HR0113 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0113 LRB100 08030 MST 18115 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Public Act 95-565 directed the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) to create a "determination of need" (DON) tool to accurately determine the level of need for services for seniors and persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, the Community Care Program serves people age 60 and older, and the Home Services Program (HSP) serves people with disabilities age 59 and younger; both programs utilize the same Determination of Need (DON) tool to determine program eligibility and allocate service dollars; and

WHEREAS, The Community Care Program operated by the Department on Aging provides home care services to over 100,000 elder adults, ensuring that they are able to stay in their homes and avoid the more costly institutional settings; and

WHEREAS, The Home Services Program operated by the Department of Human Services serves 26,000 adults with disabilities allowing them to stay and function in their own homes and improve their quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Governor Rauner has repeatedly tried to increase the DON Score from 29 to 37, placing thousands of seniors and people with disabilities at risk of losing services and ending up in institutional care; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we oppose any further attempts to raise the DON Score; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services, and Governor Rauner.