Join Us This October for AALC's 2024 Annual Meeting!

Policy Update



Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) – Change in Caregiver Social Security Number Requirement

HFS recently issued an update on requirements related to the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system. Previously, the identification of a caregiver in the EVV system was obtained with only the last four digits of the caregiver’s Social Security Number (SSN).  To learn more, click here.

HealthChoice Illinois ADT is hosting the next Clinical Collaboration Group (CCG)

This meeting is primarily for Chief Executive/Chief Operations Officers, treating providers, care coordinators, and users of the platform. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with fellow healthcare professionals and share your insights in improving the HealthChoice Illinois ADT Program. We look forward to your active participation in this collaborative effort to enhance healthcare services in Illinois.

Date: Thursday, August 08, 2024

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT

Webinar Link: Click Here to Register

To learn more, click here. 

SLP July Rates

Rates are down slightly in 5 of the 7 regions between 0.4% - 0.9%. In the other 2 regions they are up 0.4% & 0.6%. Overall, relatively unchanged. The staffing rate for NH is frozen this quarter because of a federal CMS data freeze due to the conversion of the staffing data used in the measure. This data will be implemented next quarter. This means the fluctuation is from changes in acuity.

Rate Comparison - NH & SL

Rate Map

Rate History

AALC PAC

Help Protect Supportive Living in Illinois

Donate to AALC's PAC! Learn more here!

AALC launched its annual AALC PAC campaign on May 1^st with the goal of raising $292,000!  During the month of May, AALC raised $290,997.50 in voluntary contributions with an additional $5,000 in pledged contributions. In keeping with AALC’s theme of inspiring more, we are encouraged and grateful to see our members give more this year to the AALC PAC.  

If you have not already done so, it is not too late to send your contribution today!  Every dollar counts. We are only a few thousand dollars away from our goal and your contribution could make the difference! Send your check to AALC PAC: PO BOX 1245, Springfield, IL 62705.

Legislative Update

The General Assembly is at ease until the Fall Veto Session, which is scheduled to convene on November 12, 2024. Currently, all the focus is on the upcoming Democratic National Convention that is being held in Chicago August 19-22. The AALC is currently focusing its efforts on expending its PAC funds through the remainder of the General Election period. The AALC Board and its Legislative Committee will be meeting internally to devise our 2025 Spring Session Agenda over the next couple of months.​

The Governor in June signed the Medicaid omnibus bill, Public Act 103-0593 (Aquino/Gabel), which contained all three of AALC's legislative initiatives, including:

• ​Codifying the $6.15 offset to cover the loss of SNAP; 
• Increasing the SLP resident PNA from $90 to $120 with the link adjusted to 54.75%; and 
• Cleaning up the existing guardrails intended to promote access to the SLP Dementia Care Setting while continuing to protect existing SLP communities.

Separately, SB 774 allowing for certified medication aides in SLPs also passed both houses and is awaiting the Governor's signature.  For a more detailed list of recently signed bills see below.

New Laws: The Governor continues to take action on legislation approved during the Spring 2024 Legislative Session. Highlights of recent bill signings include:

• HB 5395, an initiative of Governor Pritzker, creates the Healthcare Protection Act. The legislation bans step therapy and prior authorization for crisis mental healthcare, addresses “ghost networks”, increases transparency for prior authorization, and imposes rate regulation for large group insurance plans. 
• HB 2499 which eliminates Short-Term, Limited-Duration Health Insurance.   
• HB 5290 represents the Governor’s medical debt forgiveness initiative. The new law dedicates approximately $10 million in state funding to purchase outstanding Illinois medical debt which should erase nearly $1 billion of medical debt for Illinois residents. The state will partner with Undue Medical Debt to negotiate the sale of debt portfolios.
• SB 2933 amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practice Act to prohibit credit agencies from including negative information about medical debt in credit reports.
• SB 2930 Requires nonprofits to publicly report the aggregated demographic information about their boards of directors.
• HB 4621 Creates the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services within the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
• HB 4615 Annual sunset extension package, making technical changes.
• HB 5287 Streamlines and unifies the stipend process for county officials.
• SB 3165 Amends the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Act to make specific contract requirements for the completion of the assessment.
• SB 3414 Requires private insurance to cover continuous glucose monitors without cost-sharing and prohibits prior authorization for continuous glucose monitors.
• SB 3473 Provides that the State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, shall develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians of students.
• HB 5530 Allows advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (instead of just physicians) to administer long-acting injectables for mental health or substance use disorders, as well as fast-acting medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
• HB 5559 Requires auto insurance companies to explain in detail how they decided a car was a total loss, including repair costs, salvage value, and market value.
• SB 2735 Ensures healthcare providers in Illinois have a choice in how they receive payments from insurance companies and managed care plans, and that they are informed about any fees associated with the available payment methods.
• SB 2822 Codifies educational standards for moderate and deep dental sedation currently recognized by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
• HB 4488 Represents the 2024 Elections Omnibus. Makes various changes to the Elections Code.

2024 AALC Annual Meeting - Register today!

Tuesday, Oct 29 - Wednesday, Oct. 30

Springfield, IL

AALC will hold its 2024 Annual Meeting in Springfield on October 29-30. We hope to see you there! Learn more!

Infection Prevention and Control Updates and Q&A Webinars for Long-Term Care and Congregate Residential Settings

August/September 2024 Schedule

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is hosting a bi-weekly webinar to provide COVID-19 updates, general infection prevention and control information, topics related to prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) updates, and answer questions from long-term care and congregate residential settings.

Target audience: Infection prevention and control staff (e.g., infection preventionists, directors of nursing, environmental services directors, administrators) at long-term care facilities and congregate residential settings; local health departments; IDPH regional health officers; long-term care association partners

Continued Education: Will be offered. It will only be for the live presentation. Please ensure when registering that your name and email are correctly spelled. To receive the continued education, you must complete a training survey which will open when webinar is closed (Ensure your pop-up blocker is off for Webex). 

Webinar Series Name: LTC HAI Webinars

Click here for the Webinar series registration

Click on Dates to Register for Specific Webinars:

August 9th

1 pm to 2 pm: Group A Strep

August 23rd

1 pm to 2 pm: Environmental Marking

September 6th

1pm to 2 pm: Ectoparasites

September 20th

1 pm to 2 pm: Vent Care

SL 2024 Community Spotlight: Gardant

MEMBERS! If you know of a vendor who might be interested in joining AALC, share their information with us at info@aalcillinois.org and we will reach out to them. Are you a vendor member and interested in bringing content to our Supportive Living communities? Let us know and we will feature you in an upcoming newsletter.