground ambulance service, and (ii) no approval of non-emergency transportation by means of ground ambulance service at a level of service that entitles the ground ambulance service provider to a lower level of compensation from the Department than would have been received at the level of service submitted by the ground ambulance service provider, may be issued by the Department or its agent unless the Department has submitted the criteria for determining the appropriateness of the transport for first notice publication in the Illinois Register pursuant to Section 5-40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(f-6) Within 90 days after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, the Department shall file rules to allow for the approval of ground ambulance services when the sole purpose of the transport is for the navigation of stairs or the assisting or lifting of a patient at a medical facility or during a medical appointment in instances where the Department or a contracted Medicaid managed care organization or their transportation broker is unable to secure transportation through any other transportation provider.

(f-7) For non-emergency ground ambulance claims properly denied under Department policy at the time the claim is filed due to failure to submit a valid Medical Certification for Non-Emergency Ambulance on and after December 15, 2012 and prior to January 1, 2021, the Department shall allot $2,000,000 to a pool to reimburse such claims if the provider proves medical necessity for the service by other means. Providers must submit any such denied claims for which they seek compensation to the Department no later than December 31, 2021 along with documentation of medical necessity. No later than May 31, 2022, the Department shall determine for which claims medical necessity was established. Such claims for which medical necessity was established shall be paid at the rate in effect at the time of the service, provided the $2,000,000 is sufficient to pay at those rates. If the pool is not sufficient, claims shall be paid at a uniform percentage of the applicable rate such that the pool of $2,000,000 is exhausted. The appeal process described in subsection (f) shall not be applicable to the Department's determinations made in accordance with this subsection.

(g) Whenever a patient covered by a medical assistance program under this Code or by another medical program administered by the Department, including a patient covered under the State's Medicaid managed care program, is being transported from a facility and requires non-emergency transportation including ground ambulance, medi-car, or service car transportation, a Physician Certification Statement as described in this Section shall be required for each patient. Facilities shall develop procedures for a licensed medical professional to provide a written and signed Physician Certification Statement. The Physician Certification Statement shall specify the level of transportation services needed and complete a medical certification establishing the criteria for approval of non-emergency ambulance transportation, as published by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, that is met by the patient. This certification shall be completed prior to ordering the transportation service and prior to patient discharge. The Physician Certification Statement is not required prior to transport if a delay in transport can be expected to negatively affect the patient outcome. If the ground ambulance provider, medi-car provider, or service car provider is unable to obtain the required Physician Certification Statement within 10 calendar days following the date of the service, the ground ambulance provider, medi-car provider, or service car provider must document its attempt to obtain the requested certification and may then submit the claim for payment. Acceptable documentation includes a signed return receipt from the U.S. Postal Service, facsimile receipt, email receipt, or other similar service that evidences that the ground ambulance provider, medi-car provider, or service car provider attempted to obtain the required Physician Certification Statement.

The medical certification specifying the level and type of non-emergency transportation needed shall be in the form of the Physician Certification Statement on a standardized form prescribed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Within 75 days after July 27, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-646), the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop a standardized form of the Physician Certification Statement specifying the level and type of transportation services needed in consultation with the Department of Public Health, Medicaid managed care organizations, a statewide association representing ambulance providers, a statewide association representing hospitals, 3 statewide associations representing nursing homes, and other stakeholders. The Physician Certification Statement shall include, but is not limited to, the criteria necessary to demonstrate medical necessity for the level of transport needed as required by (i) the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and (ii) the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as outlined in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Pub. 100-02, Chap. 10, Sec. 10.2.1, et seq. The use of the Physician Certification Statement shall satisfy the obligations of hospitals under Section 6.22 of the Hospital Licensing Act and nursing homes under Section 2-217 of the Nursing Home Care Act. Implementation and acceptance of the Physician Certification Statement shall take place no later than 90 days after the issuance of the Physician Certification Statement by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Pursuant to subsection (E) of Section 12-4.25 of this Code, the Department is entitled to recover overpayments paid to a provider or vendor, including, but not limited to, from the discharging physician, the discharging facility, and the ground ambulance service provider, in instances where a non-emergency ground ambulance service is rendered as the result of improper or false certification.

Beginning October 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall collect data from Medicaid managed care organizations and transportation brokers, including the Department's NETSPAP broker, regarding denials and appeals related to the missing or incomplete Physician Certification Statement forms and overall compliance with this subsection. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall publish quarterly results on its website within 15 days following the end of each quarter.

(h) On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

(i) Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2024, the Department shall increase the base rate of reimbursement for both base charges and mileage charges for ground ambulance service providers not participating in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Program for medical transportation services provided by means of a ground ambulance to a level not lower than 140% of the base rate in effect as of January 1, 2023.

(j) For the purpose of understanding ground ambulance transportation services cost structures and their impact on the Medical Assistance Program, the Department shall engage stakeholders, including, but not limited to, a statewide association representing private ground ambulance service providers in Illinois, to develop recommendations for a plan for the regular collection of cost data for all ground ambulance transportation providers reimbursed under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan. Cost data obtained through this process shall be used to inform on and to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of Illinois Medicaid rates. The Department shall establish a process to limit public availability of portions of the cost report data determined to be proprietary. This process shall be concluded and recommendations shall be provided no later than December 31, 2025.

(k) Subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2024, the Department shall increase the base rate of reimbursement for both base charges and mileage charges for medical transportation services provided by means of an air ambulance to a level not lower than 50% of the Medicare ambulance fee schedule rates, by designated Medicare locality, in effect on January 1, 2023.

(Source: P.A. 102-364, eff. 1-1-22; 102-650, eff. 8-27-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 103-102, Article 70, Section 70-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 80, Section 80-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.20)

Sec. 5-4.20. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-380. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.21)

Sec. 5-4.21. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.22)

Sec. 5-4.22. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-861. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.23)

Sec. 5-4.23. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.24)

Sec. 5-4.24. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.25)

Sec. 5-4.25. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.26)

Sec. 5-4.26. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.27)

Sec. 5-4.27. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.28)

Sec. 5-4.28. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.29)

Sec. 5-4.29. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-861. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.30)

Sec. 5-4.30. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-380. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.31)

Sec. 5-4.31. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.32)

Sec. 5-4.32. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-861. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.33)

Sec. 5-4.33. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.34)

Sec. 5-4.34. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.35)

Sec. 5-4.35. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.36)

Sec. 5-4.36. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.37)

Sec. 5-4.37. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.38)

Sec. 5-4.38. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-13. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-4.39)

Sec. 5-4.39. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-861. Repealed by P.A. 96-1530, eff. 2-16-11.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-593, Article 5, Section 5-5)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, the rates paid for sedation evaluation and the provision of deep sedation and intravenous sedation for the purpose of dental services shall be increased by 33% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2024. The rates paid for nitrous oxide sedation shall not be impacted by this paragraph and shall remain the same as the rates in effect on December 31, 2024.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, or (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, Article 5, Section 5-5, eff. 6-7-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-593, Article 90, Section 90-5)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

Subject to appropriation and to federal approval, the Department shall file administrative rules updating the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation orthodontic scoring tool by January 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, or (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, Article 90, Section 90-5, eff. 6-7-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-605)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, or (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-808)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

(G) Molecular breast imaging (MBI) and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including radiologists that are trained in all forms of FDA approved breast imaging technologies, breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, or (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-808, eff. 1-1-26.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-909)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, or (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, also reimburse hospitals for costs associated with all newborn screening tests added on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly to the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act and required to be performed under that Act at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-909, eff. 8-9-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-1040)

Sec. 5-5. Medical services. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the quantity and quality of and the rate of reimbursement for the medical assistance for which payment will be authorized, and the medical services to be provided, which may include all or part of the following: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) outpatient hospital services; (3) other laboratory and X-ray services; (4) skilled nursing home services; (5) physicians' services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing home, or elsewhere; (6) medical care, or any other type of remedial care furnished by licensed practitioners; (7) home health care services; (8) private duty nursing service; (9) clinic services; (10) dental services, including prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease for pregnant individuals, provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; for purposes of this item (10), "dental services" means diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession; (11) physical therapy and related services; (12) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select; (13) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services, including to ensure that the individual's need for intervention or treatment of mental disorders or substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is determined using a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process inclusive of criteria, for children and adults; for purposes of this item (13), a uniform screening, assessment, and evaluation process refers to a process that includes an appropriate evaluation and, as warranted, a referral; "uniform" does not mean the use of a singular instrument, tool, or process that all must utilize; (14) transportation and such other expenses as may be necessary; (15) medical treatment of sexual assault survivors, as defined in Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, for injuries sustained as a result of the sexual assault, including examinations and laboratory tests to discover evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings arising from the sexual assault; (16) the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia; (16.5) services performed by a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and acting within the scope of his or her license, including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative treatment; and (17) any other medical care, and any other type of remedial care recognized under the laws of this State. The term "any other type of remedial care" shall include nursing care and nursing home service for persons who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program that includes purchasing prescription drugs or prescription medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall be covered under the medical assistance program under this Article for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, reproductive health care that is otherwise legal in Illinois shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, all tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and all individual and group tobacco cessation counseling services and telephone-based counseling services and tobacco cessation medications provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for assistance under this Article. The Department shall comply with all federal requirements necessary to obtain federal financial participation, as specified in 42 CFR 433.15(b)(7), for telephone-based counseling services provided through the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, including, but not limited to: (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement with the Department of Public Health, as administrator of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline; and (ii) developing a cost allocation plan for Medicaid-allowable Illinois Tobacco Quitline services in accordance with 45 CFR 95.507. The Department shall submit the memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement, the cost allocation plan, and all other necessary documentation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for review and approval. Coverage under this paragraph shall be contingent upon federal approval.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Illinois Department may not require, as a condition of payment for any laboratory test authorized under this Article, that a physician's handwritten signature appear on the laboratory test order form. The Illinois Department may, however, impose other appropriate requirements regarding laboratory test order documentation.

