305 ILCS 5/ Illinois Public Aid Code.

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.51)

Sec. 12-4.51. Workforce training and healthy families demonstration project.

(a) Subject to the availability of funds provided for this purpose by the federal government, local philanthropic or charitable sources, or other private sources, there is created a 5-year demonstration project within the Department of Human Services to provide an intensive workforce training program for entry-level workers and a multi-generational healthy family initiative. No general revenue funds may be used to fund the demonstration project created under this Section. The demonstration project shall be implemented no later than 6 months after January 1, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 100-806) and shall terminate 5 years after the initial date of implementation. The demonstration project shall be operated and maintained by a non-profit, community-based entity that shall provide the majority of the wages earned by participants enrolled in the workforce training program as well as support services to families, including new and expectant parents, enrolled in the multi-generational healthy family initiative. The total number of participants in the 5-year demonstration project at any one time shall not exceed 500. Participants enrolled in the workforce training program or the multi-generational healthy family initiative shall qualify to have whatever financial assistance they receive from their participation excluded from consideration for purposes of determining eligibility for or the amount of assistance under this Code as provided in subsection (d) of Section 1-7. The selected entity must immediately notify the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services whenever a participant enrolled in the workforce training program or the multi-generational healthy family initiative leaves the demonstration project and ceases to participate in any of the programs under the demonstration making the participant ineligible to receive an exemption as provided in subsection (d) of Section 1-7.

(b) The entity selected to operate and maintain the demonstration project shall be a non-profit, community-based entity in good standing with the State that is located in a county with a population of less than 3,000,000. The selected entity must comply with all applicable State and federal requirements and must develop and implement a research component to determine the effectiveness of the demonstration project in promoting and instilling self-sufficiency through its intensive workforce training program and multi-generational healthy family initiative. The State shall not fund the research component outlined in the Section or any program under the demonstration project.

(c) Beginning one year after the initial implementation date of the demonstration project, and each year thereafter for the duration of the demonstration, the selected entity shall submit a report to the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the General Assembly that details the progress and effectiveness of the demonstration project and the demonstration's impact on instilling the value of self-sufficiency in participants. The 4th annual report shall also provide policy recommendations on best practices for and continued research on facilitating bridges to self-sufficiency. The 4th annual report may also include a recommendation on making the demonstration project permanent upon completion of the demonstration project period.

The reports to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 100-806, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.52)

Sec. 12-4.52. Prescriber education.

(a) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop, in collaboration with a public university that has a Doctor of Pharmacy Professional Program and is located in a county with a population of more than 3,000,000, a program designed to provide prescribing physicians under the medical assistance program with an evidence-based, non-commercial source of the latest objective information about pharmaceuticals. Information shall be presented to prescribing physicians by specially trained pharmacists, nurses, or other health professionals to assist prescribing physicians in making appropriate therapeutic recommendations.

(b) The prescriber education program shall consist of 2 components: a web-based curriculum and an academic educator outreach. The program shall contract with clinical pharmacists to provide scheduled visits with prescribing physicians to update them on the latest research concerning medication usage and new updates on disease states in an unbiased manner.

(c) Education provided under the prescriber education program shall include, but not be limited to, disease-based educational modules on the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, respiratory syncytial virus, and nicotine dependence. New modules may be created periodically as needed and existing module content shall be reviewed and updated on an annual or as-needed basis. Educational modules provided under the program shall provide prescribing physicians with continuing medical education credit.

(d) Additional resources provided under the prescriber education program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) a drug information response center available to prescribing physicians that provides thorough and timely in-depth answers to any questions a prescribing physician may have within 48 hours after a question is received; and

(2) information on drug utilization trends within individual and group practices.

(Source: P.A. 101-278, eff. 1-1-20.)

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.53)

Sec. 12-4.53. Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates. Effective January 1, 2021, and subsequent years, based on specific appropriation, the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for FQHCs shall be increased based on the cost principles found at 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 75 or its successor. Such rates shall be increased by using any of the following methods: reducing the current minimum productivity and efficiency standards no lower than 3500 encounters per FTE physician; increasing the statewide median cost cap from 105% to 120%, a one-time re-basing of rates utilizing 2018 FQHC cost reports, or another alternative payment method acceptable to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the FQHCs, including an across the board percentage increase to existing rates.

(Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20; 101-655, eff. 3-12-21.)

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.54)

Sec. 12-4.54. SNAP, WIC; diapers, menstrual hygiene products. If the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service creates and makes available to the states a waiver permitting recipients of benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to use their benefits to purchase diapers or menstrual hygiene products such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and feminine wipes, then the Department of Human Services shall apply for the waiver. If the United States Department of Agriculture approves the Department of Human Services' waiver application, then the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules and make other changes as necessary to implement the approved waiver.

(Source: P.A. 102-248, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.55)

Sec. 12-4.55. Community-based long-term services; application for federal funding. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall apply for all available federal funding to promote community inclusion and integration for persons with disabilities, regardless of age, and older adults so that those persons have the option to transition out of institutions and receive long-term care services and supports in the settings of their choice.

(Source: P.A. 102-536, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.56)

Sec. 12-4.56. Managed Primary Care Demonstration Project. The Department shall establish and implement a Managed Primary Care Demonstration Project to provide primary care services that are focused on preventive rather than curative care to persons who reside in underserved communities that lack accessible health and medical services. The demonstration project shall operate for a 5-year period and provide supplemental services to medical assistance recipients. The Department shall contract with a health care organization through a competitive process that is capable of providing patient-centered, prevention-focused services, that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Patient navigators to manage patient care.

(2) Patient-tailored preventive health care plans.

(3) Administrative personal health care consultants for home health maintenance between medical office visits.

(4) Clinical personal health care consultants for telehealth (health information and advice) and wellness initiatives.

(5) A patient portal.

(6) An online virtual health hub that provides patients with access to wellness, self-guided education, health seminars, a video library, and additional health and wellness resources.

(7) Community health and human services centers to engage, educate, and empower patients to get involved in their own self-care.

(8) Mobile preventive health stations and kiosks to bring services to underserved communities that are health or medical deserts.

(9) Call centers to interact with medical homes and facilitate service offerings.

A request for proposals for the demonstration project shall be issued by December 31, 2022.

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