SB3415 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 15783 KTG 50850 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3415

Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. Dale A. Righter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/11-5.2
305 ILCS 5/11-5.3

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the State's proposed integrated eligibility system for medical assistance, requires the Governor to meet with the exclusive representative within 14 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act for the purpose of discussing the reasons for a potential proposal to subcontract bargaining unit work. Requires the Department of Human Services to determine, within a specified time period, whether or not labor relations between the State of Illinois and the Department's public employees are currently governed by a collective bargaining agreement. Provides that until the integrated eligibility system is operational "and in order to achieve greater efficiency and economy, if, after review of existing bargaining agreements the Department of Human Services determines that relations between the State and the Department's public employees are currently governed by a collective bargaining agreement", the Department "shall" enter into a contract with the vendor selected as necessary to obtain certain electronic data matching (rather than until the integrated eligibility system is operational, the Department may enter into a contract with the vendor selected as necessary to obtain certain electronic data matching). Contains provisions concerning notice requirements. Extends the time period within which the Department must procure a vendor to verify medical assistance eligibility. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Sections 11-5.2 and 11-5.3 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/11-5.2)

Sec. 11-5.2. Income, Residency, and Identity Verification System. The General Assembly finds that the Department has made every reasonable effort to utilize State employees to perform eligibility determinations and redeterminations on applicants and recipients of assistance provided under Article V of this Code. However, the General Assembly declares that there exist conditions in the State that require the Department to procure a vendor to verify eligibility.

(a) The Department shall ensure that its proposed integrated eligibility system shall include the computerized functions of income, residency, and identity eligibility verification to verify eligibility, eliminate duplication of medical assistance, and deter fraud. The Governor shall meet with the exclusive representative as that term is defined in the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act within 14 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly for the purpose of discussing the reasons for a potential proposal to subcontract bargaining unit work under this Section. Beginning on the 15th day after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Department of Human Services shall begin the process of determining whether or not labor relations between the State of Illinois and the Department of Human Services' public employees are currently governed by a collective bargaining agreement as authorized by the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and shall make a final determination by the 16th day after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Until the integrated eligibility system is operational and in order to achieve greater efficiency and economy, if, after review of existing bargaining agreements the Department of Human Services determines that relations between the State of Illinois and the Department of Human Services' public employees are currently governed by a collective bargaining agreement, the Department shall may enter into a contract with the vendor selected pursuant to Section 11-5.3 as necessary to obtain the electronic data matching described in this Section. This contract shall be exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 1-10 of that Code.

Prior to fulfilling its obligations under this subsection, the Department shall comply with all notice and procedural requirements mandated by any labor agreement, if any exists.

Prior to issuing a request for services pursuant to its obligations under this subsection, the Department shall provide advance notice, which shall not be less than 45 days, except in emergency situations, in writing, to the exclusive representative as that term is defined in the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

(b) Prior to awarding medical assistance at application under Article V of this Code, the Department shall, to the extent such databases are available to the Department, conduct data matches using the name, date of birth, address, and Social Security Number of each applicant or recipient or responsible relative of an applicant or recipient against the following:

(1) Income tax information.

(2) Employer reports of income and unemployment insurance payment information maintained by the Department of Employment Security.

(3) Earned and unearned income, citizenship and death, and other relevant information maintained by the Social Security Administration.

(4) Immigration status information maintained by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(5) Wage reporting and similar information maintained by states contiguous to this State.

(6) Employment information maintained by the Department of Employment Security in its New Hire Directory database.

(7) Employment information maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in its National Directory of New Hires database.

(8) Veterans' benefits information maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) database.

(9) Residency information maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State.

(10) A database which is substantially similar to or a successor of a database described in this Section that contains information relevant for verifying eligibility for medical assistance.

(c) (Blank).

(d) If a discrepancy results between information provided by an applicant, recipient, or responsible relative and information contained in one or more of the databases or information tools listed under subsection (b) or (c) of this Section or subsection (c) of Section 11-5.3 and that discrepancy calls into question the accuracy of information relevant to a condition of eligibility provided by the applicant, recipient, or responsible relative, the Department or its contractor shall review the applicant's or recipient's case using the following procedures:

(1) If the information discovered under subsection (b) (c) of this Section or subsection (c) of Section 11-5.3 does not result in the Department finding the applicant or recipient ineligible for assistance under Article V of this Code, the Department shall finalize the determination or redetermination of eligibility.