Upon receipt of federal approval of an amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan for this purpose, the Department shall authorize the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to procure a vendor or vendors to manufacture eyeglasses for individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. CPS shall ensure that its vendor or vendors are enrolled as providers in the medical assistance program and in any capitated Medicaid managed care entity (MCE) serving individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Under any contract procured under this provision, the vendor or vendors must serve only individuals enrolled in a school within the CPS system. Claims for services provided by CPS's vendor or vendors to recipients of benefits in the medical assistance program under this Code, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program shall be submitted to the Department or the MCE in which the individual is enrolled for payment and shall be reimbursed at the Department's or the MCE's established rates or rate methodologies for eyeglasses.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide the following services to persons eligible for assistance under this Article who are participating in education, training or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services as successor to the Department of Public Aid:

(1) dental services provided by or under the supervision of a dentist; and

(2) eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the person may select.

On and after July 1, 2018, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide dental services to any adult who is otherwise eligible for assistance under the medical assistance program. As used in this paragraph, "dental services" means diagnostic, preventative, restorative, or corrective procedures, including procedures and services for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries disease, provided by an individual who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery or who is under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession.

On and after July 1, 2018, targeted dental services, as set forth in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in the matter of Memisovski v. Maram, Case No. 92 C 1982, that are provided to adults under the medical assistance program shall be established at no less than the rates set forth in the "New Rate" column in Exhibit D of the Consent Decree for targeted dental services that are provided to persons under the age of 18 under the medical assistance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code and subject to federal approval, the Department may adopt rules to allow a dentist who is volunteering his or her service at no cost to render dental services through an enrolled not-for-profit health clinic without the dentist personally enrolling as a participating provider in the medical assistance program. A not-for-profit health clinic shall include a public health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center or other enrolled provider, as determined by the Department, through which dental services covered under this Section are performed. The Department shall establish a process for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services rendered under this provision.

On and after January 1, 2022, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall administer and regulate a school-based dental program that allows for the out-of-office delivery of preventative dental services in a school setting to children under 19 years of age. The Department shall establish, by rule, guidelines for participation by providers and set requirements for follow-up referral care based on the requirements established in the Dental Office Reference Manual published by the Department that establishes the requirements for dentists participating in the All Kids Dental School Program. Every effort shall be made by the Department when developing the program requirements to consider the different geographic differences of both urban and rural areas of the State for initial treatment and necessary follow-up care. No provider shall be charged a fee by any unit of local government to participate in the school-based dental program administered by the Department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preempt a home rule unit's or school district's authority to establish, change, or administer a school-based dental program in addition to, or independent of, the school-based dental program administered by the Department.

The Illinois Department, by rule, may distinguish and classify the medical services to be provided only in accordance with the classes of persons designated in Section 5-2.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must provide coverage and reimbursement for amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of (i) eosinophilic disorders and (ii) short bowel syndrome when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary.

The Illinois Department shall authorize the provision of, and shall authorize payment for, screening by low-dose mammography for the presence of occult breast cancer for individuals 35 years of age or older who are eligible for medical assistance under this Article, as follows:

(A) A baseline mammogram for individuals 35 to 39 years of age.

(B) An annual mammogram for individuals 40 years of age or older.

(C) A mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the individual's health care provider for individuals under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.

(D) A comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue or when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(E) A screening MRI when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches.

(F) A diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

The Department shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided under this paragraph; except that this sentence does not apply to coverage of diagnostic mammograms to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 223).

All screenings shall include a physical breast exam, instruction on self-examination and information regarding the frequency of self-examination and its value as a preventative tool.

For purposes of this Section:

"Diagnostic mammogram" means a mammogram obtained using diagnostic mammography.

"Diagnostic mammography" means a method of screening that is designed to evaluate an abnormality in a breast, including an abnormality seen or suspected on a screening mammogram or a subjective or objective abnormality otherwise detected in the breast.

"Low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, and image receptor, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad per breast for 2 views of an average size breast. The term also includes digital mammography and includes breast tomosynthesis.

"Breast tomosynthesis" means a radiologic procedure that involves the acquisition of projection images over the stationary breast to produce cross-sectional digital three-dimensional images of the breast.

If, at any time, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or regulations to be published in the Federal Register or publishes a comment in the Federal Register or issues an opinion, guidance, or other action that would require the State, pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor provision, to defray the cost of any coverage for breast tomosynthesis outlined in this paragraph, then the requirement that an insurer cover breast tomosynthesis is inoperative other than any such coverage authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation for the cost of coverage for breast tomosynthesis set forth in this paragraph.

On and after January 1, 2016, the Department shall ensure that all networks of care for adult clients of the Department include access to at least one breast imaging Center of Imaging Excellence as certified by the American College of Radiology.

On and after January 1, 2012, providers participating in a quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for screening and diagnostic mammography at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography and, after January 1, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1018), breast tomosynthesis.

The Department shall convene an expert panel including representatives of hospitals, free-standing mammography facilities, and doctors, including radiologists, to establish quality standards for mammography.

On and after January 1, 2017, providers participating in a breast cancer treatment quality improvement program approved by the Department shall be reimbursed for breast cancer treatment at a rate that is no lower than 95% of the Medicare program's rates for the data elements included in the breast cancer treatment quality program.

The Department shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including breast surgeons, reconstructive breast surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment.

Subject to federal approval, the Department shall establish a rate methodology for mammography at federally qualified health centers and other encounter-rate clinics. These clinics or centers may also collaborate with other hospital-based mammography facilities. By January 1, 2016, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the provision set forth in this paragraph.

The Department shall establish a methodology to remind individuals who are age-appropriate for screening mammography, but who have not received a mammogram within the previous 18 months, of the importance and benefit of screening mammography. The Department shall work with experts in breast cancer outreach and patient navigation to optimize these reminders and shall establish a methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and modifying the methodology based on the evaluation.

The Department shall establish a performance goal for primary care providers with respect to their female patients over age 40 receiving an annual mammogram. This performance goal shall be used to provide additional reimbursement in the form of a quality performance bonus to primary care providers who meet that goal.

The Department shall devise a means of case-managing or patient navigation for beneficiaries diagnosed with breast cancer. This program shall initially operate as a pilot program in areas of the State with the highest incidence of mortality related to breast cancer. At least one pilot program site shall be in the metropolitan Chicago area and at least one site shall be outside the metropolitan Chicago area. On or after July 1, 2016, the pilot program shall be expanded to include one site in western Illinois, one site in southern Illinois, one site in central Illinois, and 4 sites within metropolitan Chicago. An evaluation of the pilot program shall be carried out measuring health outcomes and cost of care for those served by the pilot program compared to similarly situated patients who are not served by the pilot program.

The Department shall require all networks of care to develop a means either internally or by contract with experts in navigation and community outreach to navigate cancer patients to comprehensive care in a timely fashion. The Department shall require all networks of care to include access for patients diagnosed with cancer to at least one academic commission on cancer-accredited cancer program as an in-network covered benefit.

The Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration for all persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Subject to federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for persons of the age of 46 and above who have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia with a high risk of recurrence or progression. The Department shall disallow any preauthorization requirements for the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article shall receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage under this paragraph shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

Any medical or health care provider shall immediately recommend, to any pregnant individual who is being provided prenatal services and is suspected of having a substance use disorder as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, referral to a local substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department of Human Services or to a licensed hospital which provides substance abuse treatment services. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall assure coverage for the cost of treatment of the drug abuse or addiction for pregnant recipients in accordance with the Illinois Medicaid Program in conjunction with the Department of Human Services.

