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HB4041 - 104th General Assembly
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| 1 | AN ACT concerning State government. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | represented in the General Assembly: | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 15.2a as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | (20 ILCS 1705/15.2a new) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Sec. 15.2a. Transportation add-on payment for adult day | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | service providers. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | (a) Findings. The General Assembly finds the following: | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | (1) Transportation services provided by intellectual | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | and developmental disability providers are essential for | |||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | ensuring individuals with disabilities can access daily | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | programs, community-based supports, employment | |||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | opportunities, and healthcare appointments. Without | |||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | adequate transportation, individuals face isolation, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | missed services, and negative health and developmental | |||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | outcomes. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | (2) Many of the individuals served by intellectual and | |||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | developmental disability providers have complex needs that | |||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | require frequent and specialized transportation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | accommodations, including vehicles equipped for mobility | |||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | support and trained staff. For providers operating in | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 1 | rural and downstate areas of Illinois, the time and | ||||||
| 2 | distance required to transport individuals are | ||||||
| 3 | significantly greater, compounding logistical challenges | ||||||
| 4 | and increasing operational costs. These services are | ||||||
| 5 | critical for the safety, dignity, and independence of the | ||||||
| 6 | most vulnerable residents in Illinois. | ||||||
| 7 | (3) Costs are particularly high for rural and | ||||||
| 8 | downstate providers, where staff may travel long distances | ||||||
| 9 | across wide service areas to reach individuals, often | ||||||
| 10 | requiring more time on the road without additional mileage | ||||||
| 11 | reimbursement. These challenges, combined with the need | ||||||
| 12 | for specialized equipment and staffing to meet high-acuity | ||||||
| 13 | needs, place an unsustainable financial burden on | ||||||
| 14 | providers working to deliver essential care and supports. | ||||||
| 15 | (b) Beginning January 1, 2026, providers of adult day | ||||||
| 16 | services for individuals with developmental disabilities shall | ||||||
| 17 | receive an add-on payment of $1 for transportation, per trip, | ||||||
| 18 | for any distance beyond 15 miles from the adult day service | ||||||
| 19 | program location. | ||||||
| 20 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January | ||||||
| 21 | 1, 2026. | ||||||