(2) If the information discovered results in the Department finding the applicant or recipient ineligible for assistance, the Department shall provide notice as set forth in Section 11-7 of this Article.

(3) If the information discovered is insufficient to determine that the applicant or recipient is eligible or ineligible, the Department shall provide written notice to the applicant or recipient which shall describe in sufficient detail the circumstances of the discrepancy, the information or documentation required, the manner in which the applicant or recipient may respond, and the consequences of failing to take action. The applicant or recipient shall have 10 business days to respond.

(4) If the applicant or recipient does not respond to the notice, the Department shall deny assistance for failure to cooperate, in which case the Department shall provide notice as set forth in Section 11-7. Eligibility for assistance shall not be established until the discrepancy has been resolved.

(5) If an applicant or recipient responds to the notice, the Department shall determine the effect of the information or documentation provided on the applicant's or recipient's case and shall take appropriate action. Written notice of the Department's action shall be provided as set forth in Section 11-7 of this Article.

(6) Suspected cases of fraud shall be referred to the Department's Inspector General.

(e) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-689, eff. 6-14-12; revised 11-12-13.)

(305 ILCS 5/11-5.3)

Sec. 11-5.3. Procurement of vendor to verify eligibility for assistance under Article V.

(a) No later than 70 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th 97th General Assembly, the Chief Procurement Officer for General Services, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall conduct and complete any procurement necessary to procure a vendor to verify eligibility for assistance under Article V of this Code. Such authority shall include procuring a vendor to assist the Chief Procurement Officer in conducting the procurement. The Chief Procurement Officer and the Department shall jointly negotiate final contract terms with a vendor selected by the Chief Procurement Officer. Within 30 days of selection of an eligibility verification vendor, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall enter into a contract with the selected vendor. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services shall cooperate with and provide any information requested by the Chief Procurement Officer to conduct the procurement.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any procurement or contract necessary to comply with this Section shall be exempt from: (i) the Illinois Procurement Code pursuant to Section 1-10(h) of the Illinois Procurement Code, except that bidders shall comply with the disclosure requirement in Sections 50-10.5(a) through (d), 50-13, 50-35, and 50-37 of the Illinois Procurement Code and a vendor awarded a contract under this Section shall comply with Section 50-37 of the Illinois Procurement Code; (ii) any administrative rules of this State pertaining to procurement or contract formation; and (iii) any State or Department policies or procedures pertaining to procurement, contract formation, contract award, and Business Enterprise Program approval.

(c) Upon becoming operational, the contractor shall conduct data matches using the name, date of birth, address, and Social Security Number of each applicant and recipient against public records to verify eligibility. The contractor, upon preliminary determination that an enrollee is eligible or ineligible, shall notify the Department, except that the contractor shall not make preliminary determinations regarding the eligibility of persons residing in long term care facilities whose income and resources were at or below the applicable financial eligibility standards at the time of their last review. Within 20 business days of such notification, the Department shall accept the recommendation or reject it with a stated reason. The Department shall retain final authority over eligibility determinations. The contractor shall keep a record of all preliminary determinations of ineligibility communicated to the Department. Within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Department and contractor shall file a joint report on a quarterly basis to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate President, and the Senate Minority Leader. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, monthly recommendations of preliminary determinations of eligibility or ineligibility communicated by the contractor, the actions taken on those preliminary determinations by the Department, and the stated reasons for those recommendations that the Department rejected.

(d) An eligibility verification vendor contract shall be awarded for an initial 2-year period with up to a maximum of 2 one-year renewal options. Nothing in this Section shall compel the award of a contract to a vendor that fails to meet the needs of the Department. A contract with a vendor to assist in the procurement shall be awarded for a period of time not to exceed 6 months.

(e) The provisions of this Section shall be administered in compliance with federal law.

(Source: P.A. 97-689, eff. 6-14-12; 98-104, eff. 7-22-13.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.