All medical providers providing medical assistance to pregnant individuals under this Code shall receive information from the Department on the availability of services under any program providing case management services for addicted individuals, including information on appropriate referrals for other social services that may be needed by addicted individuals in addition to treatment for addiction.

The Illinois Department, in cooperation with the Departments of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and Public Health, through a public awareness campaign, may provide information concerning treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction, prenatal health care, and other pertinent programs directed at reducing the number of drug-affected infants born to recipients of medical assistance.

Neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor the Department of Human Services shall sanction the recipient solely on the basis of the recipient's substance abuse.

The Illinois Department shall establish such regulations governing the dispensing of health services under this Article as it shall deem appropriate. The Department should seek the advice of formal professional advisory committees appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department for the purpose of providing regular advice on policy and administrative matters, information dissemination and educational activities for medical and health care providers, and consistency in procedures to the Illinois Department.

The Illinois Department may develop and contract with Partnerships of medical providers to arrange medical services for persons eligible under Section 5-2 of this Code. Implementation of this Section may be by demonstration projects in certain geographic areas. The Partnership shall be represented by a sponsor organization. The Department, by rule, shall develop qualifications for sponsors of Partnerships. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the sponsor organization be a medical organization.

The sponsor must negotiate formal written contracts with medical providers for physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and other services determined necessary by the Illinois Department by rule for delivery by Partnerships. Physician services must include prenatal and obstetrical care. The Illinois Department shall reimburse medical services delivered by Partnership providers to clients in target areas according to provisions of this Article and the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, except that:

(1) Physicians participating in a Partnership and providing certain services, which shall be determined by the Illinois Department, to persons in areas covered by the Partnership may receive an additional surcharge for such services.

(2) The Department may elect to consider and negotiate financial incentives to encourage the development of Partnerships and the efficient delivery of medical care.

(3) Persons receiving medical services through Partnerships may receive medical and case management services above the level usually offered through the medical assistance program.

Medical providers shall be required to meet certain qualifications to participate in Partnerships to ensure the delivery of high quality medical services. These qualifications shall be determined by rule of the Illinois Department and may be higher than qualifications for participation in the medical assistance program. Partnership sponsors may prescribe reasonable additional qualifications for participation by medical providers, only with the prior written approval of the Illinois Department.

Nothing in this Section shall limit the free choice of practitioners, hospitals, and other providers of medical services by clients. In order to ensure patient freedom of choice, the Illinois Department shall immediately promulgate all rules and take all other necessary actions so that provided services may be accessed from therapeutically certified optometrists to the full extent of the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 without discriminating between service providers.

The Department shall apply for a waiver from the United States Health Care Financing Administration to allow for the implementation of Partnerships under this Section.

The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to maintain records that document the medical care and services provided to recipients of Medical Assistance under this Article. Such records must be retained for a period of not less than 6 years from the date of service or as provided by applicable State law, whichever period is longer, except that if an audit is initiated within the required retention period then the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception is resolved. The Illinois Department shall require health care providers to make available, when authorized by the patient, in writing, the medical records in a timely fashion to other health care providers who are treating or serving persons eligible for Medical Assistance under this Article. All dispensers of medical services shall be required to maintain and retain business and professional records sufficient to fully and accurately document the nature, scope, details and receipt of the health care provided to persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Illinois Department. The rules and regulations shall require that proof of the receipt of prescription drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses by eligible persons under this Section accompany each claim for reimbursement submitted by the dispenser of such medical services. No such claims for reimbursement shall be approved for payment by the Illinois Department without such proof of receipt, unless the Illinois Department shall have put into effect and shall be operating a system of post-payment audit and review which shall, on a sampling basis, be deemed adequate by the Illinois Department to assure that such drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses for which payment is being made are actually being received by eligible recipients. Within 90 days after September 16, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-1439), the Illinois Department shall establish a current list of acquisition costs for all prosthetic devices and any other items recognized as medical equipment and supplies reimbursable under this Article and shall update such list on a quarterly basis, except that the acquisition costs of all prescription drugs shall be updated no less frequently than every 30 days as required by Section 5-5.12.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after July 22, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-104), establish procedures to permit skilled care facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall, by July 1, 2016, test the viability of the new system and implement any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms in order to allow for the direct acceptance and payment of nursing home claims.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois Department shall, within 365 days after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-963), establish procedures to permit ID/DD facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and MC/DD facilities licensed under the MC/DD Act to submit monthly billing claims for reimbursement purposes. Following development of these procedures, the Department shall have an additional 365 days to test the viability of the new system and to ensure that any necessary operational or structural changes to its information technology platforms are implemented.

The Illinois Department shall require all dispensers of medical services, other than an individual practitioner or group of practitioners, desiring to participate in the Medical Assistance program established under this Article to disclose all financial, beneficial, ownership, equity, surety or other interests in any and all firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, business enterprises, joint ventures, agencies, institutions or other legal entities providing any form of health care services in this State under this Article.

The Illinois Department may require that all dispensers of medical services desiring to participate in the medical assistance program established under this Article disclose, under such terms and conditions as the Illinois Department may by rule establish, all inquiries from clients and attorneys regarding medical bills paid by the Illinois Department, which inquiries could indicate potential existence of claims or liens for the Illinois Department.

Enrollment of a vendor shall be subject to a provisional period and shall be conditional for one year. During the period of conditional enrollment, the Department may terminate the vendor's eligibility to participate in, or may disenroll the vendor from, the medical assistance program without cause. Unless otherwise specified, such termination of eligibility or disenrollment is not subject to the Department's hearing process. However, a disenrolled vendor may reapply without penalty.

The Department has the discretion to limit the conditional enrollment period for vendors based upon the category of risk of the vendor.

Prior to enrollment and during the conditional enrollment period in the medical assistance program, all vendors shall be subject to enhanced oversight, screening, and review based on the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse that is posed by the category of risk of the vendor. The Illinois Department shall establish the procedures for oversight, screening, and review, which may include, but need not be limited to: criminal and financial background checks; fingerprinting; license, certification, and authorization verifications; unscheduled or unannounced site visits; database checks; prepayment audit reviews; audits; payment caps; payment suspensions; and other screening as required by federal or State law.

The Department shall define or specify the following: (i) by provider notice, the "category of risk of the vendor" for each type of vendor, which shall take into account the level of screening applicable to a particular category of vendor under federal law and regulations; (ii) by rule or provider notice, the maximum length of the conditional enrollment period for each category of risk of the vendor; and (iii) by rule, the hearing rights, if any, afforded to a vendor in each category of risk of the vendor that is terminated or disenrolled during the conditional enrollment period.

To be eligible for payment consideration, a vendor's payment claim or bill, either as an initial claim or as a resubmitted claim following prior rejection, must be received by the Illinois Department, or its fiscal intermediary, no later than 180 days after the latest date on the claim on which medical goods or services were provided, with the following exceptions:

(1) In the case of a provider whose enrollment is in process by the Illinois Department, the 180-day period shall not begin until the date on the written notice from the Illinois Department that the provider enrollment is complete.

(2) In the case of errors attributable to the Illinois Department or any of its claims processing intermediaries which result in an inability to receive, process, or adjudicate a claim, the 180-day period shall not begin until the provider has been notified of the error.

(3) In the case of a provider for whom the Illinois Department initiates the monthly billing process.

(4) In the case of a provider operated by a unit of local government with a population exceeding 3,000,000 when local government funds finance federal participation for claims payments.

For claims for services rendered during a period for which a recipient received retroactive eligibility, claims must be filed within 180 days after the Department determines the applicant is eligible. For claims for which the Illinois Department is not the primary payer, claims must be submitted to the Illinois Department within 180 days after the final adjudication by the primary payer.

In the case of long term care facilities, within 120 calendar days of receipt by the facility of required prescreening information, new admissions with associated admission documents shall be submitted through the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) or the Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) System or shall be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services using required admission forms. Effective September 1, 2014, admission documents, including all prescreening information, must be submitted through MEDI or REV. Confirmation numbers assigned to an accepted transaction shall be retained by a facility to verify timely submittal. Once an admission transaction has been completed, all resubmitted claims following prior rejection are subject to receipt no later than 180 days after the admission transaction has been completed.

Claims that are not submitted and received in compliance with the foregoing requirements shall not be eligible for payment under the medical assistance program, and the State shall have no liability for payment of those claims.

To the extent consistent with applicable information and privacy, security, and disclosure laws, State and federal agencies and departments shall provide the Illinois Department access to confidential and other information and data necessary to perform eligibility and payment verifications and other Illinois Department functions. This includes, but is not limited to: information pertaining to licensure; certification; earnings; immigration status; citizenship; wage reporting; unearned and earned income; pension income; employment; supplemental security income; social security numbers; National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers; the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); program and agency exclusions; taxpayer identification numbers; tax delinquency; corporate information; and death records.

The Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, under which such agencies and departments shall share data necessary for medical assistance program integrity functions and oversight. The Illinois Department shall develop, in cooperation with other State departments and agencies, and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective methods to share such data. At a minimum, and to the extent necessary to provide data sharing, the Illinois Department shall enter into agreements with State agencies and departments, and is authorized to enter into agreements with federal agencies and departments, including, but not limited to: the Secretary of State; the Department of Revenue; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Illinois Department shall set forth a request for information to identify the benefits of a pre-payment, post-adjudication, and post-edit claims system with the goals of streamlining claims processing and provider reimbursement, reducing the number of pending or rejected claims, and helping to ensure a more transparent adjudication process through the utilization of: (i) provider data verification and provider screening technology; and (ii) clinical code editing; and (iii) pre-pay, pre-adjudicated, or post-adjudicated predictive modeling with an integrated case management system with link analysis. Such a request for information shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Illinois Department to take any action or acquire any products or services.

The Illinois Department shall establish policies, procedures, standards and criteria by rule for the acquisition, repair and replacement of orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment. Such rules shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services: (1) immediate repair or replacement of such devices by recipients; and (2) rental, lease, purchase or lease-purchase of durable medical equipment in a cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the recipient's medical prognosis, the extent of the recipient's needs, and the requirements and costs for maintaining such equipment. Subject to prior approval, such rules shall enable a recipient to temporarily acquire and use alternative or substitute devices or equipment pending repairs or replacements of any device or equipment previously authorized for such recipient by the Department. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5-5f to the contrary, the Department may, by rule, exempt certain replacement wheelchair parts from prior approval and, for wheelchairs, wheelchair parts, wheelchair accessories, and related seating and positioning items, determine the wholesale price by methods other than actual acquisition costs.

The Department shall require, by rule, all providers of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department in order to bill the Department for providing durable medical equipment to recipients. No later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph, all providers must meet the accreditation requirement.

In order to promote environmental responsibility, meet the needs of recipients and enrollees, and achieve significant cost savings, the Department, or a managed care organization under contract with the Department, may provide recipients or managed care enrollees who have a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity access to refurbished durable medical equipment under this Section (excluding prosthetic and orthotic devices as defined in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act and complex rehabilitation technology products and associated services) through the State's assistive technology program's reutilization program, using staff with the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification if the refurbished durable medical equipment: (i) is available; (ii) is less expensive, including shipping costs, than new durable medical equipment of the same type; (iii) is able to withstand at least 3 years of use; (iv) is cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and safe in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance governing the reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings; and (v) equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. The reutilization program shall confirm that the recipient or enrollee is not already in receipt of the same or similar equipment from another service provider, and that the refurbished durable medical equipment equally meets the needs of the recipient or enrollee. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit recipient or enrollee choice to obtain new durable medical equipment or place any additional prior authorization conditions on enrollees of managed care organizations.

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, written inter-agency agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging, to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped; and (iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2012, an increase in the determination of need (DON) scores from 29 to 37 for applicants for institutional and home and community-based long term care; if and only if federal approval is not granted, the Department may, in conjunction with other affected agencies, implement utilization controls or changes in benefit packages to effectuate a similar savings amount for this population; and (iv) no later than July 1, 2013, minimum level of care eligibility criteria for institutional and home and community-based long term care; and (v) no later than October 1, 2013, establish procedures to permit long term care providers access to eligibility scores for individuals with an admission date who are seeking or receiving services from the long term care provider. In order to select the minimum level of care eligibility criteria, the Governor shall establish a workgroup that includes affected agency representatives and stakeholders representing the institutional and home and community-based long term care interests. This Section shall not restrict the Department from implementing lower level of care eligibility criteria for community-based services in circumstances where federal approval has been granted.

The Illinois Department shall develop and operate, in cooperation with other State Departments and agencies and in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, appropriate and effective systems of health care evaluation and programs for monitoring of utilization of health care services and facilities, as it affects persons eligible for medical assistance under this Code.

The Illinois Department shall report annually to the General Assembly, no later than the second Friday in April of 1979 and each year thereafter, in regard to:

(a) actual statistics and trends in utilization of medical services by public aid recipients;

(b) actual statistics and trends in the provision of the various medical services by medical vendors;

(c) current rate structures and proposed changes in those rate structures for the various medical vendors; and

(d) efforts at utilization review and control by the Illinois Department.

The period covered by each report shall be the 3 years ending on the June 30 prior to the report. The report shall include suggested legislation for consideration by the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.

On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

Because kidney transplantation can be an appropriate, cost-effective alternative to renal dialysis when medically necessary and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-11 of this Code, beginning October 1, 2014, the Department shall cover kidney transplantation for noncitizens with end-stage renal disease who are not eligible for comprehensive medical benefits, who meet the residency requirements of Section 5-3 of this Code, and who would otherwise meet the financial requirements of the appropriate class of eligible persons under Section 5-2 of this Code. To qualify for coverage of kidney transplantation, such person must be receiving emergency renal dialysis services covered by the Department. Providers under this Section shall be prior approved and certified by the Department to perform kidney transplantation and the services under this Section shall be limited to services associated with kidney transplantation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, on or after July 1, 2015, all FDA approved forms of medication assisted treatment prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence or treatment of opioid dependence shall be covered under both fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article and shall not be subject to any (1) utilization control, other than those established under the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, (2) prior authorization mandate, (3) lifetime restriction limit mandate, or (4) limitations on dosage.

On or after July 1, 2015, opioid antagonists prescribed for the treatment of an opioid overdose, including the medication product, administration devices, and any pharmacy fees or hospital fees related to the dispensing, distribution, and administration of the opioid antagonist, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Department shall not impose a copayment on the coverage provided for naloxone hydrochloride under the medical assistance program.

Upon federal approval, the Department shall provide coverage and reimbursement for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection.

A federally qualified health center, as defined in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the federal Social Security Act, shall be reimbursed by the Department in accordance with the federally qualified health center's encounter rate for services provided to medical assistance recipients that are performed by a dental hygienist, as defined under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, working under the general supervision of a dentist and employed by a federally qualified health center.

Within 90 days after October 8, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-665), the Department shall seek federal approval of a State Plan amendment to expand coverage for family planning services that includes presumptive eligibility to individuals whose income is at or below 208% of the federal poverty level. Coverage under this Section shall be effective beginning no later than December 1, 2022.

Subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a Title XIX State Plan amendment electing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as a State Medicaid option, as provided for by Subtitle I (commencing with Section 4801) of Title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and Part 460 (commencing with Section 460.2) of Subchapter E of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, PACE program services shall become a covered benefit of the medical assistance program, subject to criteria established in accordance with all applicable laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team shall be covered under the medical assistance program as provided in Section 15 of the Pediatric Palliative Care Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, within 12 months after June 2, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1037) and subject to federal approval, acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is acting within the scope of his or her license shall be covered under the medical assistance program. The Department shall apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement this paragraph. The Department may adopt any rules, including standards and criteria, necessary to implement this paragraph.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the medical assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and federal approval, reimburse hospitals for costs associated with a newborn screening test for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy, as required under the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act, at a rate not less than the fee charged by the Department of Public Health. The Department shall seek federal approval before the implementation of the newborn screening test fees by the Department of Public Health.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to federal approval, cognitive assessment and care planning services provided to a person who experiences signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article. As used in this paragraph, "reconstructive services" means treatments performed on structures of the body damaged by trauma to restore physical appearance.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, Article 30, Section 30-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-43, Article 55, Section 55-5, eff. 7-6-21; 102-95, eff. 1-1-22; 102-123, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-598, eff. 1-1-22; 102-655, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1018, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 102-1038, eff. 1-1-23; 103-102, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 95, Section 95-15, eff. 1-1-24; 103-123, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-368, eff. 1-1-24; 103-1040, eff. 8-9-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-5.01)

Sec. 5-5.01. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services may establish and implement a pilot project for determining the feasibility of authorizing medical assistance payments for the costs of diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.01a)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-593, Article 15, Section 15-5)

Sec. 5-5.01a. Supportive living facilities program.

(a) The Department shall establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities that seek to promote resident independence, dignity, respect, and well-being in the most cost-effective manner.

A supportive living facility is (i) a free-standing facility or (ii) a distinct physical and operational entity within a mixed-use building that meets the criteria established in subsection (d). A supportive living facility integrates housing with health, personal care, and supportive services and is a designated setting that offers residents their own separate, private, and distinct living units.

Sites for the operation of the program shall be selected by the Department based upon criteria that may include the need for services in a geographic area, the availability of funding, and the site's ability to meet the standards.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities shall be equal to the supportive living facility Medicaid rate effective on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.85%. Once the assessment imposed at Article V-G of this Code is determined to be a permissible tax under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Department shall increase the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2014 by 9.09%. The Department shall apply this increase retroactively to coincide with the imposition of the assessment in Article V-G of this Code in accordance with the approval for federal financial participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2017 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2017 increased by 2.8%.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018.

Subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department while maintaining the rate differential for dementia care and must be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Beginning July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas. For purposes of this provision, the average total nursing services per diem rate shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2. The rate differential for dementia care must be maintained in these rates and the rates shall be updated whenever nursing facility per diem rates are updated.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2024, the dementia care rate for supportive living services must be no less than the non-dementia care supportive living services rate multiplied by 1.5.

(b-5) Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2025, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.75% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas defined by the Department and shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section. Rules that establish or modify the services, standards, and conditions for participation in the program shall be adopted by the Department in consultation with the Department on Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (or their successor agencies).

(d) Subject to federal approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department shall accept for consideration of certification under the program any application for a site or building where distinct parts of the site or building are designated for purposes other than the provision of supportive living services, but only if:

(1) those distinct parts of the site or building are not designated for the purpose of providing assisted living services as required under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(2) those distinct parts of the site or building are completely separate from the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services, including separate entrances;

(3) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share any common spaces with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services; and

(4) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share staffing with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services.

(e) Facilities or distinct parts of facilities which are selected as supportive living facilities and are in good standing with the Department's rules are exempt from the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.

(f) Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) authorizes a 10% enhanced federal medical assistance percentage for supportive living services for a 12-month period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Subject to federal approval, including the approval of any necessary waiver amendments or other federally required documents or assurances, for a 12-month period the Department must pay a supplemental $26 per diem rate to all supportive living facilities with the additional federal financial participation funds that result from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department may issue parameters around how the supplemental payment should be spent, including quality improvement activities. The Department may alter the form, methods, or timeframes concerning the supplemental per diem rate to comply with any subsequent changes to federal law, changes made by guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or other changes necessary to receive the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.

(g) All applications for the expansion of supportive living dementia care settings involving sites not approved by the Department on January 1, 2024 (the effective date of Public Act 103-102) may allow new elderly non-dementia units in addition to new dementia care units. The Department may approve such applications only if the application has: (1) no more than one non-dementia care unit for each dementia care unit and (2) the site is not located within 4 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Cook County (including the City of Chicago), not located within 12 miles of an existing supportive living program site in DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, or Will County, or not located within 25 miles of an existing supportive living program site in any other county.

(h) Beginning January 1, 2025, subject to federal approval, for a person who is a resident of a supportive living facility under this Section, the monthly personal needs allowance shall be $120 per month.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-102, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 6-7-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-593, Article 100, Section 100-5)

Sec. 5-5.01a. Supportive living facilities program.

(a) The Department shall establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities that seek to promote resident independence, dignity, respect, and well-being in the most cost-effective manner.

A supportive living facility is (i) a free-standing facility or (ii) a distinct physical and operational entity within a mixed-use building that meets the criteria established in subsection (d). A supportive living facility integrates housing with health, personal care, and supportive services and is a designated setting that offers residents their own separate, private, and distinct living units.

Sites for the operation of the program shall be selected by the Department based upon criteria that may include the need for services in a geographic area, the availability of funding, and the site's ability to meet the standards.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities shall be equal to the supportive living facility Medicaid rate effective on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.85%. Once the assessment imposed at Article V-G of this Code is determined to be a permissible tax under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Department shall increase the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2014 by 9.09%. The Department shall apply this increase retroactively to coincide with the imposition of the assessment in Article V-G of this Code in accordance with the approval for federal financial participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2017 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2017 increased by 2.8%.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018.

Subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department while maintaining the rate differential for dementia care and must be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Beginning July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas. For purposes of this provision, the average total nursing services per diem rate shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2. The rate differential for dementia care must be maintained in these rates and the rates shall be updated whenever nursing facility per diem rates are updated.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2024, the dementia care rate for supportive living services must be no less than the non-dementia care supportive living services rate multiplied by 1.5.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section. Rules that establish or modify the services, standards, and conditions for participation in the program shall be adopted by the Department in consultation with the Department on Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (or their successor agencies).

(d) Subject to federal approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department shall accept for consideration of certification under the program any application for a site or building where distinct parts of the site or building are designated for purposes other than the provision of supportive living services, but only if:

(1) those distinct parts of the site or building are not designated for the purpose of providing assisted living services as required under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(2) those distinct parts of the site or building are completely separate from the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services, including separate entrances;

(3) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share any common spaces with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services; and

(4) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share staffing with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services.

(e) Facilities or distinct parts of facilities which are selected as supportive living facilities and are in good standing with the Department's rules are exempt from the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.

(f) Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) authorizes a 10% enhanced federal medical assistance percentage for supportive living services for a 12-month period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Subject to federal approval, including the approval of any necessary waiver amendments or other federally required documents or assurances, for a 12-month period the Department must pay a supplemental $26 per diem rate to all supportive living facilities with the additional federal financial participation funds that result from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department may issue parameters around how the supplemental payment should be spent, including quality improvement activities. The Department may alter the form, methods, or timeframes concerning the supplemental per diem rate to comply with any subsequent changes to federal law, changes made by guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or other changes necessary to receive the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.

(g) All applications for the expansion of supportive living dementia care settings involving sites not approved by the Department by January 1, 2024 may allow new elderly non-dementia units in addition to new dementia care units. The Department may approve such applications only if the application has: (1) no more than one non-dementia care unit for each dementia care unit and (2) the site is not located within 4 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Cook County (including the City of Chicago), not located within 12 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Alexander, Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Champaign, Clinton, DeKalb, DuPage Fulton, Grundy, Henry, Jackson, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marshall, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Peoria, Piatt, Rock Island, Sangamon, Stark, St. Clair, Tazewell, Vermilion, Will, Williamson, Winnebago, or Woodford counties, or not located within 25 miles of an existing supportive living program site in any other county.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-102, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 6-7-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-593, Article 165, Section 165-5)

Sec. 5-5.01a. Supportive living facilities program.

(a) The Department shall establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities that seek to promote resident independence, dignity, respect, and well-being in the most cost-effective manner.

A supportive living facility is (i) a free-standing facility or (ii) a distinct physical and operational entity within a mixed-use building that meets the criteria established in subsection (d). A supportive living facility integrates housing with health, personal care, and supportive services and is a designated setting that offers residents their own separate, private, and distinct living units.

Sites for the operation of the program shall be selected by the Department based upon criteria that may include the need for services in a geographic area, the availability of funding, and the site's ability to meet the standards.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities shall be equal to the supportive living facility Medicaid rate effective on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.85%. Once the assessment imposed at Article V-G of this Code is determined to be a permissible tax under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Department shall increase the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2014 by 9.09%. The Department shall apply this increase retroactively to coincide with the imposition of the assessment in Article V-G of this Code in accordance with the approval for federal financial participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2017 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2017 increased by 2.8%.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018.

Subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department while maintaining the rate differential for dementia care and must be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Beginning July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas. For purposes of this provision, the average total nursing services per diem rate shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2. The rate differential for dementia care must be maintained in these rates and the rates shall be updated whenever nursing facility per diem rates are updated.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2024, the dementia care rate for supportive living services must be no less than the non-dementia care supportive living services rate multiplied by 1.5.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section. Rules that establish or modify the services, standards, and conditions for participation in the program shall be adopted by the Department in consultation with the Department on Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (or their successor agencies).

(d) Subject to federal approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department shall accept for consideration of certification under the program any application for a site or building where distinct parts of the site or building are designated for purposes other than the provision of supportive living services, but only if:

(1) those distinct parts of the site or building are not designated for the purpose of providing assisted living services as required under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(2) those distinct parts of the site or building are completely separate from the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services, including separate entrances;

(3) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share any common spaces with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services; and

(4) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share staffing with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services.

(e) Facilities or distinct parts of facilities which are selected as supportive living facilities and are in good standing with the Department's rules are exempt from the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.

(f) Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) authorizes a 10% enhanced federal medical assistance percentage for supportive living services for a 12-month period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Subject to federal approval, including the approval of any necessary waiver amendments or other federally required documents or assurances, for a 12-month period the Department must pay a supplemental $26 per diem rate to all supportive living facilities with the additional federal financial participation funds that result from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department may issue parameters around how the supplemental payment should be spent, including quality improvement activities. The Department may alter the form, methods, or timeframes concerning the supplemental per diem rate to comply with any subsequent changes to federal law, changes made by guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or other changes necessary to receive the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.

(g) All applications for the expansion of supportive living dementia care settings involving sites not approved by the Department on January 1, 2024 (the effective date of Public Act 103-102) may allow new elderly non-dementia units in addition to new dementia care units. The Department may approve such applications only if the application has: (1) no more than one non-dementia care unit for each dementia care unit and (2) the site is not located within 4 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Cook County (including the City of Chicago), not located within 12 miles of an existing supportive living program site in DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, or Will County, or not located within 25 miles of an existing supportive living program site in any other county.

(h) As stated in the supportive living program home and community-based service waiver approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and beginning July 1, 2025, the Department must maintain the rate add-on implemented on January 1, 2023 for the provision of 2 meals per day at no less than $6.15 per day.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-102, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-593, Article 165, Section 165-5, eff. 6-7-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-605)

Sec. 5-5.01a. Supportive living facilities program.

(a) The Department shall establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities that seek to promote resident independence, dignity, respect, and well-being in the most cost-effective manner.

A supportive living facility is (i) a free-standing facility or (ii) a distinct physical and operational entity within a mixed-use building that meets the criteria established in subsection (d). A supportive living facility integrates housing with health, personal care, and supportive services and is a designated setting that offers residents their own separate, private, and distinct living units.

Sites for the operation of the program shall be selected by the Department based upon criteria that may include the need for services in a geographic area, the availability of funding, and the site's ability to meet the standards.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities shall be equal to the supportive living facility Medicaid rate effective on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.85%. Once the assessment imposed at Article V-G of this Code is determined to be a permissible tax under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Department shall increase the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2014 by 9.09%. The Department shall apply this increase retroactively to coincide with the imposition of the assessment in Article V-G of this Code in accordance with the approval for federal financial participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2017 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2017 increased by 2.8%.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018.

Subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department while maintaining the rate differential for dementia care and must be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Beginning July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas. For purposes of this provision, the average total nursing services per diem rate shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2. The rate differential for dementia care must be maintained in these rates and the rates shall be updated whenever nursing facility per diem rates are updated.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2024, the dementia care rate for supportive living services must be no less than the non-dementia care supportive living services rate multiplied by 1.5.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section. Rules that establish or modify the services, standards, and conditions for participation in the program shall be adopted by the Department in consultation with the Department on Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (or their successor agencies).

(d) Subject to federal approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department shall accept for consideration of certification under the program any application for a site or building where distinct parts of the site or building are designated for purposes other than the provision of supportive living services, but only if:

(1) those distinct parts of the site or building are not designated for the purpose of providing assisted living services as required under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(2) those distinct parts of the site or building are completely separate from the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services, including separate entrances;

(3) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share any common spaces with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services; and

(4) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share staffing with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services.

(e) Facilities or distinct parts of facilities which are selected as supportive living facilities and are in good standing with the Department's rules are exempt from the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.

(f) Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) authorizes a 10% enhanced federal medical assistance percentage for supportive living services for a 12-month period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Subject to federal approval, including the approval of any necessary waiver amendments or other federally required documents or assurances, for a 12-month period the Department must pay a supplemental $26 per diem rate to all supportive living facilities with the additional federal financial participation funds that result from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department may issue parameters around how the supplemental payment should be spent, including quality improvement activities. The Department may alter the form, methods, or timeframes concerning the supplemental per diem rate to comply with any subsequent changes to federal law, changes made by guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or other changes necessary to receive the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.

(g) All applications for the expansion of supportive living dementia care settings involving sites not approved by the Department on January 1, 2024 (the effective date of Public Act 103-102) may allow new elderly non-dementia units in addition to new dementia care units. The Department may approve such applications only if the application has: (1) no more than one non-dementia care unit for each dementia care unit and (2) the site is not located within 4 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Cook County (including the City of Chicago), not located within 12 miles of an existing supportive living program site in DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, or Will County, or not located within 25 miles of an existing supportive living program site in any other county.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-102, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-886)

Sec. 5-5.01a. Supportive living facilities program.

(a) The Department shall establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities that seek to promote resident independence, dignity, respect, and well-being in the most cost-effective manner.

A supportive living facility is (i) a free-standing facility or (ii) a distinct physical and operational entity within a mixed-use building that meets the criteria established in subsection (d). A supportive living facility integrates housing with health, personal care, and supportive services and is a designated setting that offers residents their own separate, private, and distinct living units.

Sites for the operation of the program shall be selected by the Department based upon criteria that may include the need for services in a geographic area, the availability of funding, and the site's ability to meet the standards.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities shall be equal to the supportive living facility Medicaid rate effective on June 30, 2014 increased by 8.85%. Once the assessment imposed at Article V-G of this Code is determined to be a permissible tax under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Department shall increase the Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2014 by 9.09%. The Department shall apply this increase retroactively to coincide with the imposition of the assessment in Article V-G of this Code in accordance with the approval for federal financial participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2017 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2017 increased by 2.8%.

The Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018.

Subject to federal approval, the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department while maintaining the rate differential for dementia care and must be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Beginning July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicaid rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.3% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for the geographic areas. For purposes of this provision, the average total nursing services per diem rate shall include all add-ons for nursing facilities for the geographic area provided for in Section 5-5.2. The rate differential for dementia care must be maintained in these rates and the rates shall be updated whenever nursing facility per diem rates are updated.

Subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2024, the dementia care rate for supportive living services must be no less than the non-dementia care supportive living services rate multiplied by 1.5.

(c) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Section. Rules that establish or modify the services, standards, and conditions for participation in the program shall be adopted by the Department in consultation with the Department on Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (or their successor agencies).

(d) Subject to federal approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department shall accept for consideration of certification under the program any application for a site or building where distinct parts of the site or building are designated for purposes other than the provision of supportive living services, but only if:

(1) those distinct parts of the site or building are not designated for the purpose of providing assisted living services as required under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act;

(2) those distinct parts of the site or building are completely separate from the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services, including separate entrances;

(3) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share any common spaces with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services; and

(4) those distinct parts of the site or building do not share staffing with the part of the building used for the provision of supportive living program services.

(e) Facilities or distinct parts of facilities which are selected as supportive living facilities and are in good standing with the Department's rules are exempt from the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act.

(f) Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) authorizes a 10% enhanced federal medical assistance percentage for supportive living services for a 12-month period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Subject to federal approval, including the approval of any necessary waiver amendments or other federally required documents or assurances, for a 12-month period the Department must pay a supplemental $26 per diem rate to all supportive living facilities with the additional federal financial participation funds that result from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Department may issue parameters around how the supplemental payment should be spent, including quality improvement activities. The Department may alter the form, methods, or timeframes concerning the supplemental per diem rate to comply with any subsequent changes to federal law, changes made by guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or other changes necessary to receive the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.

(g) All applications for the expansion of supportive living dementia care settings involving sites not approved by the Department on January 1, 2024 (the effective date of Public Act 103-102) may allow new elderly non-dementia units in addition to new dementia care units. The Department may approve such applications only if the application has: (1) no more than one non-dementia care unit for each dementia care unit and (2) the site is not located within 4 miles of an existing supportive living program site in Cook County (including the City of Chicago), not located within 12 miles of an existing supportive living program site in DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, or Will County, or not located within 25 miles of an existing supportive living program site in any other county.

(f) Subject to federal approval, the Department shall allow a certified medication aide to administer medication in a supportive living facility. For purposes of this subsection, "certified medication aide" means a person who has met the qualifications for certification under Section 79 of the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and assists with medication administration while under the supervision of a registered professional nurse as authorized by Section 50-75 of the Nurse Practice Act. The Department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-102, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-102, Article 100, Section 100-5, eff. 1-1-24; 103-886, eff. 8-9-24.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.01b)

Sec. 5-5.01b. Certified Nursing Assistant Intern Program.

(a) The Department shall establish or approve a Certified Nursing Assistant Intern Program to address the increasing need for trained health care workers for the supporting living facilities program established under Section 5-5.01a. Upon successful completion of the classroom education and on-the-job training requirements of the Program under this Section, an individual may provide, at a facility certified under this Act, the patient and resident care services determined under the Program and may perform the procedures listed under subsection (d).

(b) In order to qualify as a certified nursing assistant intern, an individual shall successfully complete at least 8 hours of classroom education on the services and procedures listed under subsection (d). The classroom education shall be:

(1) taken within the facility where the certified nursing assistant intern will be employed;

(2) proctored by either an advanced practice registered nurse or a registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree in nursing, has a minimum of 3 years of continuous experience in geriatric care, or is certified as a nursing assistant instructor; and

(3) satisfied by the successful completion of an approved 8-hour online training course or in-person group training.

(c) In order to qualify as a certified nursing assistant intern, an individual shall successfully complete at least 24 hours of on-the-job training in the services and procedures determined under the Program and listed under subsection (d), as follows:

(1) The training program instructor shall be either an advanced practice registered nurse or a registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree in nursing, has a minimum of 3 years of continuous experience in geriatric care, or is certified as a nursing assistant instructor.

(2) The training program instructor shall ensure that the student meets the competencies determined under the Program and those listed under subsection (d). The instructor shall document the successful completion or failure of the competencies and any remediation that may allow for the successful completion of the competencies.

(3) All on-the-job training shall be under the direct observation of either an advanced practice registered nurse or a registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree in nursing, has a minimum of 3 years of continuous experience in geriatric care, or is certified as a nursing assistant instructor.

(4) All on-the-job training shall be conducted at a facility that is licensed by the State of Illinois and that is the facility where the certified nursing assistant intern will be working.

(d) A certified nursing assistant intern shall receive classroom and on-the-job training on how to provide the patient or resident care services and procedures, as determined under the Program, that are required of a certified nursing assistant's performance skills, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Successful completion and maintenance of active certification in both first aid and the American Red Cross' courses on cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(2) Infection control and in-service training required at the facility.

(3) Washing a resident's hands.

(4) Performing oral hygiene on a resident.

(5) Shaving a resident with an electric razor.

(6) Giving a resident a partial bath.

(7) Making a bed that is occupied.

(8) Dressing a resident.

(9) Transferring a resident to a wheelchair using a gait belt or transfer belt.

(10) Ambulating a resident with a gait belt or transfer belt.

(11) Feeding a resident.

(12) Calculating a resident's intake and output.

(13) Placing a resident in a side-lying position.

(14) The Heimlich maneuver.

(e) A certified nursing assistant intern may not perform any of the following on a resident:

(1) Shaving with a nonelectric razor.

(2) Nail care.

(3) Perineal care.

(4) Transfer using a mechanical lift.

(5) Passive range of motion.

(f) A certified nursing assistant intern may only provide the patient or resident care services and perform the procedures that he or she is deemed qualified to perform that are listed under subsection (d). A certified nursing assistant intern may not provide the procedures excluded under subsection (e).

(g) A certified nursing assistant intern shall report to a facility's charge nurse or nursing supervisor and may only be assigned duties authorized in this Section by a supervising nurse.

(h) A facility shall notify its certified and licensed staff members, in writing, that a certified nursing assistant intern may only provide the services and perform the procedures listed under subsection (d). The notification shall detail which duties may be delegated to a certified nursing assistant intern.

(i) If a facility learns that a certified nursing assistant intern is performing work outside of the scope of the Program's training, the facility shall:

(1) stop the certified nursing assistant intern from performing the work;

(2) inspect the work and correct mistakes, if the work performed was done improperly;

(3) assign the work to the appropriate personnel; and

(4) ensure that a thorough assessment of any resident involved in the work performed is completed by a registered nurse.

(j) The Program is subject to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and the Health Care Worker Background Check Code under 77 Ill. Adm. Code 955. Program participants and personnel shall be included on the Health Care Worker Registry.

(k) A Program participant who has completed the training required under paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of Section 3-206 of the Nursing Home Care Act, has completed the Program from April 21, 2020 through September 18, 2020, and has shown competency in all of the performance skills listed under subsection (d) shall be considered a certified nursing assistant intern.

(l) The requirement under subsection (b) of Section 395.400 of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative Code that a student must pass a BNATP written competency examination within 12 months after the completion of the BNATP does not apply to a certified nursing assistant intern under this Section. However, upon a Program participant's enrollment in a certified nursing assistant course, the requirement under subsection (b) of Section 395.400 of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative Code that a student pass a BNATP written competency examination within 12 months after completion of the BNATP program applies.

(m) A certified nursing assistant intern shall enroll in a certified nursing assistant program within 6 months after completing his or her certified nursing assistant intern training under the Program. The individual may continue to work as a certified nursing assistant intern during his or her certified nursing assistant training. If the scope of work for a nurse assistant in training pursuant to 77 Ill. Adm. Code 300.660 is broader in scope than the work permitted to be performed by a certified nursing assistant intern, then the certified nursing assistant intern enrolled in certified nursing assistant training may perform the work allowed under 77. Ill. Adm. Code 300.660. The individual shall receive one hour of credit for every hour employed as a certified nursing assistant intern or as a temporary nurse assistant, not to exceed 30 hours of credit, subject to the approval of an accredited certified nursing assistant training program.

(n) A facility that seeks to train and employ a certified nursing assistant intern at the facility must:

(1) not have received a substantiated citation, that the facility has the right to the appeal, for a violation that has caused severe harm to or the death of a resident within the 2 years prior to employing a certified nursing assistant intern; and

(2) establish a certified nursing assistant intern mentoring program within the facility for the purposes of increasing education and retention, which must include an experienced certified nurse assistant who has at least 3 years of active employment and is employed by the facility.

(o) A facility that does not meet the requirements of subsection (n) shall cease its new employment training, education, or onboarding of any employee under the Program. The facility may resume its new employment training, education, or onboarding of an employee under the Program once the Department determines that the facility is in compliance with subsection (n).

(p) To study the effectiveness of the Program, the Department shall collect data from participating facilities and publish a report on the extent to which the Program brought individuals into continuing employment as certified nursing assistants in long-term care. Data collected from facilities shall include, but shall not be limited to, the number of certified nursing assistants employed, the number of persons who began participation in the Program, the number of persons who successfully completed the Program, and the number of persons who continue employment in a long-term care service or facility. The report shall be published no later than 6 months after the Program end date determined under subsection (r). A facility participating in the Program shall, twice annually, submit data under this subsection in a manner and time determined by the Department. Failure to submit data under this subsection shall result in suspension of the facility's Program.

(q) The Department may adopt emergency rules in accordance with Section 5-45.32 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(r) The Program shall end upon the termination of the Secretary of Health and Human Services' public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 or 3 years after the date that the Program becomes operational, whichever occurs later.

(s) This Section is inoperative 18 months after the Program end date determined under subsection (r).

(Source: P.A. 102-1037, eff. 6-2-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.02) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-5.02)

Sec. 5-5.02. Hospital reimbursements.

(a) Reimbursement to hospitals; July 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code or the Illinois Department's Rules promulgated under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, reimbursement to hospitals for services provided during the period July 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992, shall be as follows:

(1) For inpatient hospital services rendered, or if applicable, for inpatient hospital discharges occurring, on or after July 1, 1992 and on or before September 30, 1992, the Illinois Department shall reimburse hospitals for inpatient services under the reimbursement methodologies in effect for each hospital, and at the inpatient payment rate calculated for each hospital, as of June 30, 1992. For purposes of this paragraph, "reimbursement methodologies" means all reimbursement methodologies that pertain to the provision of inpatient hospital services, including, but not limited to, any adjustments for disproportionate share, targeted access, critical care access and uncompensated care, as defined by the Illinois Department on June 30, 1992.

(2) For the purpose of calculating the inpatient payment rate for each hospital eligible to receive quarterly adjustment payments for targeted access and critical care, as defined by the Illinois Department on June 30, 1992, the adjustment payment for the period July 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992, shall be 25% of the annual adjustment payments calculated for each eligible hospital, as of June 30, 1992. The Illinois Department shall determine by rule the adjustment payments for targeted access and critical care beginning October 1, 1992.

(3) For the purpose of calculating the inpatient payment rate for each hospital eligible to receive quarterly adjustment payments for uncompensated care, as defined by the Illinois Department on June 30, 1992, the adjustment payment for the period August 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992, shall be one-sixth of the total uncompensated care adjustment payments calculated for each eligible hospital for the uncompensated care rate year, as defined by the Illinois Department, ending on July 31, 1992. The Illinois Department shall determine by rule the adjustment payments for uncompensated care beginning October 1, 1992.

(b) Inpatient payments. For inpatient services provided on or after October 1, 1993, in addition to rates paid for hospital inpatient services pursuant to the Illinois Health Finance Reform Act, as now or hereafter amended, or the Illinois Department's prospective reimbursement methodology, or any other methodology used by the Illinois Department for inpatient services, the Illinois Department shall make adjustment payments, in an amount calculated pursuant to the methodology described in paragraph (c) of this Section, to hospitals that the Illinois Department determines satisfy any one of the following requirements:

(1) Hospitals that are described in Section 1923 of the federal Social Security Act, as now or hereafter amended, except that for rate year 2015 and after a hospital described in Section 1923(b)(1)(B) of the federal Social Security Act and qualified for the payments described in subsection (c) of this Section for rate year 2014 provided the hospital continues to meet the description in Section 1923(b)(1)(B) in the current determination year; or

(2) Illinois hospitals that have a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate which is at least one-half a standard deviation above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate for all hospitals in Illinois receiving Medicaid payments from the Illinois Department; or

(3) Illinois hospitals that on July 1, 1991 had a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate, as defined in paragraph (h) of this Section, that was at least the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate for all hospitals in Illinois receiving Medicaid payments from the Illinois Department and which were located in a planning area with one-third or fewer excess beds as determined by the Health Facilities and Services Review Board, and that, as of June 30, 1992, were located in a federally designated Health Manpower Shortage Area; or

(4) Illinois hospitals that:

(A) have a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate that is at least equal to the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate for all hospitals in Illinois receiving Medicaid payments from the Department; and

(B) also have a Medicaid obstetrical inpatient utilization rate that is at least one standard deviation above the mean Medicaid obstetrical inpatient utilization rate for all hospitals in Illinois receiving Medicaid payments from the Department for obstetrical services; or

(5) Any children's hospital, which means a hospital devoted exclusively to caring for children. A hospital which includes a facility devoted exclusively to caring for children shall be considered a children's hospital to the degree that the hospital's Medicaid care is provided to children if either (i) the facility devoted exclusively to caring for children is separately licensed as a hospital by a municipality prior to February 28, 2013; (ii) the hospital has been designated by the State as a Level III perinatal care facility, has a Medicaid Inpatient Utilization rate greater than 55% for the rate year 2003 disproportionate share determination, and has more than 10,000 qualified children days as defined by the Department in rulemaking; (iii) the hospital has been designated as a Perinatal Level III center by the State as of December 1, 2017, is a Pediatric Critical Care Center designated by the State as of December 1, 2017 and has a 2017 Medicaid inpatient utilization rate equal to or greater than 45%; or (iv) the hospital has been designated as a Perinatal Level II center by the State as of December 1, 2017, has a 2017 Medicaid Inpatient Utilization Rate greater than 70%, and has at least 10 pediatric beds as listed on the IDPH 2015 calendar year hospital profile; or

(6) A hospital that reopens a previously closed hospital facility within 4 calendar years of the hospital facility's closure, if the previously closed hospital facility qualified for payments under paragraph (c) at the time of closure, until utilization data for the new facility is available for the Medicaid inpatient utilization rate calculation. For purposes of this clause, a "closed hospital facility" shall include hospitals that have been terminated from participation in the medical assistance program in accordance with Section 12-4.25 of this Code.

(c) Inpatient adjustment payments. The adjustment payments required by paragraph (b) shall be calculated based upon the hospital's Medicaid inpatient utilization rate as follows:

(1) hospitals with a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate below the mean shall receive a per day adjustment payment equal to $25;

(2) hospitals with a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate that is equal to or greater than the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate but less than one standard deviation above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate shall receive a per day adjustment payment equal to the sum of $25 plus $1 for each one percent that the hospital's Medicaid inpatient utilization rate exceeds the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate;

(3) hospitals with a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate that is equal to or greater than one standard deviation above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate but less than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate shall receive a per day adjustment payment equal to the sum of $40 plus $7 for each one percent that the hospital's Medicaid inpatient utilization rate exceeds one standard deviation above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate;

(4) hospitals with a Medicaid inpatient utilization rate that is equal to or greater than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate shall receive a per day adjustment payment equal to the sum of $90 plus $2 for each one percent that the hospital's Medicaid inpatient utilization rate exceeds 1.5 standard deviations above the mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate; and

(5) hospitals qualifying under clause (6) of paragraph (b) shall have the rate assigned to the previously closed hospital facility at the date of closure, until utilization data for the new facility is available for the Medicaid inpatient utilization rate calculation.

(d) Supplemental adjustment payments. In addition to the adjustment payments described in paragraph (c), hospitals as defined in clauses (1) through (6) of paragraph (b), excluding county hospitals (as defined in subsection (c) of Section 15-1 of this Code) and a hospital organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, shall be paid supplemental inpatient adjustment payments of $60 per day. For purposes of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, these supplemental adjustment payments shall not be classified as adjustment payments to disproportionate share hospitals.

(e) The inpatient adjustment payments described in paragraphs (c) and (d) shall be increased on October 1, 1993 and annually thereafter by a percentage equal to the lesser of (i) the increase in the DRI hospital cost index for the most recent 12 month period for which data are available, or (ii) the percentage increase in the statewide average hospital payment rate over the previous year's statewide average hospital payment rate. The sum of the inpatient adjustment payments under paragraphs (c) and (d) to a hospital, other than a county hospital (as defined in subsection (c) of Section 15-1 of this Code) or a hospital organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, however, shall not exceed $275 per day; that limit shall be increased on October 1, 1993 and annually thereafter by a percentage equal to the lesser of (i) the increase in the DRI hospital cost index for the most recent 12-month period for which data are available or (ii) the percentage increase in the statewide average hospital payment rate over the previous year's statewide average hospital payment rate.

(f) Children's hospital inpatient adjustment payments. For children's hospitals, as defined in clause (5) of paragraph (b), the adjustment payments required pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d) shall be multiplied by 2.0.

(g) County hospital inpatient adjustment payments. For county hospitals, as defined in subsection (c) of Section 15-1 of this Code, there shall be an adjustment payment as determined by rules issued by the Illinois Department.

(h) For the purposes of this Section the following terms shall be defined as follows:

(1) "Medicaid inpatient utilization rate" means a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of a hospital's inpatient days provided in a given 12-month period to patients who, for such days, were eligible for Medicaid under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, and the denominator of which is the total number of the hospital's inpatient days in that same period.

(2) "Mean Medicaid inpatient utilization rate" means the total number of Medicaid inpatient days provided by all Illinois Medicaid-participating hospitals divided by the total number of inpatient days provided by those same hospitals.

(3) "Medicaid obstetrical inpatient utilization rate" means the ratio of Medicaid obstetrical inpatient days to total Medicaid inpatient days for all Illinois hospitals receiving Medicaid payments from the Illinois Department.

(i) Inpatient adjustment payment limit. In order to meet the limits of Public Law 102-234 and Public Law 103-66, the Illinois Department shall by rule adjust disproportionate share adjustment payments.

(j) University of Illinois Hospital inpatient adjustment payments. For hospitals organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, there shall be an adjustment payment as determined by rules adopted by the Illinois Department.

(k) The Illinois Department may by rule establish criteria for and develop methodologies for adjustment payments to hospitals participating under this Article.

(l) On and after July 1, 2012, the Department shall reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments or alter any methodologies authorized by this Code to reduce any rate of reimbursement for services or other payments in accordance with Section 5-5e.

(m) The Department shall establish a cost-based reimbursement methodology for determining payments to hospitals for approved graduate medical education (GME) programs for dates of service on and after July 1, 2018.

(1) As used in this subsection, "hospitals" means the University of Illinois Hospital as defined in the University of Illinois Hospital Act and a county hospital in a county of over 3,000,000 inhabitants.

(2) An amendment to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan defining GME shall maximize reimbursement, shall not be limited to the education programs or special patient care payments allowed under Medicare, and shall include:

(A) inpatient days;

(B) outpatient days;

(C) direct costs;

(D) indirect costs;

(E) managed care days;

(F) all stages of medical training and education including students, interns, residents, and fellows with no caps on the number of persons who may qualify; and

(G) patient care payments related to the complexities of treating Medicaid enrollees including clinical and social determinants of health.

(3) The Department shall make all GME payments directly to hospitals including such costs in support of clients enrolled in Medicaid managed care entities.

(4) The Department shall promptly take all actions necessary for reimbursement to be effective for dates of service on and after July 1, 2018 including publishing all appropriate public notices, amendments to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan, and adoption of administrative rules if necessary.

(5) As used in this subsection, "managed care days" means costs associated with services rendered to enrollees of Medicaid managed care entities. "Medicaid managed care entities" means any entity which contracts with the Department to provide services paid for on a capitated basis. "Medicaid managed care entities" includes a managed care organization and a managed care community network.

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

(7) The Department may adopt rules necessary to implement Public Act 100-581 through the use of emergency rulemaking in accordance with subsection (aa) of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. For purposes of that Act, the General Assembly finds that the adoption of rules to implement Public Act 100-581 is deemed an emergency and necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-682, eff. 12-10-21; 102-886, eff. 5-17-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.03)

Sec. 5-5.03. Trauma center adjustment.

(a) For inpatient admissions on or after October 1, 1992 for trauma injuries as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, in addition to any other payments made under this Code, the Illinois Department shall make adjustment payments, in an amount calculated under subsection (b) of this Section, to hospitals located in the State of Illinois that are recognized as Level I trauma centers (adult or pediatric) and to certain Level II trauma centers as determined by the Illinois Department.

(b) Trauma center adjustment calculation.

(1) The funds used to make trauma center adjustment payments to qualifying trauma centers shall consist of:

(A) At least 50% of the amount of moneys deposited each State fiscal year into the Trauma Center Fund created in the State treasury; and

(B) All federal matching funds received by the Illinois Department as a result of expenditures made by the Illinois Department as required by this Section.

(2) The trauma center adjustment payments shall be made to qualifying trauma centers on a quarterly basis. In determining the payment methodology for trauma center adjustment payments, the Illinois Department shall divide the available funds from the Trauma Center Fund for each quarter by the total number of the Medicaid trauma admissions as determined by the Illinois Department for the same quarter of the Trauma Center base year. The result of that calculation shall be the amount of the quarterly trauma center adjustment payment to be paid to qualifying trauma centers.